The Harris Tweed Authority (HTA) recently featured RSPB Scotland in one of their regular tweed-matching photography series that runs across their social media platforms.
The HTA wanted to highlight how much of an integral part nature and wildlife play in the culture of the Outer Hebrides (and indeed, the Harris Tweed® story), and that we sometimes take for granted all the wonderful creatures that surround us on a daily basis.
In their series they were keen to display some of our fascinating flying residents!
With the annual Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival having taken place from Saturday 24 June – Saturday 1 July, RSPB Scotland and HTA combined to talk about a few of the more popular species that can be seen on the islands, including their Gaelic names, their habitats, and more.
Below you can read about each chosen bird in the 4-part series, or visit their Instagram or Facebook pages to get a better look at the full series.
Series: Part One
Curracag (Gaelic name)
Lapwing
Lapwings are frequently sighted around the Outer Hebrides, sometimes in groups (known as ‘a deceit of Lapwings’) and are instantly recognisable due to a distinct call – from which their Gaelic name was born.
They are usually seen on farmland and crofts, tending to nest in rough grassland and fields, and they winter mainly on the coastal grassland.
The Lapwing’s beautiful, multicoloured feathers are reflected in this lovely Harris Tweed® check fabric, which was handwoven for Harris Tweed Hebrides.
Series: Part two
Iolaire Buidhe (Gaelic name)
Golden Eagle
The Outer Hebrides has the highest density of Golden Eagles in the whole of Europe. This is due to the fact they are usually found on mountainsides and around sea cliffs – the latter of which we have plenty!
20% of Scotland’s Golden Eagle population is in the Outer Hebrides, with 95 pairs at the last count. Golden Eagles are more often than not seen as pair as they usually mate for life.
A breeding pair is formed in a courtship display, which includes the male bird picking up a piece of rock or a small stick and dropping it, only to enter into a steep dive and catch it in mid-air, repeating this three or more times to attract its mate. The female takes a clump of earth and drops and catches it in the same fashion.
The Golden Eagle’s bold, brown feathers and bright beak and talons can be seen throughout this elegant Harris Tweed® cloth.
Series: Part Three
Sùlaire (Gaelic name)
Gannet
Gannets breed in significant numbers at only a few locations, which makes them an ‘Amber List’ species.
In the Outer Hebrides, outlaying islands such as St. Kilda and Sula Sgeir are the main breeding colonies, from which these seabirds arrive to feed off the headlands around the Hebridean islands.
Almost 50% of the populations of seabirds in Scotland have been lost since the 1980’s, and with the current threat of avian flu RSPB Scotland is working to help all seabirds, including Gannets.
A Gannet doesn’t reach maturity until it is five years old, meaning it doesn’t begin breeding until it reaches that age. When hunting for fish a gannet will dive from thirty metres above the water, reaching a depth of eleven metres below the surface at a speed of 60mph!
This Harris Tweed® fabric, handwoven for Harris Tweed Hebrides, is a great representation of the blur of black and white feathers that can be seen on these impressive dives.
If anyone wants to find out more about the RSPB’s work with seabirds, visit their website.
Series: Finale
Bigean-baintighearna (Gaelic name)
Twite
In the final part of the series we looked at the Twite – a small brown finch closely related to the Linnet, but with a longer tail and stubbier bill.
The Twite has a tawny back, heavily streaked with dark brown and is white below with dark-brown streaks on its flanks. The rump is pink on males but brown on females (pictured here).
Only 7850 pairs breed in the UK but as many as 100,000 visit during winter. Twite are resident in the Outer Hebrides all year round, and while they breed on moorland they can also be found on saltmarshes and coastal fields.
Twite eat seeds, thus planting and growing wildflowers can help provide food sources for them. They will even eat dandelion seeds so let those grow in a wild patch in your garden and the Twite will thank you for them!
Find out more about the plight of the Twites.
For a chance to get a glimpse of these fantastic birds, head along to RSPB Scotland's Balranald nature reserve in North Uist, where there is a guided walk every Tuesday at 10am throughout the summer.
This beautiful, matching Harris Tweed® herringbone pattern by Harris Tweed Hebrides reminds us of the intricate, interweaving white and brown feathers of the Twite.