RSPB milestone

Balranald RSPB on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides is set for a record number of visitors this year, just in time for the reserve’s 50th anniversary. Originally set up by the RSPB, local crofters and landlords to monitor the area’s wildlife, Balranald RSPB has become a major birdwatching destination, attracting rarities such as Gyr Falcon and a Black-billed Cuckoo. More than 15,000 people visited the reserve this year, up from 9,000 in 2004, putting pressure on the reserve’s car park!