There’s more than just geese to this South Uist reserve
Loch Druidibeg was originally established in 1958 to protect Greylag Geese, which, at that time, were rare breeding birds in the Hebrides. Since then, due to protection and farming, the geese have expanded their population and the designation of a National Nature Reserve was dropped. The area has a mixture of habitats, from alkaline machair grassland through oligotrophic loch to acidic moorland. This walk takes you around the moorland, lochs and back via the richer agricultural land by the main road. What you see will be very much dependent on the season in which you visit. The area is well known for breeding Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl. When I visited, we found a roost site for Short-eared Owl, containing in excess of 50 pellets, mainly of voles. Golden Eagles can drift over the area, and feed on the many Rabbits. Meadow Pipits are common, along with Sky Lark, closer to the roads, plus Stonechat and Whinchat, with Wheatear enjoying the short turf. The richer areas hold breeding waders, like Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher, with singing Corn Crakes enjoying the rich Iris beds. Like many areas in the Outer Hebrides, rare birds drop in from time to time, with a wide mixture recorded, from Arctic and Yellow-browed Warbler to Common Rosefinch. Waders have included Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover on the machair. Ducks have included everything from Garganey to American Wigeon, with both Little and Great White Egrets. Ospreys pass by, Slavonian Grebes drop in.