The Isle of Lewis, Western Isles - 27th August to 3rd September 2005.

Memories of a wonderful island.

Dun Carloway, Lewis.

This is the best preserved Broch on the Western Isles and dates back to the Iron Age.

The intricate dry-stone walling shows that the ancient masons were masters of their craft.

The walls at their highest are 7 metres and are dry-stone built. The fact that the broch has not through the centuries been robbed of its stone might suggest that it was regarded locally with some respect.

In Gaelic Duns & Brochs both come under one word �Dun�.

Callanish, Lewis.

The main Stone Circle at Callanais is older than that at Stonehenge. Radio Carbon dating has shown that the stones were erected sometime between 2900 and 2600 BC.

There is also the possibility that the first human activity on the Callanais site goes back beyond 3000BC.

Due to new technology in science, the stones at Callanais (Callanish) were erected before the main circle at Stonehenge and is contemporary with the period of settlement at Skara Brae in the Orkney Isles.

A view from our cottage window one evening at
Tolastadh Chaolais, Lewis, on the west coast.
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I did three moth traps from this site during the week. Two from the cottage garden and one at Tristan ap Rheinhallt�s garden a few houses down the road. This was the first time that any casual Moth Trapping had been done on Lewis?

Thanks Tristan for the use of your garden, it was most productive.

Results as follows:-
29th August - 1 Lesser Broard-bordered Yellow Underwing and 1 Wainscot species not positively identified.

30th August - Large Yellow Underwing 5; Rosy Rustic 5; Gold Spot 1; Plain Golden Y 2; Antler Moth 1; Crescent 1; Large Ear 1; Possible Ear Moth 1; Dark Arches 2; Smoky Wainscot 1; Chevron 10:

1st September - Grey Chi 1; Black Rustic 1; Rosy Rustic 4; Plain Golden Y 1; Large Yellow Underwing 7; Chevron 2; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 1; Dark Arches (form aethiops); 1 tortrix species and 1 pyralid unidentified
(Above from Tristan�s garden)
Location - Tolastadh Chaolais, Lewis.

Antler Moth - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Black Rustic - 1st September - Isle of Lewis

Chevron - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Gold Spot (darker form) - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Grey Chi - 1st September - Isle of Lewis

Large Ear - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Plain Golden Y - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

The Crescent - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Plain Golden Y - 30th August - Isle of Lewis

Plain Golden Y - 29th August - Isle of Lewis

Uig, Isle of Lewis

The beaches at Uig on Lewis and on the Isle of Harris must rank as some of the finest in the country.

Borve, Harris.
Over looking the Sound of Taransay.

Excellent place for Common Scoter, Eider, Divers and Auks. In winter a regular spot for Surf Scoter.

Real Rock Doves !! Emphasis on the word real and not Feral !!

I can�t believe that these were the only decent digiscoped Bird Images I took !! Nevertheless, 100% unadulterated Rock Dove, what more can you wish for !!