Machrihanish Seabird Observatory

Machrihanish Seabird Observatory

For an unparalleled wildlife experience with superb bird watching and spectacular scenery, Machrihanish offers what is arguably the very best of Kintyre making it the perfect stop for the family to get a feel for the region's best! The establishment of the purpose-built sea watching" hide provides shelter for wave watchers so that observation can comfortably take place during the worst weather, yet best sea watching conditions. The Observatory has become the proud focus of bird watching activity in Kintyre!

At this exciting base, visitors can obtain enthusiastic and experienced assistance with identification, information about recent sightings, details of studies and advice on 'digiscoping': which is the art of taking high magnification images with a digital camera attached to a telescope, to you and I!

This sparsely populated area has a diverse range of habitats that provide a rich wealth of nature spotting possibilities all throughout the year. Birdlife is abundant and varied and the range recorded in this well-watched area now stands at just over 200 species including regular rarities such as Balearic Shearwater, Grey Phalarope and Sabine's Gull, so proper twitchers will be in their element.

It should be sadly noted that the figures for last year (2015) show several species in decline here, so it's one of those trips that should be probably taken sooner rather than later..."