The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

30. Baleshare

Baleshare and Kirkibost are machair islands with a causeway connecting Baleshare to the rest of North Uist. The name 'Baile Siar' means 'East Township' suggesting that there was once another to the west. More evidence of changing sea levels in provided by Sgeir Husabost, off Paible, which is probably the site of the 'Hussaboste' township, mentioned in the charter of Inchaffrey of 1389 and reputed to have been washed away in the 15th or 16th century. Colonies of breeding artic terns may be seen on shingle areas. Ringed plover, oystercatcher, lapwing, dunlin, redshank and snipe breed amongst the hummocky dunes, on the wet machair or by loch margins whilst the machair lochs support breeding wildfowl such as mute swan, mallard and moorhen. The area is important for plants with habitats such as dry and wet machair, marshes and saltmarshes supporting a wide range of species.