The Wildlife Map of the Hebrides

4. Tong and Steinish

This large inlet has sand dunes, saltmarsh and sand flats. The sandy promontory on the southern shore seems to be a fairly recent feature, dating from the construction of the airport in the 1940s. In the summer, large numbers of terns nest on and around this area, and are very vulnerable to disturbance. Other breeding species include skylark, shelduck, oystercatcher and ringed plover. In winter, the flats are often thronged with migrating or wintering waders, ducks, geese and gulls, and the occasional common seal may be seen on the river. The sands are covered with empty cockleshells, and the area around the tip of the southern peninsula has a range of large seashells. The sand flats below the high tide mark have dangerous sinking properties.