Short birdwatching visit · RSPB
Hobbister
Hobbister · KW17 2RA
Hobbister overlooks Waulkmill Bay and Scapa Flow, offering moorland and coastal birdwatching in the same reserve. Black Guillemot and Red-breasted Merganser give the shore a different character from the rough inland ground, while Twite and Curlew are among the birds named by the operator. Great Northern Diver adds winter interest on the sea. The waymarked walk crosses varied, sometimes boggy terrain, so it suits visitors comfortable with rough paths rather than those seeking a surfaced promenade.
Birds and seasons
- Black Guillemot — Typically year-round
- Red-breasted Merganser — Typically year-round
- Twite — Typically year-round
- Great Northern Diver — Typically autumn and winter
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- There are no formal viewing structures.
- Paths
- A two-mile circular trail includes rough, wet ground, a steep peat-bank section and a stile.
- Toilets
- No reserve toilets; facilities are listed at Waulkmill Bay and Scapa beach.
- Parking
- Four unmarked spaces are provided at the southern entrance; parking is also available at Waulkmill Bay.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a short lead during breeding season and around livestock.
- Accessibility
- The uneven tracks and coastal approaches include slopes and muddy areas.
Getting there: Use the signed reserve access off the A964 and designated parking.
Sources
Social preview photograph: Common Starling standing in grass in Oxfordshire. Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted for the preview.
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Cottascarth and Rendall Moss, 8.0 miles away in a straight line.