Anne's Journal

 Saturday May 18  Maybe we are not meant to go to Berneray. Last time it was fog, this time a lorry blockage. We started at Committee Road, enjoying at least one, possibly two, male Hen Harriers quartering the hillside. Only the second Kestrel I've seen this trip joined in for a short while. The sun was out, as was the Lewis ferry, as we crossed the causeway to Berneray. Past the turning to John's Bunkhouse, we got to a narrower (even)  part of the coast road, to find a lorry bonnet down in a ditch to the left side of the road, its back wheels in the air, not enough room for us to pass. It must have only just happened, as we  watched the driver's door swing open and an older man get out, hitch up his trousers and climb up to inspect his tow-bar bracket. By this time there were cars waiting behind him, and two more drove up behind us. Pam did a quick manoeuvre, and we got out of there and back the way we'd come. We decided to try all side roads. One of the first dead end

 Friday May 17 Not many moths last night, too windy. It's difficult to find anywhere sheltered to place the trap. A  Brown Silver-lines and an Angle Shades had the trap all to themselves.  We eventually set off for Balivanich to order tonight's chinese takeaway, before driving to Ardivachar and the Range. The rocky beach here always has birds to look at. The tide was well in, many of the small waders were perched on rocks.   One household had found what to do with outgrown wellington boots.  Some essential shopping and an ice-cream, a check on Loch Mor to see if the Phalaropes were present - no, nor the perched White-tailed Eagle - before going to Petersport. We were not first so the prime position in front of the slipway was already taken. We gave up before they did as there was little to see.  Maybe the turn-off to the east coast settlement of Flogga  was worth a visit. It soon became obvious why we'd only been here once before. Well before the sea was in view, the road f

  Thursday May 16 This could be a very short Blog: We went to Berneray. The fog rolled in. We drove home via Ian and Sue's caravan. A bit longer. We had our best moth catch so far last night. 13 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Shark, Dark Swordgrass, 6  Flame Carpets, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Knot-grass Scalloped Hazel, 2 Buff Ermines and an Emperor. We took our lure with us to Berneray, it still works, two Emperors came in to investigate almost immediately. After we'd been to Borve. where we hoped that an end to the interference of ploughing would produce some birds on the machair, about 60 Ringed Plovers in a flock and two skittish Rock Doves in the murk - we stopped at the seal watching lay-by.    North Uist's Rock Doves have been proved, by recent DNA testing and research, to be the only pure ones left in the UK. A small flock of Eider caught my eye, the furthest bird was a Red-throated Diver, new for the trip. Ian and Sue pulled up, they'd been lookin

  Tuesday May 15 Best described as a tourist day I think.  The sun shone all day, it was warm and the birds were quiet. A year or two ago, I'd found a place on the south west coast of South Uist where we saw Basking Shark and some good seabirds. Just south of the 'other' Hebrides seawatching point of Ard a' Mhuile,  at Trolasgeir. Ard an Runair on North Uist  is the main one. This is the view I had whilst eating lunch.  The roads out here are not the best, the last mile or so, no more than a rutted, potholed track. Like  being back in Norfolk. Pam came to a halt. A Cuckoo was perched on the roadside wires. The photo needs the light improving - that will have to wait until I get home.   Druidibeag was the next port of call. Would the White-tailed Eagle nest be more visible on a sunny day? Well, the male was perched on the rim of the nest but it was no nearer! This time, we drove to the end of the track, parking on a grassy mound. I looked at this and read the paper    wh

 Tuesday May 14 Rain was not conducive to an early start.  In response to a phone call from Sue with generous information as to where to see Black-throated Diver, we set off on the Lochmaddy Road. Pausing to shut the gate, a male Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl appeared across the road from us. What a place to stay.  Eventually we found the correct bit of old Lochmaddy road and drove along it, looking at all the lochs, large and small, that we came across.The road is still in good enough condition, very narrow, through peat bog and moorland. Interesting. The largest loch was a challenge. Not only very large, it was irregular in shape with many islets and crags. Pam was the first to notice a Black-throated Diver making its very distant way from behind the left bank to the other side of an islet. Yes, we were delighted, having missed one in the Highlands for the first time ever. Apart from a Stonechat and the inevitable gulls the rest of our visit was quiet. The Paible loop road takes

  Monday May 13   The day started slowly and ended at a gallop. A morning spent doing chores meant an even later start than usual, well past mid-day. Loch Druidibeg was the intended destination but we missed the turning and ended up at Loch Eynort. Both are in South Uist, but Druidibeg is not signposted on the northern approach. We even found a parking space in the small six car parking area, where we sat looking at a pretty empty sea. Eventually, Red-breasted Merganser, Shags, a Great Northern Diver and an Otter on the sea and Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Cuckoo, and a Lesser Redpoll from the small wood alongside. AS we reversed away, Pam noticed the reg plate on the car beside us. It was WOC, Ian and Sue's car. We left them a note and drove on in the rain. We found Druidibeg this time. RSPB Scotland Loch Druidibeg, a community nature reserve formed in partnership with local crofters and the community estate. It is a Special Protection Area and Site of S