Rain Stopped Play - Again

Thursday Oct 6 

Gale force winds and driven rain appeared during the night. Pam got up at 2 a.m. to take the moth trap in before damage was done. On opening it later, it contained two Black Rustics.

The conditions eased late morning, we decided to explore the track off the B road to the lighthouse which we hadn't done previously. The sun appeared, we parked at the volcano viewpoint, and stayed to scan the surrounding ridges. A totally unexpected clap of thunder, directly overhead, nearly had me through  the car roof. Soon after came the lightning and torrential rain, which contained some large hailstones. Pam is paranoid about thunderstorms, and immediately set off home, in rain that the wipers could not clear. Ten minutes later, an intermittent sun was shining again. 

Needing fuel, it was either Strontian or Mallaig. Strontian was nearer. After filling up, we sat in the car park and watched the tide come in, window open when rain allowed. I saw three Slavonian Grebes in winter plumage, either fast swimming or diving, at the edge of the loch. So not photographable - but I tried.

 

A small island had roosting Redshank, Curlew, assorted gulls, and our first Ringed Plovers.

The famous Black Duck which lived here for several years, is no longer about. It has however left a few dodgy offspring/ Mallard crosses. We saw one of them, I'm sure.

Fed up with the conditions, we returned to the chalet to use our laptops and to have a welcome hot meal.