All's Well.........

I

Monday May 15

The RSPB reserve of Druidibeg is in South Uist, Although we cannot walk to the actual reserve, the eastern glens and lochs leading past it to the sea are spectacular - and a reliable source for both eagles. Usually. Not today. The gorse is spectacular too, a rich buttery yellow with enormous bracts of flowers set close together.

 

The only birds we saw were Wheatears and Stonechats and Meadow Pipits.  All nice to see but not what we hoped for. The biggest surprise was coming across four Guinea Fowl, incongruously finding food amongst the heather.

 

We did meet - in a passing place - a couple we'd first met on Mull about six years ago. We last saw them on Committee Road two years ago where they were watching displaying Arctic Skuas. The miracle is, I remembered them and Pam didn't, a complete opposite to the norm. Such conversations are often brought to an abrupt end by oncoming traffic.

The Dotterel had been reported from Balranald again this morning, but not since. We decided to have another go - via Loch Mhor in Balivanich. One car in THE layby, and yes, there she was, the female Red-necked Phalarope, still waiting for her mate to arrive. the sunny day had gone, a grey overcast with occasional spats of rain had replaced it.  The bird was closer than at any previous time - on Pam's side of the car. I took a few handheld photos before passing my gear across to Pam, who took the second of the photos below. My favourite so far.

 

 

 Passing Benbecula airfield, Pam saw a large bird flying across the inner plain. It was a White-tailed Eagle. We chased it for a quarter of a mile, but it just spiralled ever upwards and out of view. Then another flew high and away as we were approaching C.R. The day was fast improving - bird-wise.

That looked promising. Four birders stood, looking through their scopes, at the field immediately past the campsite. Where the Dotterel had been reported earlier. Nowhere to park and the road was clear so we stopped. Immediately, a kind man approached and pointed out to us exactly where the bird was standing. Not easy in a green and sand expanse of raked machair. A piece of blue plastic helped. I managed a few photos of where I hoped the bird might be, before we had to drive on. 

As we passed the campsite, Sue and Ian drove in, beckoning us to follow them. We stopped at their caravan so that Sue could give us their order for tomorrow's Chinese meal - and a piece of cucumber! Ian set up his scope and was able to locate the Dotterel from the campsite.

It was getting late, we still had Committee Road to do. Driving down into Sollas, we came across the local male Hen Harrier hunting the hillside.. Pam was able to stop. He flew backwards and forwards across her window several times before we had to move on. I had to try and photograph him. I have never been successful with this species. I was pleased to find I'd got some sort of result for the first time ever.

 

The Raptor Watchpoint held one other car, a Dutch couple were eating their evening meal sat outside in the shelter of the boot lid. Pam scanned the hillside finding a Golden Eagle hovering, sometimes dropping, high above the hill ridge.

Good to end the birding day on that note, it really did end well. And the sun came out.