Not a Lot

 Saturday May 13

The only new bird around for us is a Curlew Sandpiper, first reported two days ago on Loch Paible. We didn't try for it immediately as there is no access to the loch and viewing is difficult. Ian told us that it was possible from the road. 

The drive to Paible took much longer than usual. A procession of cars, most of them holding booted and suited men, plus many motorhomes fresh off the Lewis ferry. This entailed longish waits in the passing places - they were all coming towards us. Later, as suspected, we found that there was a funeral.

Bayhead Stores next, where we were reminded that the papers did not come until after 5 o'clock on a Saturday, as they have to come by boat. If the boat runs - there were problems yesterday.

On a grey ,heavy overcast day, we drove the Paible loop road, parking at the end of a lane to view what was a nearly dry loch. The nearer strip had feeding cattle, a Whooper Swan flew in, splashing down on the little water left in the further pool. Scoping, I found that there was a mass of feeding Dunlin on the seaweed beyond the cows. Looking through this ever moving, scurrying, flying and landing again, mixture of Turnstones, Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin was a bit of a nightmare. Looking for one bird was daunting, especially as they kept changing position.

For a rest, I switched to the cattle strip, just in time to see the Curlew Sandpiper showing well in an open area clear of a grassy verge, Pam saw it well too. I picked up my camera.........it had gone, and did not re-appear. 

Time for another look at Aird an Runair. It's probably the UK's most famous migrating Skua watchpoint. To-day's blustery and cold wind could be promising, although not from the desired direction. The sandy track out to the bay is worse than ever. Deeply rutted and holey, deep in the machair. We joined one other car, seeing the usual small waders, Eider ducks loafing on the rocks, Arctic and Little Terns fishing the shallows. It's a lovely bay, its sheer size making it a challenge.

Especially for Mags:

 


We enjoy driving the coast road to Sollas, although it was pretty lacking in wildlife today. The Cuckoo was showing well behind the memorial gardens at Grenitote.

Another two Cuckoos flew about the fences and heather  on Committee  Road, never stopping to give us a good look. Ian and Sue caught up with us, we'd driven straight past them - and missed a male Hen Harrier which had crossed the road behind us. They handed over a custard doughnut for Pam (!), and we gave them a menu for the Chinese restaurant.

As soon as we stopped in the Raptor watch-point, Pam spotted a Golden Eagle soaring above the plantation. We watched this speck  in the sky for some time before it finally dropped out of view. Always a pleasure. Then Ravens started streaming across the moorland from behind us. There must have been over forty, it was impossible to keep count. They were just flying around, messing about, disappearing beyond the ridge.

 

Paper time. We had to wait for the van to come in and for the papers to be sorted - that's when Pam found out about the funeral. 

Home, where Heather is having trouble with the lambs the limping crofter brought yesterday. They are refusing to suckle. Heather thinks that maybe they did not have a chance to feed from their mother and will not even try. Sad.

At least Man U won to-day. 2-0 against Wolves.

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 12

Image
 Monday May 6 Most of the morning was occupied getting in touch with the car insurance people and then Autoglass - then waiting for Autoglass to get back to us.  A  stone chipped our windscreen on the way through Skye, since then its become a one foot plus horizontal crack on Pam's side. End result. We take the car to Lewis or Skye or wait until we get home. The garage here 'doesn't have the equipment to deal with the sensor in the front screen'. Ian, Heather's husband, says he does them all the time! Ah well, live with it.  Almost the first bird we saw as we drove north was a lovely male Hen Harrier. It was distant but I had to try, one of these days I'll get a decent photo. Original photo before editing, taken with 500mm lens    Edited     As we drove down to Loch Paible, a flock of fifteen Whimbrel dropped in to the near corner.We needed to turn the car, by which time the birds had gone, this Wheatear posed nicely for me.    A short d...
Read more

Moth Migration

Image
 Wednesday October 9 Like birds, moths migrate when the season and weather conditions are right. Recently, we have had easterly winds with a mouth watering fall of birds which we have been unable to walk and see. Many Yellow-browed Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warbler in Shetland, a possible Amur Stonechat and an Asian Desert Warbler in Norfolk. Our moth traps have had a reasonable sprinkling of the migrant moths - although some could be breeding here by now. Palpita Vitrialis Scarce Bordered Straw Delicate   and Rusty Dot Pearl
Read more

Day 19

Image
  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...
Read more