Short and Sweet

Wednesday May 3

Only one moth in the overnight trap.  .But it was a Belted Beauty, A moth that was top of my wanted list when we first came to Uist. Fortnately, Ian found one on Barra when we visited for the day. We were both delighted with our catch. I took some photos of it in the pot but hope for some better ones tomorrow when it will have calmed down after a night in the fridge.

 Often found near common bird's-foot trefoil and kidney vetch. Coastal.

 Subspecies britannica

•     UK BAP: Priority species
      Rare (Red Data Book category 3)

• Subspecies atlantica
      UK BAP: Not listed
      Scarce (Nationally Scarce A)

Habitat

Coastal. Found on the machair of the Hebrides. Elsewhere it occurs on sand-dunes and, in one case, on a sandy salting.

Distribution

Now only found on two sites in north-west England and one site in north Wales, whereas in Scotland it is restricted to the west coast of Scotland, occurring on the Hebrides, the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Mull, Iona, Colonsay and Islay. 

The forecast rain did not really appear, just a few drops as we set out after lunch.We'd been bemoaning the fact that we hadn't seen any Short-eared Owls as yet. Today, we saw five. The fifth has just flown past the window. After a birdless Committee Road, we took the coast road back to Bayhead, exploring a couple of tracks off west towards the sea en route. One of them produced our first owl, which pounced on prey, then sat and ate it. 

After picking up my paper from the Bayhead Store, we drove up to the St Kilda  Viewpoint. From the westernmost point of the road that runs around North Uist, a minor, drivable track leads for 1.5 miles to the summit of Clettraval hill where a lookout point with telescope gives views west to the distant peaks of St Kilda and the Monach Isles. Well it does when there isn't a low lying mist over the sea. No raptors but good views of a Wheatear on top of a lichen clad post.

 

 

Shortly before reaching the Sollen end of Committee Road, a wire-perched bird was our first Cuckoo of the year. Always a joy to see, even if it was silent.

The return journey along Committee Road, produced rather distant sightings of three Short-eared Owls, and a better one of a Golden Eagle, our first on the island. 

The bird feeder Pam hung in the front willow hedge soon produced  regularly visiting clients. Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Starlings the main diners. Blackbirds, Robins, Chaffinches, Collared Doves and House Sparrows feed below on the food tossed out.