Weather Forecast - Fairy Tale

 Sunday May 14

Forecast to be grey overcast all day with a north  easterly wind. Until mid afternoon, it was all sun with a cooling wind. Then, a mixture of overcast, sharp showers and more sun. 

We drove south via Loch Mor on Benbecula, the Phalarope loch. Although not in view when we drove up, the female soon appeared, nearer than yesterday but spending much of its time in the grassy islets. A male Shoveller was resplendent in the sun.

 

We spent the afternoon in South Uist.  The 'other' sea watching area in the Outer Hebrides is Ardvule. Also on the west coast but in South Uist. It's labelled Rubha Aird a' Mhuile on the maps. I knew that one had to walk most of the way out to the point, but had used an OS map to find a nearby area which we could drive to. Last year, we'd seen a Basking Shark in this area. We found the correct turnoff, signposted Troilaisgair, drove to the end of the metalled road, before then driving a sandy, tractor-rutted track to a grassy mound looking north towards Ardvule.

 

Whilst Pam lunched, I scanned an apparently empty sea. Although not very rough, the incoming tide hurled white-topped rollers onto the rocky beach. Further out, there was a swell of white flecked wavelets, any birds on the surface disappearing for lengthy periods. During the hour or so I managed to scan, I saw several groups of my favourite Gannets, a male Common Scoter, Shags, Cormorants, one Long-tailed Skua battling its way north, and a lone Manx Shearwater skimming the waves below a line of six Gannets. 

We explored a few more side roads on the way back north. Here's another Wheatear photo of the trip contender. 


 

An adult Golden Eagle hunted the mountain ridge near the giant Lady of the Isles statue, its golden head clearly visible. 

We couldn't resist another Loch Mor visit. Yes, the Red-necked Phalarope made another appearance, again hiding in the grasses - but its colour showed better in the late afternoon golden sunshine. Even if this did make the general colouring a little odd. Photos cropped but not altered.

 



As we were passing the Smokehouse, I had a message from Sue to say that they were watching an adult Glaucous Gull on Loch Paible. They'd also seen an elusive Dotterel at Balranald.. We joined them at Paible, and were able to admire the snowy white Glaucous Gull at a distance, before it flew off towards Loch Sandaray.

No luck with the Dotterel for us, a last visit to CR - it would be wrong to pass without visiting! A handsome male Men Harrier quartered the hillside, pouncing several times without luck. We saw our only Short-eared Owl of the day soon after re-joining the 'main' road. 

A most enjoyable day, I was really looking forward to my supper.

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