Day 13

Tuesday May 7 

Finding that my Kindle had died was not a good start. Without a source of reading material, I feel lost. It is old, and had been showing signs of wear and tear, refusing to accept a charge was the final nail. I think that the connection has gone. Pam has kindly offered me hers until my new one arrives. 

After checking Loch nam Feithean for the reported Garganey - we saw two here last year - with no luck, we drove to the Range, via Stinky Bay and Coot Loch. The tide was well out, leaving huge mounds of seaweed for the gulls and small waders. One has to look closely to see how many small waders, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Turnstone are feeding there. They are so well camouflaged by the seaweed. A surprise was more Red Knot, . some of them red. We've only seen singles on the Uists before. Dunlin were the standout species.

 

Coot Loch brought us our first Canada Goose, Teal and Moorhen of the isles. No Coot though. At least four Little Grebe, a Grey Heron, the ubiquitous Tufted Ducks, and Shoveller, with Swallows feeding overhead.

Approaching The Range in South Uist, we pass a series of rocky bays heavily carpeted in seaweed, which we always thought was Stinky  Bay. Because it is. Firstly it clears your nostrils, and it then fills every crevice in your head! The birds love it. Here, the usual small waders were joined by Bar-tailed Godwits with more Ringed Plover than previously seen.

 

No red flag flying on the Range but we were not there long. The machair had been ploughed but there were few birds present. Ian told Pam that all the machair has to be ploughed by May 15 and then not touched until August 1st  to protect breeding birds. A few Common Terns swooped in off the sea, none alighted.

Today it was a Meadow Pipit which sat on a post asking to be photographed. 

 

 

We spent some time in the area trying to locate the Corncrakes calling. We heard at least five - and saw none. 

Sue and Ian arrived this afternoon, I'm pleased that the sun came out to greet them.

Today's Moths

Another small catch. Two Dark-barred Twin -spot Carpets, a Red Chestnut, Clouded Drab and an Agonopterix sp.

.