Day 17

Saturday May 11 

A day of warm sun and cloud, we spent the afternoon on Berneray. Berneray is the northern-most of the chain of islands in the Outer Hebrides linked by causeways. This particular 900 metre long causeway was only opened in 1999, by the present King Charles. The ferry for Lewis leaves from here and that terminal was only built in 1990. It's one of our favourite places to visit, especially on a sunny day when the views and scenery are stunning.

The lane to Borgh was the first port of call. This takes us up a steep track to a large plateau of machair, farmed extensively, but in a rota. The island is famous for growing potatoes. When you look at the land, one wonders how it grows anything.

It looks like pure sand. 

Not many birds on the machair today. An Arctic Tern flew through, it's buoyant flight unmistakeable. A few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers ran about the furrows. On to West Beach where we can park looking over the Sound of Lewis to the island of Harris and Lewis. This three mile stretch of machair bordered white sand was voted No 3 in Lonely Planet's Best Beaches in Europe. The tide was at its lowest ebb. showing even more white sand than we've seen before.The  camera can't really do it justice.

Gannets occasionally drifted through, sometimes landing on the sea, groups of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Redshank fed amongst the rocky reefs on the shore - until an off the lead dog raced through. All wonderfully tranquil, if not bird-full. Our first Little Terns of the year fished along the distant water's edge, only showing well through my telescope.

Birds Foot Trefoil has made an appearance after the few days of warmth. 

 

We drove home via Committee Road where the only bird we saw was a Golden Eagle soaring above the forestry plantation near the Raptor Viewpoint.

Moths

Six in number this morning, one of them a micro, Cochylis atricapittana. All the others were Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets which the new Scottish moth book tells me is thinly scattered in Scotland -  apart from its stronghold on the west coast and in the Hebrides.

I also learnt that Puss Moth has its stronghold in the Hebrides. Due to the absence of Great Spotted Woodpeckers which are the only birds strong enough to break through the cocoons and an abundance of its food plant, Sallow. That tree/shrub is found everywhere.

Addition

On the way up Committee Road this morning, a female Red Grouse almost didn't move from the middle of the road as we approached. An island tick.