Day 19

 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 of Special Scientific Interest. The reserve is made up of a freshwater loch surrounded by moorland, peat bogs and pockets of woodland, and is a haven for wildlife throughout the year.

 Ian Ford, a guide for Heatherlea had given us directions to a White-tailed Eagle nest the other side of the loch.We tried looking from the RSPB car park first, but couldn't find the Rhododendron markers, let alone the nest. A little further down the road, we saw a few birders looking from a large lay-by. We pulled in and started looking, Pam found the Rhododendrons and then, as the group was leaving, one of the women came back and gave us detailed instructions. The nest was very distant, but through my scope I could see white tail feathers at one side of the twig mass and an imperious pale head with its massive yellow beak, sticking up on the right. I couldn't resist trying a photo, meant for end of year folder only, far too bad for my Blog. Here it is.

The rain became torrential, it was time to move on for another call at Loch Mor. We joined one other car there and Pam got out to fetch my scope. Using my binoculars, I scanned the back of the loch. Bingo. Two Red-necked Phalaropes spinning around, feeding voraciously. 

 

A  shame that the light was so poor. One of the birds was still there when we left, in more heavy rain.

Pam loves Stinky Bay - as do I - as it can always be relied upon for both numbers and variety of birds. No cars so we parked on top of the concrete jetty leading down to the pier. As I scoped the seaweed near to me, I saw a bird whose identity I wasn't entirely sure of. It was in a plumage I've never seen before. A Little Stint. 

The final icing on the afternoon's cake was a Short-eared Owl hunting along the road.