Day 20

 Tuesday May 14

Rain was not conducive to an early start.  In response to a phone call from Sue with generous information as to where to see Black-throated Diver, we set off on the Lochmaddy Road. Pausing to shut the gate, a male Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl appeared across the road from us. What a place to stay. 

Eventually we found the correct bit of old Lochmaddy road and drove along it, looking at all the lochs, large and small, that we came across.The road is still in good enough condition, very narrow, through peat bog and moorland. Interesting. The largest loch was a challenge. Not only very large, it was irregular in shape with many islets and crags. Pam was the first to notice a Black-throated Diver making its very distant way from behind the left bank to the other side of an islet. Yes, we were delighted, having missed one in the Highlands for the first time ever. Apart from a Stonechat and the inevitable gulls the rest of our visit was quiet.

The Paible loop road takes us to a dead  end side road, finishing at the seaward end of Loch Paible. There's a notice here all about nesting Corncrakes. We have never seen nor heard one in the area. To-day, we heard our first, very loudly, from just over the fence. With patience, we saw the bird very well, despite its elusiveness, the wire mesh fence between us and the very thick and tall tufts of grass.



 

In total, we heard three Corncrakes in this area and thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.

I couldn't resist this posing female Wheatear.

On to Ard an Runair, our first visit this trip. The road out to the bay has not improved. There are more large holes and they're bigger. Once there, the bay is lovely. White sand, the classic half moon shape edged by dunes and rocks. The light was too poor for photos today.The usual small waders scurried on the beach - and we missed the Peregrine which startled them all into flight. It appeared from nowhere, and left just as stealthily. 

Two Short-eared Owls along an early dusk-lit Committee Road and home to relax.

 

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