Day 30

 Friday May 24

Our last day on Uist. Again, cloudy and overcast, but the wind has dropped and we had a dry day. As Pam has a lot of driving to do tomorrow, I left it to her as to where we went in the afternoon.

The day started well with a new moth in the trap. Only 10 species in total with a new one for the trip, Flame Shoulder, and a Broom Moth. I can't remember seeing one before, it's a moorland speciality, but will have to wait until we get home to check. A rather attractive moth.


 We'd promised ourselves another look at the loch where we'd seen Black-throated Diver off the old road to Lochmaddy. We struggled to find the right bit of old road , but were successful. We saw one Black-throated Diver distantly before going on to the turn back point near another loch. This one had three adult Red-throated Divers. Again very distant without any sun to highlight the plumage. Here's a record shot example.

 


Driving on to Lochmaddy, we took the coast road to Sollas via the Berneray road. It was pleasant to view a new bit of the island. 

Pam came to a halt. There was a Short-eared Owl sat on a roadside post - and it didn't fly away, despite several groups of cyclists coming towards us and asking what we were looking at. Pam had to keep the engine running so conditions weren't perfect but I loved the opportunity. 



 Only our second visit to Aird an Runair, we wanted to say goodbye. Having stopped at the campsite Dunes Cabin for a drink and some cake, we sat at the beach. A few small waders on the shoreline, a few Eiders and a Great Northern Diver offshore.

The machair has more flowers than we've ever seen.  The hot weather has brought them out earlier. We haven't identified all of them yet but daisies, violas, coltsfoot and buttercups together with a small mauve flower make a colourful carpet. I can't do them justice with my camera.






Committee Road produced two Hen Harriers, a male and a female, and we saw two more owls on the way home.

Ian and Heather arrived at 8 o'clock, Ian to help pack the car and Heather to chat. I'll miss them, they're lovely people and good company.




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