Our last day on North Uist started with sun and then a hard squally shower thrown against the windows by a very strong wind. The rain didn’t last long, the wind continued all day, at 14C it wasn’t freezing !
A possible Skua passage was predicted for to-day, first port of call was Balranald RSPB and Aird an Runair, the sea-watching headland.
On the way down, Pam noticed a Glaucous Gull standing with Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls at the side of the road.
J and D had been in situ at the headland since 6.15 a.m. and seen nothing of note i.e. no Long-tailed Skuas. We didn’t give it long before we departed for a last attempt at seeing Red-necked Phalaropes off the Griminish Road on Benbecula. A quick and negative look at the west side of the loch before driving to the eastern passing place where there is room for three cars at the most - if people park thoughtfully. Two cars ahead of us, one man already had one in his scope. Great. Pam pulled in beyond and I got out to set up the scope on the grassy mound.The second car moved on and Pam joined me to admire four very active Red-necked Phalaropes. Sculling about, flying off, returning for more of the same, landing out of sight in tall grass (they’re very small birds)., often disappearing into the reeds. It appeared to be two pairs, the females brighter than the males as the latter do the incubating. They actually bred here last year, fingers crossed for 2016.
Too small and distant, even for me, for photographs.
A last visit to Stinky Bay and then homeward bound via various side roads. We had lunch at Kallin, a very small harbour where there is a shellfish farm.
We listened to the cricket on the radio and heard Bairstow get his first century at his home ground, Leeds. Don’t know England’s final score but Sri Lanka were 84 for 8 in reply when we last heard. Oh for the internet.
We shall get in to the Travelodge too late to-morrow for me to use my saved four transfers to insert FA Cup Final players into my Fantasy team. Bother the internet here on the island, it’s not just us in this cottage.
The men from Glamorgan Bird Club told us that they’d seen and photographed a Black Panther coming out of the old plantation and going back in again. They were deadly serious.
Back to pack the car, clean the cottage and leave the minimum to do later and to-morrow morning’s 5.45 a.m. set off for Lochmaddy and the ferry.
We can’t resist Committee Road which is only 10 minutes from the cottage. Short-eared Owl, a pair of Golden Eagles playing together for at least 20 minutes, two Merlin, a pair of Hen Harriers playing chase me in the bank of young conifers at the Sollas end of the road. Brilliant.
This Owl posed on the ground.
Only enough time to return, change shirts and drive to the Westford Inn, a Georgian listed building, for supper with J and D. A very pleasant meal and home..........via Committee Road. The Owl again and a Greenshank and Grey Heron for the list. Only the second Greenshank in three weeks, we usually see several on Mull, just the one this year.
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