Monday May 16
Another leisurely start, it’s getting to be a pleasant habit. Hard not to start by driving to Balranald...... we didn’t though.
Our journey south started at Loch Sanderay, where we were scanning the loch when my phone hooted to inform me that a message had arrived. A text from J telling us that there were three Otters on the loch where we’d seen a displaying black Ruff yesterday. Balranald after all. The convenient Passing Place was empty, we were able to set up our scopes to find nothing on the main loch. Pam then saw a head break the surface of the strip of water at the back. This became two well grown kitts gambolling along the grassy bank, diving into the water and then repeating the action. The mother also appeared, behaving rather more staidly. Thank you J.
Interruption there.. Pam went out to the car and heard a Corncrake very close over the wall on my side of the car. We both went out and stood looking over. The Corncrake flew onto a heap of wood no more that 4 metres away, calling loudly before flying into the back garden. Wow. Pam had her camera, mine was in the car.
Continuing our journey south via Grimsay and onto Benbecula. We stopped at Loch Baa to try and see Phalaropes, with no luck. Via various supermarket calls to try and buy Zovirax for my cold sore, we arrived at the Range. A now disused firing/bomb site, although the warning signs are still in place.The track runs just inland from the sea along an area of ploughed machair forming a rough, sandy and undulating extensive steep slope. Many birds scattered about, once I got my eye in but, not the Dotterel we were hoping for. An oncoming birder hadn’t seen one either, he did tell us where he’d seen Phalaropes yesterday morning and evening !!
After some enjoyable photography of the small seashore foragers, dashers and darters -
Another leisurely start, it’s getting to be a pleasant habit. Hard not to start by driving to Balranald...... we didn’t though.
Our journey south started at Loch Sanderay, where we were scanning the loch when my phone hooted to inform me that a message had arrived. A text from J telling us that there were three Otters on the loch where we’d seen a displaying black Ruff yesterday. Balranald after all. The convenient Passing Place was empty, we were able to set up our scopes to find nothing on the main loch. Pam then saw a head break the surface of the strip of water at the back. This became two well grown kitts gambolling along the grassy bank, diving into the water and then repeating the action. The mother also appeared, behaving rather more staidly. Thank you J.
Interruption there.. Pam went out to the car and heard a Corncrake very close over the wall on my side of the car. We both went out and stood looking over. The Corncrake flew onto a heap of wood no more that 4 metres away, calling loudly before flying into the back garden. Wow. Pam had her camera, mine was in the car.
Continuing our journey south via Grimsay and onto Benbecula. We stopped at Loch Baa to try and see Phalaropes, with no luck. Via various supermarket calls to try and buy Zovirax for my cold sore, we arrived at the Range. A now disused firing/bomb site, although the warning signs are still in place.The track runs just inland from the sea along an area of ploughed machair forming a rough, sandy and undulating extensive steep slope. Many birds scattered about, once I got my eye in but, not the Dotterel we were hoping for. An oncoming birder hadn’t seen one either, he did tell us where he’d seen Phalaropes yesterday morning and evening !!
After some enjoyable photography of the small seashore foragers, dashers and darters -
Pam drove out on a concrete slipway - we repaired to the Hebridean Jewellery cafe for a hot drink and a piece of Salted Caramel sponge cake, which was much too sweet for me. I walked resolutely past the earring display.
Phalarope time again. A birder was scoping on the mound of the passing place we used this morning. He came straight over to tell us he had one in his scope if we’d like to see. Yes please. He was very crestfallen to find that the bird was gone, not to be seen again.
We photographed an unusually quiet, perched Green-veined White. Either newly emerged or paralysed by the cold. 10 -11C all day with a northerly wind.
On to the passing place at the far end where we sat for an hour and a half enjoying displaying Snipe and Dunlin, summer handsome Redshank, a lone Teal and.......a fly over White-tailed Eagle. It put the earlier Buzzard and Ravens in the shade. J and D had joined us for a short chat before returning to the other end. Between us we had the loch covered. No luck for them either.
Pam made the excellent suggestion that we return home via the Committee Road - the very pretty way. Waw, a male Hen Harrier, one of my favourite birds, put on a flying display for us in the gathering gloom. Coast road back, adding Stonechat and Wheatear to the islands' list. A good day.
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