2022 Hebridean Adventures, Pt. 4 - 27th to 29th May

This is my fourth, and final, post of my account of our visit to The Outer Hebrides in May this year. If you missed them you can find my previous posts on my visit here:- 

https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2022/06/2022-hebridean-adventures-pt-1-19th-to.html

https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-hebridean-adventures-pt-2-23rd-may.html

https://peglerbirding.blogspot.com/2022/07/2022-hebridean-adventures-pt-3-24th-to.html

Friday, 27th May                Clachan Sands ; Loch Portain ; Balranald ; Clachan Sands

This was, effectively, our last day in the Outer Hebrides, as we would be leaving early the next morning. In anticipation of a relatively arduous day as we set off homeward, we decided not to wander too far from base.

The day started very windy, but calmed considerably later, ending up at 22-28 mph (35-45 kph). It was a day of sunshine and showers with temperatures of around 11°c with the wind chill making it feel more like 8°c (according to my weather app.).

A wander up the lane after breakfast produced a Short-eared Owl which, I suspect, was after nestlings, and a confiding Oystercatcher.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - Clachan Sands, North Uist

Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ostralegus) - Clachan Sands

The dead-end road to Loch Portain is quite close to where we stay, and we have only visited there once before, so we reckoned it was worth checking out again. We were not disappointed.

We soon found an obliging Meadow Pipit that was probably feeding young.

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - road to Loch Portain, North Uist

Lindsay spoted two Red Deer on the hillside on her side of the car and, fortunately, there was a place where we could pull in without blocking the road. I was amused by the 'eight-legged deer' in the second shot below!

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (female) - from road to Loch Portain

I was distracted by a Wheatear that flew in. It didn't stay long and didn't present itself in a very photogenic manner, but I'd seen so few of them in this year's visit to the Outer Hebrides that it warrants an inclusion.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (female) - road to Loch Portain

When I turned round again, the deer had become one four-legged one!

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (female) - from road to Loch Portain

Having travelled each of the three 'forks' at the end of this road, we set off westward, stopping at The Wee Cottage Kitchen for a light lunch, and then heading south-west down the Committee Road. Maybe it was the windy weather that was keeping the birds down, but the Committee Road had been far less productive during our stay this year than on previous years, and the only thing I found to photograph on this day was a Stonechat.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (male) - Committee Road, North Uist

Lindsay fancied a walk on the beach near the RSPB reserve at Balranald and, as this was also a place with good propects for observing waders, I was more than happy to oblige.

As we set off along the track across the machair, I spotted a very confiding Corn Bunting, on my side of the car. This is a species that I rarely see, and Balranald is a good place to seek them. This one was proudly calling, showing that amazing bill that is a feature of this species.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) - RSPB Balranald, North Uist

Lindsay set off for her walk along the beach and headed southward, away from the area frequented by birds. I descended  to the nearby rocks and found myself a spot where I could sit and wait for the birds to come to me. I didn't have to wait long.

Just four species of wader (the usual suspects :- Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone) were noted. Sometimes they came really close.

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - beach by Balranald

Sanderling (Calidris alba) - beach by Balranald

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) - beach by Balranald

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - beach by Balranald

I did get a shot of Dunlin and Turnstone together. Although the Turnstone is very much out of focus, I show the shot here as it gives an understanding of the difference in size between these two species.

 

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) + Dunlin (Calidris alpina) - beach by Balranald

It was now time to head back to base. 

 

As we approached our lane, I noted that one of the pair of Mute Swans that hed young nearby was near to the road, with two young cygnets in attendance.

 

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (adult + young) - from B893, North Uist

After tea, and some basic packing in preparation for our early departure in the moning, I decided to have a last session sitting in my car up the lane from the cottage. This turned out to be my best session, by far, of this whole Outer Hebrides break, purely because of my love of Short-eared Owls.

 

Within minutes of me parking in my chosen location, an owl appeared. It stayed distant at first, but then started getting closer. I got a shot of it sitting on a post, not too far away.

 

Short-eared Owl (Asius flammeus) - Clachan Sands

At one point in time it came really close and, frustratingly, hovered behind a gate before dropping to the ground and then zooming off. I did get a shot, and it would have been a very satisfying one - if the gate had not been in the way!

 

Short-eared Owl (Asius flammeus) - Clachan Sands

After a while, the owl flew up the road towards me, on my side of the road, and on a course which would have it passing my open car window at a distance of about 5 metres. When it got to around 10 metres away it veered across the front of my car, looking at me through the windscreen as it did so, and passed on the opposite side!

 

About fifteen minutes later, it did exactly the same thing - very frustrating!

 

After another ten minutes or so, it looked as if it was going to repeat the action for the third time. To my delight, this time it passed on my side of the car at close range and I'd managed to wind the lens back to 170mm and got three frames in before it was too far behind me to follow further.

 

Short-eared Owl (Asius flammeus) - Clachan Sands

After this, it stayed more distant. I feel sure that it had been checking me out and, having satisfied its curiosity, continued to carry on with business. I did take many more photos that session and here are a few.

 

Short-eared Owl (Asius flammeus) - Clachan Sands

The session ended as it had started - with the owl on its favourite post!

 

Saturday, 28th May                Lochmaddy, North Uist to Kinross, Perth and Kinross 

We were pleased to note that the forecast was for a much calmer day, with sunny spells and temperatures reaching 13°c. The alarm was set to wake us at 04.45 to ensure that we were at the ferry port for last check-in at 6.45 Having finished packing and sorting out round the cottage, we departed and arrived at the terminal in good time.

The ferry departed on time and, as usual, I spent the whole of the one and three quarter hour crossing out on deck looking for birds and cetaceans. No cetaceans were seen but I was pleased to see more birds than I did on our outward crossing. Here are a few.

Gannet (Morus bassanus) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Guillemot (Uria aalge) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

A few Guillemots, more common in the north of their range, have 'white spectacles' and these are referred to as Bridled Guillemots. This is such an individual.

Guillemot (Uria aalge) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)  - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Razorbill (Alca torda) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

Puffins are delightful birds, with rather short wings, and so it takes some effort for them to take to the air when on water. I have seen on several occasions that, when they are approached by a ferry, they tend to flap furiously and splash across the surface of the water before coming to a halt with a splash when they feel that they are at a safe distance.

Puffin (Fratercula arctica) - from Lochmaddy to Uig ferry

From Uig, we had an easy run across the Isle of Skye followed by a lunch stop at the GlenCoe Mountain Resort. and the another stop for tea and cake at the Artisan Cafe and Deli, south-east of Tyndrum. By the time we got to Kinross Travelodge, a snack purchased from the M&S Food shop in the service area was all that we required.

Sunday, 29th May         Kinross to Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire

Lindsay had had a disturbed night, and was somewhat under the weather in the morning, which we subsequently found was due to her having caught Covid.

I remember little of the last leg of our journey home, except that it passed without major incident. We had a very enjoyable lunch at Harts Coffee House & Deli in Boston Spa that we had found on our outward journey, and arived home in time for tea.

Thus ended a very enjoyable stay on the Outer Hebrides, in spite of having the worst weather week that we've had there so far, and returning with the dreaded virus. 

I will take this opportunity to thank Ian and Heather for another splendid stay in the comfort and magic of Tigh na Boireach. It is absolutely perfect for our requirements and we look forward to returning in 2023!

 

My next blog post will almost certainly feature some local observations and, as a consequence, be somewhat shorter than my recent blog posts!

In the meantime, thank you for dropping by. Please take good care of yourselves and Nature - - - Richard.