Coot Loch 2

 Tuesday May 3

This shouldn't take long. We've done very little to-day, and taken hardly any photographs. I'm not moaning, we are here for three weeks, there's nothing special about, and we had odd jobs to accomplish. And it rained.

A few days ago, I picked up my varifocals to find an arm off, the screw was missing. Of course. My reading half moons are missing the rubber cover to one of the nose pieces. In all the time I've worn glasses this is the first time that any pair has needed repairing. The optometrist visits once a week, he lives in Stornoway. We found the concrete bungalow where he's based, near the airfield in Benbecula. There was nothing on the door nor the web to say when he would be present. No-one local seemed to know either. 

Our first port of call was Baleshare to check on the Dotterel. Yes, they were still present, even more distant, despite the fact that the camping families had gone. There are several pairs of Lapwing in the area's fields, all caring for diminutive, fluffy, and delightful chicks. The chicks are totally disobedient, wandering freely in all directions, away from their parents, apparently indifferent to their frantic calls.

 

 

We then drove to Benbecula as news came up - again - that there was Garganey on Coot Loch. The optometrist was closed. We spent more than an hour scoping (me) Coot Loch, finding Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebes, Grey Heron, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Shoveller, Mallard, Ringed Plover, Coot, Moorhen and a Cormorant. We viewed the loch from all angles, all devoid of Garganey. Maddening.

Mid afternoon at Stinky Bay, for our second food of the day, can't really keep calling it late lunch. A skittering, restlessly feeding horde of Dunlin and Sanderling made the seaweed  fringing the water  appear to be moving. I never tire of watching them. Dozens of Eider fed on the water's edge.




As we were watching, our first Arctic Tern of the year flew past, its light, bounding flight alerting us to its identity.

 Passing the optometrist's, Pam noticed that there was a light on. Bingo. She took my glasses in, had to wait whilst an appointment was completed, and returned bearing two pairs of whole glasses. Excellent. £2.50.

It was still raining quite heavily, we retired for the day.

Moths

Last night's trap had a few more moths, the best of which was a beautiful Puss Moth.  Light conditions means no photos until tomorrow.

 


 

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