North Uist Day 1

 Sunday May 1

What a lovely day. Despite a late start - lunchtime - we were successful with birds seen, the sun shone, and we loved being back. We needed a leisurely morning after a hard week rushing around and yesterday's ferry journey. 

Our first stop was Baleshare, a mere two miles down the road. It's a pretty flat, tidal and low lying island which is now connected to the rest of North Uist by a causeway.  The causeway was built in 1962 and it made a huge difference to the island's mainly farming community, with fifty or so now resident on Baleshare. The main reason for singling out this small island, is that it has magnificent beaches on its western side.   One is unlikely to see many others on the beach, as it is not on the tourist's normal route. It is on ours, as we have seen some good birds out here in the past.

The parking  is a flattish area of shingle. Pam located the sought birds, and we drove the car further for a better view. One of our favourite birds. There were five Dotterel feeding on the daisy rich pasture, three of the colourful females, and two of the dowdier males.It's the males who look after the eggs and chicks, role reversal.

 

On our way to the next stop, Pam noticed a flight of waders, which then dropped onto the shores of a small lochan. About twenty five Whimbrel, fresh from their migration leg, bathed, preened, and fed.

A very late lunch, bought at the campsite Kabin, we drove to Ard an Runair sea watching headland to eat  it. We stayed there for a couple of hours, watching Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers feeding amongst the stranded seaweed. All in splendid summer plumage. A Great Northern Diver appeared and disappeared in the haze, Gannets flew through, Eiders idled on the rocks, and we had our first Little Terns of the year. Two Twite dibbled about on the field edge.

The muck which had been spread on the machair made the drive back redolent, although it was very attractive to the gulls. A herd  of deep brown cows and their calves enjoyed the new machair growth.

 

Having passed a field full of the small, black, sturdy, Hebridean sheep and their offspring, we came across the field where the tups were relaxing. They are splendid.

 

We could not end the day without a trip up Committee Road. Not at all birdy today. Stonechats and one immature White-tailed Eagle added to the ever present Meadow Pipits.

As we pulled in to the flat's parking place, we noticed a smaller brown addition to the ever present pair of Blackbirds. I expected it to be a Song Thrush. It was a Redwing. A real surprise. Will it stay or continue north. If the latter, it's extremely late.

 

The moth trap is out, fingers crossed for some nice ones in the morning.