Highlands and Islands 2022

 Saturday May 7 14C, virtually cloudless blue sky until late afternoon. A perfect Hebridean day, we went to Berneray.   Berneray is a small island (roughly 2 miles by 3), rich in wildlife and history, with a long sweep of white sand on the west coast, backed by high dunes and machair. The island has approximately 130 inhabitants. Crofting and fishing are mainstays of the economy. It's north of North Uist, connected by a causeway which was only built in the late 20th Century, officially opened by Prince Charles in 1999. He spent some time, in secret, working as a crofter on the island, until then, the island was a part of South Harris.  We spent some time on the machair clifftop, overlooking a magnificent white sand bay, looking across the Sound of Harris to Lewis and Harris. My camera couldn't quite manage the colouring, it was very Caribbean without the accompanying heat. I shall have to try again. From our car, we saw four Great Northern Divers in summer plumage, G...

 Friday May 6 The Houdini duck is called Cuddles. Heather paid us a visit this morning, bringing clean towels. When the duck sees Heather, it high-tails it back towards its pen.  All very entertaining.  The wind was due to turn to a North Westerly this afternoon, conducive to bringing migrating skuas closer inshore at Aird an Runair, a headland a few miles north of here. That was our destination. We have seen dozens of Whimbrel this week, all very distant. To-day, Pam noticed a single bird roadside. Although it moved gently away, there was a good photographic opportunity.   Passing the Balranald campsite, we called in to the Cabin, a small wooden hut which serves food and drink to passers by. Anne, the owner is a hive of information about the area. Pam asked her about farming the machair, we'd seen a tractor pulling a large roller over a tilled section yesterday. All planting has to be completed by May 15th. First ploughed, then planted and finally, rolled. The plant...

 Thursday May 5 As predicted, we rose to heavy rain showers and fog. We still went out, first call Baleshare to check on the Dotterel. No sign of any, the field had been muck spread. The brisk southerly had brought out four kite surfers. The speed of their progress across the impressive surf was electrifying, at times, both board and rider leaving the water, making giant leaps into the air.  If I were younger.... Looking out for Lapwing chicks on the way back, Pam saw a small flock of waders land in a distant field. We have been seeing daily flocks of Whimbrel pausing on their travels, we assumed that these were. No, it was twenty of the first Golden Plover we've seen this trip.  The campsite Cabin had re stocked their unsmoked bacon. Armed with bacon sandwiches, we drove to Aird an Runair beach for breakfast/lunch with a view. Little Terns, an Arcric Tern, Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Gannet, and Sanderling. As we were leaving the site, the jangle of a Corn Bunting ...

Wednesday May 4  Loch Ainort, on the east coast of South Uist, is one of our favourite birding spots. The winding lane through moorland, and over lochs, and bridges culminates in a small hamlet at a dead end.  The very small, mixed woodland can hold several species of passerines seldom seen elsewhere on the islands. The drive there was highlighted by our first Short-eared Owl , they seem to be in short supply here this year. Soon after turning for Ainort, a male Hen Harrier was silhoutted against the hillside, they always seem to be in a tremendous hurry. There was actually room for us to park in the five car parking space. From here we can view the rocks on which many Seals pull out to rest. There were about twenty today. I took some photos but they were not on my camera. I had a glitch today where it told me - twice - that I hadn't got a memory card in place. This was despite having worked perfectly in between. My best Wheatear photos were missing too. Red-breasted Merganser...

  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 field...

Monday May 2  Whilst I finished reading my book, Pam had a busy morning helping Heather herd a Houdini Muscovy Duck back into her pen. Twice. Despite watching her, no-one has been able to fathom how she gets out. Fiona's sheepdog tries to help - but she's frightened of the duck. I then had a welcome phone call from daughter Sara. Eventually, we set off, intercepted by Heather bearing a bag of four biscuits she'd knocked up in between duck herding. Very nice too. We were looking for Coot Loch. I  knew that it was in Benbecula, like many birding places named by birders, it's not on the maps, nor on the internet. A gift shop owner made a phone call and we were on our way. Past Stinky Bay - another name not mapped - where there were about 30 Eider ducks - and then a detour to the Phalarope loch. There we had a Shoveller     a very dark Common Redshank     and a Wigeon.  A Little Egret on roadside water was a Hebridean tick.  Coot Loch was on the left ...

 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...