Anyone who is going to the Uists, including North and South, plus Benbecula and Berneray might find this report interesting.
We drove to Oban on the 28th May, arriving early evening. We were cathing the 7.30am ferry to Loch Boisedale, South Uist the next morning.
29th May. Awoke to birdsong at 5.30am so we took a walk around the B&B where we were staying in Oban. Hooded crow, Stock dove, Pied wagtail, Wood warbler, Great spotted woodpecker and other more common species were seen during an hour or so walk.
Arrived at the ferry terminal around 7am and a quick scan of the harbour produced 2 Black guillemot and a Male Eider.
During the crossing (when not asleep) we saw: Great skua (Bonxie), Gannet, Black guillemot, Razorbill, Common guillemot, Kitiwake, Common gull, LBB, GBB, Pod of dolphins and a Minkie whale.
On arrival at Loch Boisedale we stopped at the local CO-OP just a few miles down the road. On the pool by the CO-OP we saw: Reed Warbler, Redshank and Oystercatcher. During the drive up to North Uist (Lochmaddy) where we were staying, and a small drive around in the afternoon, we saw: Buzzard, Hooded crow, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Tufted duck, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Northern wren, Ringed plover, Wheatear, Stonechat, Curlew, Common tern, Cuckoo, Goosander, Red breasted merganser, Short eared owl, Shellduck, Common seal and Grey seal.
Record shots of the White tailed eagle being mobbed by a GBB gull.
Will add more shortly when I have time.
30th May. Dry with sunny spells but quite windy. Drive around North Uist, taking in Balnarald RSPB and Comittee road.
Short eared owl perched high on heather on the A865 near Balnarald. A walk in the bay at the reserve produced plenty of waders which were really tame. Dunlin, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ringed plover, Arctic tern, A great Norethern diver out in the bay, Kittiwake, Common gull, LBB, GBB, Meadow pipit, Wheatear, Lapwing, Snipe roding,Oystercatcher, Gannet, Twite, Eider, Swallow, Cuckoo, Skylark. Corncrake heard but not seen on this occasion.
Comittee Road. Male Hen harrier near the large plantation, it was quartering the tree line then came toward the road as we watched it. Views from around 70yds.
Traigh Bhalaigh, Northern end of the comittee road we saw an immature female Golden eagle which was radio tagged, Rock pipit and Little tern also seen here along with other species already mentioned.
31st May. Dry and sunny but still windy. Benbecula. Stopped off at Lionacleit and had a look behing the sports centre, there is a lot of sand dunes and Machair here. Merlin over the dunes, Long tailed skua along the coastline, Skylark. We then went to a local rubbish tip where there had been Arctic skua in the past, unfortunately we didn't see the Arctic skua, but on Loch-a- Bursta we saw 2 Black throated divers doing their courtship display. Lots of Raven here too. Ringed plover with chicks just over the causeway between Benbecula and North Uist and a Peregrine falcon flying over Loch-Hermeadall.
Comittee road again. Hen harrier male but no Short eared owls this time. We drove down the road to Loch Portain and there was a SEO sitting only 6yds from the side of the road. Good views through the bins of a female Hen harrier, Wheatear, Mipits, Skylark, Redshank, Lapwings and a Pair of Twite.
A great report so far Neil, accompanied by some super pictures too.
Ah! the memories!
D