Before the Storm

 Thursday, May 20

It is now 6 p.m. and the forecast storm has arrived, 45 mph wind, with showers rattling our windows and doors. We had a lovely day though, not good for birds, great for scenery enhancement. 

Grumpy, the Blue Texel tup, saw us on our way, as usual.


We both love Berneray. On the way there, I had a message from Sue telling me that they were on their way there too, for their last day. On reaching the island, our first destination was Borgh, a great expanse of farmed and unfarmed machair, stretching to cliffs and sea. A few Twite, Rock Doves and Oystercatchers, nothing like the large number of small waders previously seen here. They must have gone on their way, north. Arctic Terns danced gracefully into the distance, landing on the ground, never near enough for a photo.

A Lapwing noisily seeing off an Oystercatcher drew our attention to its partner sitting on the ground.This adult flew away too, leaving a diminutive, still wet from the shell chick, eyes shut, crouched on the ground.

 


On to Youth Hostel Bay where we sit clifftop looking across at Harris and Lewis. A bit early for lunch, we made ourselves wait. Two kite surfers kept us entertained. Especially the one that kept falling in. The wind was pretty strong.


Ian and Sue drove up beside us, ready to eat their lunch too. Afterwards, windows closed as we were being blown about, Pam and I did word games and then chatted with Sue - until a Golden Eagle flew past rather close. I wish I'd noticed it before it appeared in front of me.There was also a White-tailed Eagle which I missed - it flew overhead before disappearing around the corner.

The Griffins had never been to Clachan Sands Bay, I wanted to photograph the historic cemetery there. The ancient one, surrounded by a stone wall, where many of the older graves are marked by plain, unnamed, headstones taken from the deceased's home. 

 

Many primroses are scattered around the burial mound.

 

Pam and I then took the coast road to Balranald as we wanted to visit a loch on the way. We all had an icecream from Sollas Co-op first, Sue and Ian returning via ComRo. Our loch was devoid of all save a few Tufted Duck and four Greylag Geese families, making their way in a convoy across the centre of the water. Each pair of birds and their young were distinctive, yet formed a semi-orderly line. The islands hold many Greylags. No wonder that the RSPB no longer classify Druidibeg as a reserve to conserve 'threatened' Greylag.

Loch Sandaray was reported as having a Glaucous Gull. We found it at the far end, an adult bird, floating on the water. The light was terrible (excuse for iffy photos). Eventually it appeared in the open in a mixed group of other gulls.


 

Home to write this before meeting Sue and Ian for a farewell meal at the Westford Inn, ten minutes drive away.  Two minutes down the road, a male Hen Harrier appeared, the first we've seen for three days. 

Tremendously gusty wind now, it even tried to drag my walking stick away as I lifted it. Heather's decorative scallop shells have been blown from the border onto the lawn. I hope that the ferry trip to-morrow is not too rough.

 

 

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