Contra Jour - All Day

Sunday May 13

Arriving at Aird an Runair, Balranald, mid morning we found that we were parked next to Sue and Ian. They had been watching the Semi-palmated Sandpiper, stating that it was only a short walk. I'd had a bad and short night on a hard mattress and a short walk is a nightmare in those conditions. I now wish I'd made the effort - because I feel better I expect. If it had been a lifer, I wouldn't have hesitated. Nice bird though.

The Corn Bunting was in good voice, elegant, graceful, Arctic Terns always a joy.

The machair had a number of Great Ringed Plovers scurrying about restlessly. Never quite close enough and backlit, as all the birds seemed to be to-day. 

 After sorting through the small waders on the huge swathes of seaweed, we drove north on a minor track which follows the coast. As is usual on Uist, more sandy bays, rocks and waders plus a few Eiders.

Deciding to return to the 'main' road, we turned and immediately heard a Corncrake craking. The iris are very short this year in a late spring (Summer?), surely it should be easy to spot him. Ha Ha. He sounded as though he was underneath the car. Eventually Pam saw him on the far bank of a small gully of Iris. I know that he puts his head up when he calls but first find your bird. As soon as you do, the head goes down and he moves stealthily away, needing to be re-located. Here we go again. I managed a few shots, none of which please me.

Much of the mid to late afternoon was spent driving up to the Geodesic Dome, from which we saw a White-tailed Eagle and then, Committee road. Three Hen Harriers, including a two tone grey and black wing-tipped male and two Short-eared Owls. The latter was a nest change-over. One bird dropping out of view as the other, paler bird, rose from the heather.

A Raven paid a short visit and then a Buzzard idly spiralled into the blue sky before dropping fast into the valley, rising with a rat in its talons. The rat's long, furless tail, clearly seen dangling below.