The Black Isle is Green

Wednesday May 2

My general pattern seems to be to wake up early but leave latish after some computer work.

My day started at 6 a.m., we didn't leave until 10.00 as the intention was to have a leisurely day.

It was raining gently as we left, grey sky and cool, 3C as we drove along the A9 towards Inverness. As we expect, it dried up as we neared the Kessock Bridge, the Black Isle - which is not an island either - dry. First stop is Munlochy Bay, a vast inlet of extensive mud and water-filled gullies, especially to-day as the tide was out. Pam caught up with Redshank for the trip list, a few Shelduck and a lone Curlew the only other finds.

Chanonry Point is reached via a track through a golf course where an eye must be kept out for low flying balls. We made it unscathed. The cloud came down again, a slight spit hampering viewing at times. Not enough to hide the fishing Common Terns and the resident pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins occasionally surfacing. We were once fortunate enough to see a large group catching fish and besporting themselves in an apparently playful session in a small area at high tide.

Avoid the golf balls time again before reaching  Cromarty where we had our first sighting of this rather incongruous cruise ship, amongst the ancient ironmongery and rigs, making its way around the coast. The Hamburg, owned by a German firm, sailing under a Bahama flag.

Cromarty is a place name, with Ross, evocative of the shipping forecast , it does not have a public loo.  Hence the rural turnoff where Pam found a species of  ? Must look it up. Most were still in bud.

There was also an irresistibly splendid gorse bush.

On to Udale Bay where the wintering Scaup flock of over 200 birds was way out in the bay, only identifiable through my scope.The constant diving makes accurate counting difficult. This display board was mounted at an angle and I found it impossible to frame it properly - but it's readable.

The main birding area is from a splendid RSPB hide in a smallish lay-by. Again no waders, a mass of gulls, mainly Common and Herring in two large groups. Whilst scanning these, I noticed over a hundred Pink-footed Geese entering the water to bathe and to graze on fresh grass. A Greenshank called but I couldn't find it.

We tried further around the bay, where there is a small rough parking area and an open 'hide'. Nothing new although the tide was creeping in.

Time to depart via the Tore roundabout where we should see Red Kite. Not to-day.

When we got back to the cottage, Pam emptied the moth trap where she found 10 moths, of 6 species, including two Early Tooth Stripe - like the one that got away yesterday - a Red-green Carpet and the prize, a Scarce Prominent. A new moth for us , not on the Norfolk list.

Ian and Sue dropped in later to view a rather moribund Prominent and to show an unidentified Micro they'd trapped last night. We only have the Manley to use for ID and so far haven't managed to name it.

 I've posted a photo on an internet group to-night so may have an ID soon.

It's a Least Black Arches - a very small Macro. It caught me out last year as well. Maddening.