Newly home from a very pleasant meal at the Westford Inn with the Griffins and Harcups. Off to Barra in the morning so an earlier start than to-day's - which was late. After a short night (me) and a leisurely morning, it was mid-day before we drove to Balranald. The usual stopping places where we were teased by the ventriloquial rasping call of several Corncrakes and the addition of a handsome black ruffed Ruff. He was standing on one leg with his back to us, my photos are very disappointing.
I hope he's there to-morrow and better placed.
On to half an hour at the reserve centre.............listening to Corncrakes.
Fortified by a cheese roll from the campsite van, eaten in a lay-by overlooking a rocky and pebble beached bay and hearing two more............Corncrakes, we scanned the shore for waders. Only a few, well camouflaged, Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
The incoming tide produced braeking waves over entrance rocky reefs, a small yacht dwarfed in the background.
An oblivious man walked along the shoreline scattering everything before him. He didn't have any binoculars and appeared to be attempting to get nearer so that he could see the birds !
Loch Sanderay was worth a visit. We added Wigeon for the island and several other ducks for to-day's list padders.
Bayhead for the DT is well on the way to Committee Road...........it would be rude not to visit. A slow ascent with stops for Pam to photograph Bog Bean. No birds in sight but Emperor Moths zoomed in.
A longer stop on the descent to Sollas, where a familiar car pulled up. Ian and Sue, who had enjoyed time on Berneray. Just in time to see three Emperor Moths fluttering around the car, trying to get in. They'd escorted us down from the previous stop. We thought we'd given them the sllp. That three year old lure must be pretty powerful stuff - at home in the freezer to-day.
Yes. A Short-eared Owl came into view, hunting along the fence line of the forestry. Far too distant for good photography, but at least it was light.
Home to the cottage where...........a Corncrake was calling from the field next door.
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