A beast of a Gull JulieCongrats on the Glaucous - I was in the hide when the one dropped into Upton Warren. Impressive gull
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Griswold’s Vacations 2021 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter ClarkWGriswold
- Start date
Brings back lovely memories... especially the Committee Road... we must have driven up and down it a few hundred times! Keep it coming!
Found one in the end Mr N.
A decent shop by the hospital/ airport.
Day 3
A slightly different focus today. Took the boys crabbing which they always enjoy.
Day started off at 4:00 though. Youngest came into say that the Cuckoo had woken him up. Then it was off to Maclean’s for some sausages and cakes. A few Arctic Terns were over the Loch and a couple of Northern Shovellers were a little unexpected. Could hear a couple of Corncrake singing away well. Couldn’t pick one out though even though they must have just been 10 feet away.
Next it was off to Kallin Harbour. The boys enjoyed crabbing and afterwards we had lunch at Namara cafe. Superb Langoustines and chips. Really fresh and sweet. Well worth a visit. The hound enjoyed them as well
Next it was off to the Hebridean Smoke House. Some peat smoked salmon bought we headed to the beach. Planned to have the salmon on the beach but it started raining and it was damn cold. Didn’t stop my youngest going in Heard another Corncrake and got excited when my OH said she could see it. Following her directions I then asked if it was behind the Pheasant ...
Returning home a dark phase Arctic Skua flew across the front of the car.
After the Smoked Salmon (pretty good btw) and what was left yesterday’s beef braised in red wine I set off for the Committee Road. Got chatting to a birder from Winchester (Ray) who’d been on the island a few weeks. Ray said as well that the Northerly winds had kept it quiet. On the road itself I had decent views of 3 Hen Harriers (thanks to the birder in the Mondeo) and 20-30 Ravens flew over.
Time to kick back and relax.
A slightly different focus today. Took the boys crabbing which they always enjoy.
Day started off at 4:00 though. Youngest came into say that the Cuckoo had woken him up. Then it was off to Maclean’s for some sausages and cakes. A few Arctic Terns were over the Loch and a couple of Northern Shovellers were a little unexpected. Could hear a couple of Corncrake singing away well. Couldn’t pick one out though even though they must have just been 10 feet away.
Next it was off to Kallin Harbour. The boys enjoyed crabbing and afterwards we had lunch at Namara cafe. Superb Langoustines and chips. Really fresh and sweet. Well worth a visit. The hound enjoyed them as well
Next it was off to the Hebridean Smoke House. Some peat smoked salmon bought we headed to the beach. Planned to have the salmon on the beach but it started raining and it was damn cold. Didn’t stop my youngest going in
Heard another Corncrake and got excited when my OH said she could see it. Following her directions I then asked if it was behind the Pheasant ...Returning home a dark phase Arctic Skua flew across the front of the car.
After the Smoked Salmon (pretty good btw) and what was left yesterday’s beef braised in red wine I set off for the Committee Road. Got chatting to a birder from Winchester (Ray) who’d been on the island a few weeks. Ray said as well that the Northerly winds had kept it quiet. On the road itself I had decent views of 3 Hen Harriers (thanks to the birder in the Mondeo) and 20-30 Ravens flew over.
Time to kick back and relax.
Attachments
Sounds like an amazing day Rich!Day 3
A slightly different focus today. Took the boys crabbing which they always enjoy.
Day started off at 4:00 though. Youngest came into say that the Cuckoo had woken him up. Then it was off to Maclean’s for some sausages and cakes. A few Arctic Terns were over the Loch and a couple of Northern Shovellers were a little unexpected. Could hear a couple of Corncrake singing away well. Couldn’t pick one out though even though they must have just been 10 feet away.
Next it was off to Kallin Harbour. The boys enjoyed crabbing and afterwards we had lunch at Namara cafe. Superb Langoustines and chips. Really fresh and sweet. Well worth a visit. The hound enjoyed them as well
Next it was off to the Hebridean Smoke House. Some peat smoked salmon bought we headed to the beach. Planned to have the salmon on the beach but it started raining and it was damn cold. Didn’t stop my youngest going in
Returning home a dark phase Arctic Skua flew across the front of the car.
After the Smoked Salmon (pretty good btw) and what was left yesterday’s beef braised in red wine I set off for the Committee Road. Got chatting to a birder from Winchester (Ray) who’d been on the island a few weeks. Ray said as well that the Northerly winds had kept it quiet. On the road itself I had decent views of 3 Hen Harriers (thanks to the birder in the Mondeo) and 20-30 Ravens flew over.
Time to kick back and relax.
Chris
The Langoustines were superb Chris. I love places like that. Unpretentious. No messing with the superbly fresh ingredients
And the birds were ok as well
Rich
Day 4
Managed to dip 3 times on the Red-necked Phalaropes today. Did catch up with John though from the ferry.
Over at Loch Druidibeag there was a single Red-throated Diver and a couple of Cuckoos. Max and I then found a great place to skim stones at Loch Sgioport. Glad the car had a bit of ground clearance though and definitely glad my OH wasn’t with us
Decided to head home and picked a Short-eared Owl on the way home.
Next we decided to take the boys fishing so headed up to Berneray. Headed over the Committee Road and drove through Sollas. Here we had a great view of a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Kestrel. It then went in to a power glide towards Berneray. Crossing over to Berneray our second dark phase Arctic Skua flew across the car.
On the island we gave up looking for somewhere to fish and went to the beach. Os managed to drop his phone so we spent quite a bit of time retracing our steps. Miraculously it turned up. Whilst looking for it though I managed to pick up a couple of Little Terns fishing along the shoreline. Also had a quick chat with Nerys who is the partner of a birder I know from Cardiff. Rob (Nerys’s OH) then phoned me to say 4 Barnacle Geese had flown in by Loch Bhrusda. On our way over we bumped into the 2 Cambridgeshire birders again. A very decent couple. We soon caught up with Rob who showed me exactly where the geese were. Nice to have proper Barnies on my life list rather than the Slimbridge birds.
One further Short-eared Owl was added and a couple more Cuckoos and Willow Warblers at Lochmaddy.
Will try for the Phalaropes again tomorrow.
Rich
Managed to dip 3 times on the Red-necked Phalaropes today. Did catch up with John though from the ferry.
Over at Loch Druidibeag there was a single Red-throated Diver and a couple of Cuckoos. Max and I then found a great place to skim stones at Loch Sgioport. Glad the car had a bit of ground clearance though and definitely glad my OH wasn’t with us
Decided to head home and picked a Short-eared Owl on the way home.
Next we decided to take the boys fishing so headed up to Berneray. Headed over the Committee Road and drove through Sollas. Here we had a great view of a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Kestrel. It then went in to a power glide towards Berneray. Crossing over to Berneray our second dark phase Arctic Skua flew across the car.
On the island we gave up looking for somewhere to fish and went to the beach. Os managed to drop his phone so we spent quite a bit of time retracing our steps. Miraculously it turned up. Whilst looking for it though I managed to pick up a couple of Little Terns fishing along the shoreline. Also had a quick chat with Nerys who is the partner of a birder I know from Cardiff. Rob (Nerys’s OH) then phoned me to say 4 Barnacle Geese had flown in by Loch Bhrusda. On our way over we bumped into the 2 Cambridgeshire birders again. A very decent couple. We soon caught up with Rob who showed me exactly where the geese were. Nice to have proper Barnies on my life list rather than the Slimbridge birds.
One further Short-eared Owl was added and a couple more Cuckoos and Willow Warblers at Lochmaddy.
Will try for the Phalaropes again tomorrow.
Rich
Attachments
Forgot to say we saw a single Twite this morning. Have seen quite a few Linnets but only the one Twite.
Rich
Rich
As far as Mammals go we saw a few Common Seals and Max picked out a couple of Otters, playing off the Berneray to North Uist causeway. He was more than chuffed.
Rich
Rich
Day 5
Up and out relatively early. And finally got lucky at the Red-necked Phalarope Loch which was now playing ball. A great view of it, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it for a good while. Plenty of Common Snipe around as well. From here it was off to Loch Eynort and then to Loch Druidibeag. Great to see a couple of Red-throated Divers and then further along the Loch a handsome Black-throated Diver - one of my faves. 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Loch along with a couple of Common Sandpipers. Forgot to mention I could hear a Corncrake by the Phalarope as well. 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting on South Uist.
Now it was back home. Collected the family and headed to Berneray via the Committee Road. Another Short-eared Owl was on the east side. The boys absolutely loved the beach on Berneray. They are breathtakingly beautiful. We also called into the Coral Box. A lovely local gift shop. Well worth a visit. I follow the owner on Twitter and it’s good to see a small business doing so well.
Tried a bit of fishing alongside the causeway but blanked again. Did bump into John from Ireland again though which was great.
Had a phone call from CalMac to say our crossing to Mallaig had been cancelled. We would be having another 7 hour trip to Oban!!! Not happy. So that was it for the day. Or was it??...
Up and out relatively early. And finally got lucky at the Red-necked Phalarope Loch which was now playing ball. A great view of it, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it for a good while. Plenty of Common Snipe around as well. From here it was off to Loch Eynort and then to Loch Druidibeag. Great to see a couple of Red-throated Divers and then further along the Loch a handsome Black-throated Diver - one of my faves. 5 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the Loch along with a couple of Common Sandpipers. Forgot to mention I could hear a Corncrake by the Phalarope as well. 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting on South Uist.
Now it was back home. Collected the family and headed to Berneray via the Committee Road. Another Short-eared Owl was on the east side. The boys absolutely loved the beach on Berneray. They are breathtakingly beautiful. We also called into the Coral Box. A lovely local gift shop. Well worth a visit. I follow the owner on Twitter and it’s good to see a small business doing so well.
Tried a bit of fishing alongside the causeway but blanked again. Did bump into John from Ireland again though which was great.
Had a phone call from CalMac to say our crossing to Mallaig had been cancelled. We would be having another 7 hour trip to Oban!!! Not happy. So that was it for the day. Or was it??...
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Day 5 contd.
On returning home Sarah lit the barbecue. Then a message flashed up on the local Whatsapp group. Rob also rang to say he was on his way. I managed to convince Sars the barbecue was ready to cook on. I then bolted 2 undercooked burgers tasting of lighter fluid and set off.
I actually was being held up by a local during the drive ( I’m pretty certain they all belong to the clan McRae given the speed they drive ). Then the driver started taking the same turnings as me and it dawned on me it was another birder As it happened it was a local but also a birder - a leader of a local tour group. Coincidentally I’d booked on a tour this coming Friday so it was good to meet Steve early. At the bird itself there were 3 or 4 birders present including Rob and Nerys. Quickly got on to the Bluethroat and thoroughly enjoyed watching it for 30 minutes. A great little bird and a lifer. Makes up for the Bunting found less than 20 miles from my home
Returning home more sedately a stunning male Hen Harrier flew over the car. Now a great end to another great day.
Rich
On returning home Sarah lit the barbecue. Then a message flashed up on the local Whatsapp group. Rob also rang to say he was on his way. I managed to convince Sars the barbecue was ready to cook on. I then bolted 2 undercooked burgers tasting of lighter fluid
and set off.I actually was being held up by a local during the drive ( I’m pretty certain they all belong to the clan McRae given the speed they drive
). Then the driver started taking the same turnings as me and it dawned on me it was another birder As it happened it was a local but also a birder - a leader of a local tour group. Coincidentally I’d booked on a tour this coming Friday so it was good to meet Steve early. At the bird itself there were 3 or 4 birders present including Rob and Nerys. Quickly got on to the Bluethroat and thoroughly enjoyed watching it for 30 minutes. A great little bird and a lifer. Makes up for the Bunting found less than 20 miles from my homeReturning home more sedately a stunning male Hen Harrier flew over the car. Now a great end to another great day.
Rich
