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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Original PaulE" data-source="post: 3078983" data-attributes="member: 20992">Thursday September 18th Day 6Whiteout! Woke up to find the view consisted of solid fog, after the fry up,we decided to continue with the plan and headed to the Butt of Lewis (insert your own pun) the fog had lifted a bit by the time we arrived, the Seawatch started well with 5 Manx Shearwaters, a Bonxie,loads of Gannets,and Fulmars, several Shags were loafing on the rocks as were a couple of Seals, on the land were a couple of Wheatears , a Rock Pipit and the obligatory Stonechats and Meadow Pipits.The fog started to close in again so we gave up. It’s a small world there were 3 cars in the carpark us from Hurstpierpoint,a couple from Henfield and a local birder who had lived for 30 years in Southwick!! So 3 cars from 20 miles apart in Sussex the only cars in a carpark 773 miles from home!He advised us to try the local nature reserve as a Hen Harrier had been seen recently. From the hide we surveyed the area several Snipe were about and a couple of Widgeon and Teal, a Raptor on  a post turned out to be a Buzzard, We were about to leave when a raptor flew close past the hide, a casual glance as I thought it was the Buzzard, white rump!! Ringtail Hen Harrier watched it hunting across the grassland flushing about 30 Snipe as it went.Stopped for lunch at Sonas café in Port of Ness, highly recommend the Crab Claws delicious, and got some local Duff cake for later. On the way out of town I picked out a slim Raptor on a post pulled over,Merlin cracking looking bird unfortunately as I juggled bins and camera it flew off across the moor.For a bit of culture we head south to the Callinish Standing Stones ,a lovely place, it all got a bit spiritual and  I called upon my ancient Celtic ancestors to get me a Sea Eagle, opening my eyes I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t one soaring above me oh well down to the visitor centre for a Cappuccino and a slice of Chocolate Crunch. We then paid a visit to an iron age house on Great Bernera I felt it was all getting a bit cultural so sneaked in another quick Seawatch Bonxie and more Gannets the highlight.Then back to the B&B we decided on a quick walk down to Loch Eireasort however halfway down we realised that it was a bit steep and didn’t fancy the walk back up the hill,so stood and scanned with me bins, couple of Ravens on some posts, couple of Rock Doves flew past, couple of Hoodies flapped by, meadow pipit over, few starlings on the telegraph pole, 3 Herons on the edge of the Loch, bloody great raptor with a white tail, say what!! Yep White tailed Sea Eagle flew out from our side of the Loch to an island in the middle,so a combination of pagan prayer and my laziness got me my first ever Sea Eagle and Margie even got a picture and so ends another awesome day on Lewis.Pics here,<a href="https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=6356FB2BA7828F28&id=6356FB2BA7828F28%211178" target="_blank">https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=6356FB2BA7828F28&id=6356FB2BA7828F28!1178</a>could the Wheatear be a Greenland?</blockquote>

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