Lochore Meadows

 So after the Outer Hebrides we went for a walk down to the Meadies on a bright Monday afternoon.

It was great to hear all the birds singing, but most stayed pretty elusive. But here are a few that did show themselves:

Mind you while sitting on one of our favourite benches for a coffee stop of course, Tina spotted two birds dropping into the top of a tree about 50 metres away. Crossbills!!

We have been all over Scotland and only found them once before! But delighted to get a pair on our local patch!

Our list for the afternoon:

Moorhen,
Carrion crow
Mallard.
Teal,
Rook,
Robin,
Great Tit, 
Blue Tit,
Woodpigeon,
Magpie,
Buzzard,
Chaffinch,
Jackdaw,
Crossbill,
Siskin,
Grey Heron,
Blackbird,
Mute Swan,
Coot,
Great Sotted Woodpecker,
Cormorant,
Coal Tit,
Great Crested Grebe,
Goldfinch,
Pink Footed Geese.

Heard only:
Goldcrest,
Chiffchaff,
Wren,
Redwing and
Jay.

A Trip to the Outer Hebrides - Mainly North Uist

 We booked a week on North Uist, however we ended up with a day less as our ferry from Uig (Skye) to Lochmaddy was cancelled due to bad weather. The bonus was we had a day on Skye and booked a last minute B&B, the downside is we had to pay for a night on Skye and lose a day on North Uist.

We had a bit of a drive around some old haunts on Skye on the Sunday before getting our rebooked  2.30pm ferry, As we were driving down to the ferry port after coming across from Staffin, this flew over:

A White-tailed eagle to really kick off a great week of birding.

There was some great scenery around too!

So we made it onto North Uist and went straight to the same cottage we rented last year, it's brilliant but I'm not going to tell you where in case you book it when we want it again. 😂

As we turned into the road to the cottage, we were welcomed by a flock of Barnacle Geese:

So we toured around North Uist, Benbecula, Baleshare, Berensay and South Uist, the weather was iffy with very strong winds and rain on some days, but these are the photo highlights:

Peregrine at RSPB Balnalrad,

and Barnacle Geese,

Common Gull

Golden Eagle.

The beach at RSPB Balnalrad.

Curlew in the fields around St Kilda Viewpoint,

and Short-eared Owl at the top of the viewpoint,

as well as the resident sheep coming to see what we were up to!

Then two White-tailed Eagles being harassed by Starlings as we came back down from the viewpoint.

On South Uist we had some good closer views of some Whooper Swans

Then back on North Uist we came across a small murmuration;

Next day was another good Eagle day 😀

Plus lots of waders,

and Long-tailed ducks

View from our cottage.

Redshank.

Another wonderful beach on the way up to Berneray,

Loads of waders again on the East Beach of Berneray.

plus a Barnacle Goose.

Then back to the St Kilda Viewpoint for more Short-eared Owl action.

Then the owls were joined by a male Hen Harrier, awesome!!!!

Yet more Owl action.

So a brilliant, if somewhat curtailed week was had.