Undeterred we met up with the Heatherlea gang and set of at some unearthly hour (well 8 am!!) heading for the Uists via Skye with good views of an Osprey along the way. A quiet ferry crossing and we started straight away with Black-throated divers on the road from the ferry terminal before 'twitching' a Dotterel and collecting a few waders for the list.
Watching for white winged gulls - there were a few Iceland Gulls around
Short-eared Owls performed well
And the bird we all wanted to see the elusive Corncrake didn't mind the rain...
A spot of seawatching produced a passing Arctic Skua but there was more fun to be had watching the waders rummage amongst the seaweed and pose on the rocks amidst the Thrift - Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone all in summer plumage
And a bit of a murmuration.....
And then to the next awaited star of the trip - Red-necked Phalaropes
- and the bonus of three Ruff!!
Watching for distant eagles a cry of Otter.... with White-tailed Sea Eagles floating past overhead.....
Distant Buzzard
And other birds seen included Hebridean Song Thrush, Snipe, Hebridean Wren, Lapwing, Whooper Swan, Redshank, Mute Swan and Stonechat
Other sightings - sheep!! and a Moss Carder Bee (forever to be known as a Muscovey Bee thanks to me not listening properly!!)
All this and some wonderful views...
