Day 6 - South Uist - 17/5/2018

Another quiet day, and with a large number of birds already bagged this holiday, it proved to be fairly low key. There were reports of rare birds in the area, but nothing had been specifically pinned down. So in the end we stuck to sites we had seen previously this week, in the hope of catching something different.
The day was sunnier than those before, but being Scotland wasn't too warm. We started off at Stinky Bay where we had seen the ICELAND GULL previously, but despite there being lots of birds present nothing was different to what we had seen before. WADERS were present in large numbers sifting through the mass of seaweed washed up on the rocks.

EIDERS were present in large numbers on the coast. Here being photobombed by a TURNSTONE.

We looked at Loch Mor, again didn't see much, then headed down to South Uist.

 

We went to the Hebridean Jewellery, mudflats, but didn't see anything much there either. We went to North Bay where we saw a PEREGRINE flying over the many birds, not really out for the hunt, just flying over and therefore not bothering any of the many WADERS feeding in the bay. Two GREY SEALS were present slightly offshore, their faces more pointed than the dog-faced HARBOUR SEALS, as always a joy to find. I like SEALS.

We went to more locations, beautiful areas of moorland and lochs, Loch Druidibeg, Loch Sgioport, and despite seeing several WHITE TAILED EAGLES, nothing much else was found.

 

We travelled to Loch Eynort, where we saw the SEALS  a couple of days ago. This visit proved to be better because this time around we were able to park up and have extensive views of the Loch. In view were an amazing three species of DIVER. The usual GREAT NORTHERN, fairly common RED THROATED, and rarest of all a BLACK THROATED, all within a scope view, an amazing sight, and one that would be hard to replicate as all three birds were in their breeding plumage finery. I can't think of many places in the UK where that would happen.

The BLACK THROATED DIVER was to provide further interest. A playful SEAL kept jumping out of the water by the DIVER - just for fun he wasn't going to eat it. The DIVER in turn kept, well, diving, to get away from the SEAL, as only it knew how. When the SEAL left the bird alone, the DIVER still kept ducking its head under the water to check to see if  the SEAL was still there. He seemed shook up, didn't dive for a while afterwards. It proved to be a nice episode of the holiday.

We walked up the Loch, through an area of woodland, young and recently planted, which was one man's vision to reforest an area that was an ecological desert. Nothing new was seen but it provided a lovely location to enjoy, as have so many on the trip.

 



Loch Eynort

 

We carried on to Stoneybridge an area of long white beaches and turquoise water which the Uists seemed to specialise in. Amazingly, Phil, the group leader, managed to catch a pod of BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHINS swimming just off shore, they were moving fast, but we were all able to spot the animals as they crested the waves, a remarkable sight.

 



BOTTLE NOSED DOLPHIN country

 

RINGED PLOVERS were present in huge numbers on the machair, the ploughed fields and short grassland provided the perfect habitat for the birds.

 

 

We went on to Peter's Port, which although didn't really have too many birds, was picturesque.

 

All the mess of a fishing port

 

 

Peter's Port

It seems churlish to call today a quiet day, when we have seen so much, but really with such a high quality offering of sightings so far this week it did feel not quite as much of a high as the other days. That said we did see a lot and had experiences that I will keep with me for a long time, so I can't complain.