The Tale of the Corncrake in the Outer Hebrides

[dbozkurt]

I am so excited, I had a great day on my door step with the birds. Took a short drive across the causeway to north Uist. Took a walk around a sea loch (next thread) and stopped at Balranald Bird Reserve for tea. Dave got out a Mars bar, so me on a diet got out of the car in a sulk with my camera around my neck and guess what!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The field next to the toilet up popped a head, a corncrake yelled someone walking past, 20 photos later here he was running through the silver leaf.



He then started calling like a creaking fence..



Then he listened for a while.....



All the while he was creeping nearer...I used up 40 pictures just getting these, 3 I know not professional or too close to much sun but a Corncrake.....I am chuffed!

He run even closer:



And closer:



He then dashed across into the next field hidden by the long grass....there he pops up;



He then makes a dash across the road (sorry in full sun a bit blurry)



And into another field:



Phew!!!!

At that point decided to have my cold tea...

I hope you enjoyed them, I am bouncing about with excitement just posting these....infact took two goes at posting pictures got too excited to do it right.

Take Care Debs

[Garden Carpet]

What can I say Deb... WOW!!!! You lucky thing. Good pics
jaki

[GuyF]

Great shots and what a great bird. Very high on my list of birds I'd like to see when I'm in Scotland this summer.
Well done, they are such secretive birds normally
Guy

[John]

Jeez Debs, you lucky so and so. Not many people get to see these birds never mind photographing one. Some really good photos there with an excellent narration to go with them.

Regards
John

[Ollie]

Superb Debs what a great experience for you. A bird that many many bird watchers would love to see but probably never will, me included. Well done and thanks for sharing your experience and photographs with us.
Roger

[solus]

Wonder if he's the same chap who hasn't read the Rule Book that we saw last year, singing right out in the open in a small area of rough grass just behind the B&B above the beach?

[rlchew]

Excellent photos Debs

Corncrakes are noisy but highly elusive birds and you were so lucky to get such good views and photograph them so well.

I have only ever seen one, also at Balranald but only a fleeting view.

I will be visiting Coll in a few weeks time where I gather there are plenty of Corncrakes. I will be so chuffed if I get any photos as good as the ones you have posted here.

Richard

[smartie]

Wow. Something to aspire to when I go to Mull shortly. I'm promised I'll hear them, but seeing them is something else and getting such good photos something else again!

[aeshna5]

Debs- amazing- as John says it can be difficult enough to get a glimpse of one, yet alone get decent photos. I speak from personal experience here- they were all around me on Tiree- not a single sighting, same thing in Poland, last year calling beside me in Estonia- so frustrating!

My only sighting of a Corncrake was a passage bird on Scilly which showed well in a churchyard. How I'd love to see one in typical habitat!

[JeffH]

WOW - what an experience and superb photos to match. A 'right place, right time' opportunity well taken.

Jeff

[Oscar2006]

I heard hundreds of the wretched creatures 2 weeks ago whilst in Poland, but could not buy a view of one!
I'm really pleased for you

[vinnychameleon]

well done debs what great photos and im not jealous this bird is very high on my wishlist and u r so lucky to have seen him

[dbozkurt]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I was still so excited last night I couldn't sleep..... I got to Stornoway this morning and tried to bore everyone at work but they were not interested.....Celtic won the cup!

I am just glad I have you!

Debs

[dbozkurt]

One of the web masters for a Western Isles site is using my corncrake picture to advertise the rspb corncrake walk, chuffed......even though I know its because I am not precious about my pictures I love to share!

Debs

[glsammy]

What an experience! I'm chuffed to bits for you. Some excellent shots there as well.

[Za]

What a great set of shots Debs, well done!
Za

[goosey]

Well done Debs, Great photo's you certainly outshon Simon King tonight on Springwatch - it was excrutiating watching him try to get a decent shot of these ellusive little birds.

[mrs fish]

After watching springwatch and corncrakes I must say very well done to you Debs

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by John

Jeez Debs, you lucky so and so. Not many people get to see these birds never mind photographing one. Some really good photos there with an excellent narration to go with them.

Regards
John

What he Said ^^^^

[canny]

Well done Debs, I have seen them but never managed a photo. The Corncrake walk sounds interesting, where is it to be do you know?
I havn't been on the board for a while and now I can't find the Diary section. Has it gone? I used to like reading your contributions.

[dbozkurt]

Originally Posted by canny

Well done Debs, I have seen them but never managed a photo. The Corncrake walk sounds interesting, where is it to be do you know?
I havn't been on the board for a while and now I can't find the Diary section. Has it gone? I used to like reading your contributions.

Canna

The Corncrake walks are normally around the Balranald reserve, follow this link, it takes you to a western isles web sites that advises sites. The Western Isles, look for the events tab.

I am afraid I haven't written my dairy up for ages, it was the busiest time of the year at the Health Board and I just didn't get time.

My son is trying to get a wee website up so I can do an on-line dairy there, I will let you know when and if he does. Meanwhile look out for my posts on any walks etc. I do.

Take Care Debs