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18-02-2007, 05:32 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| |  Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
First I will start with an apology, I have been like a kid in a sweet shop the last two days, where ever I turned was a different bird and I am new to this so keep asking what, where and why. Tomorrow back to work so this is my last long winded post for a while so I hope you are not yawning by the end of it! Thanks:
I was going to go to see if I could take another picture of my lesser/great scaup, John kindly attached references for me. Of to the bank I went to get some money for my trip, 15 mins walk got there cash point out of order. In my tantrum I climbed down onto the beach by the airport and decided to try and walk around the headland back home....very low tide or otherwise cannot be down. Skidded down, heard racket turned around and there a few feet from the road was: 
Instant cheer up, looked around me and was in paradise, the sky was deep blue, the wind was calm the sand was beautiful, there was gulls, oyster catchers etc. Started to walk down by the water line where herring gulls and common gulls were sunning themselves and came across a flock of what I think were Purple Sandpipers but I have only seen 1 on its own before.....one of 50ish photos... 
I worked my way around little heavenly coves not normally seen from the road and only approachable at very low tide. I then saw in the bay 2 Northern Divers (kindly identified for me earlier) I spent 10 minutes trying to take a clear shot, getting wetting and wetter as I waded out too far for my boots! Then right in front of me popped up this...which startled me so much I slipped in a tidal pool up too my knees: 
Got home soaking and changed, had some lunch and called a cab and went down to Coot Loch....where I did get a blurry picture of two Scaup but from what I could see no bump on head (need to find the man who is posting Lesser Scaup on website)........the Loch was now full of Wigeons as well as coots, teals and tufted ducks, mallard and saw one moor hen! I did get some photos to id these ducks but unless you are in a wet suit there is just noway closer, the ground is so boggy you can't even get to the edge of the loch and the birds are in the middle.
Walked down to the beach for the 4 mile walk home, by this time wind up and cold and getting cloudy. On the beach there were flocks of these wee sanderlings: 
Mixed in with these were flocks of gulls, turnstones and oyster catchers......the gulls flew and one stayed behind swooping down, I thought it was a black headed gull but looking at these couple of pictures there is no black on the wings...could it be a Little Gull, quite rare up here? On the wing so not a brillant couple of shots!  
And the last picture I couldn't resist, climbed back up to the road for the last leg of my sunday Outings and I saw two Shelducks trying to go for the 3 shelduck ornament pose: 
Looks like there should have been a third in the middle....engine failure?
Last few minutes of my walk, spotted a field of Golden Plover with a few Lapwings and a Rock Dove for luck!
What a day, beats shopping in Marks and Spencer's which is what I would have been doing last year on a Sunday.
Hope not too long winded and if anyone can confirm the gull and the sandpiper would be most grateful.
Debs
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18-02-2007, 05:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,839
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
I love the first shot, sorry but I couldn't work out what they are?
I'm glad you are enjoying your birding, it is much better than shopping at m&s  |
18-02-2007, 05:42 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Letchworth Garden City
Posts: 1,334
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Your purple sandpiper looks like one to me - right sort of colouring, downturned beak, right sort of short orange legs. But I'm as often wrong as right about identifications so I'd wait for someone more expert. |
18-02-2007, 06:04 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Sorry the first shot were fulmar, mostly seen on cliff faces not on the dunes by the main road. The other shot not labelled was long tailed duck. I knew these......not many I know but these I do.... 
Debs
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18-02-2007, 06:38 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,599
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Purple Sandpipers and a Little Gull, both correctly ID'd. I would have loved to have seen that Little Gull, they're special birds, I've never seen one.
Well done,
Guy
P.S it could be worth uploading the picture of the 2 Scaup as you never know........ |
18-02-2007, 06:55 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,909
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
As usual wonderful photos- a real joy. Little Gulls are quite distinctive with rounded almost paddle shaped wings which in adult are dark below- yours is adult in winter plumage- note the grey shawl around the neck + small dark bill too. They often feed by pecking at morsels on the water surface like the marsh terns.
We tend to see them on the London reservoirs April/May time + on return late summer- always lovely to watch + often appear with Black Terns. |
18-02-2007, 06:59 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Little village called Chedworth
Posts: 4,821
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Wow fantastic day!!! what a lot of special birds!! I've never seen an adult male longtail so clearly only as a speck down a scope!! I'm clearly going to have to spend some time way up north Lucky you I'll bet you were glowing despite being soaked, I know I would have been!!! Some good pics too!! |
18-02-2007, 07:08 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyF  Purple Sandpipers and a Little Gull, both correctly ID'd. I would have loved to have seen that Little Gull, they're special birds, I've never seen one.
Well done,
Guy
P.S it could be worth uploading the picture of the 2 Scaup as you never know........ | Well you did ask Guy, a very cropped blurry image of a tufted duck, two Scaup of some kind and a Wigeon!!! Couldn't crop the Scaup on their own. 
Have an email out to the County Recorder as he lives on the islands and may well be the man I saw with the large scope yesterday. Another sighting of a Lesser Scaup was recorded today as being at Baleshare which is not far from where he lives. Unfort. London next weekend and in Stornoway working the following so don't know if they will still be around when I get home! 
Debs
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18-02-2007, 07:24 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,599
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Someone else may be able to tell for sure from the picture, but I think that looks more hopeful for a Lesser Scaup, looks very small and possibly peaked head. By the way, the bird in front of the Scaup is a female Wigeon. One of the experts will be able to give you a more definite answer.
Guy |
18-02-2007, 07:28 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 334
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
A great wee collection with fresh, salt air in every shot |
18-02-2007, 10:45 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gtr Manchester
Posts: 280
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Fab photos Debs. You are soooooo lucky living there and having all that on your doorstep!
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19-02-2007, 06:23 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Excellent report Debs. You certainly work hard for your birding and you deserve a bit of luck on the Lesser Scaup. Unfortunately I certainly can't confirm that the Scaup in the photo is the Lesser Scaup.
Some excellent images posted by you and I would love to have photos of Purple Sand and L T Duck like yours in my collection.
John |
19-02-2007, 06:55 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wirral
Posts: 2,000
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Thanks very much for sharing your day, I enjoyed reading it and looking at the shots. Hope to see some more soon! Jon
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19-02-2007, 07:03 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| |  Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Excellent report Debs. You certainly work hard for your birding and you deserve a bit of luck on the Lesser Scaup. Unfortunately I certainly can't confirm that the Scaup in the photo is the Lesser Scaup.
Some excellent images posted by you and I would love to have photos of Purple Sand and L T Duck like yours in my collection.
John | Not quite a Mae West quote, "but come up ans see us some time.....or at least the islands, I'd stand you a pint or what ever your tipple is" and I promise you the birding and scenery is heaven!
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19-02-2007, 07:18 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pork Pie Town, Leicestershire
Posts: 579
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbozkurt Not quite a Mae West quote, "but come up ans see us some time.....or at least the islands, I'd stand you a pint or what ever your tipple is" and I promise you the birding and scenery is heaven! | I hope you get paid well, as every other "WABber" will be up to see you this year (now a beer is on offer!)
The OH's are one area I would love to visit, hopefully, maybe next year for a long weekend if I've earned enough Brownie points? 
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Oscar |
19-02-2007, 07:46 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscar2006 I hope you get paid well, as every other "WABber" will be up to see you this year (now a beer is on offer!)
The OH's are one area I would love to visit, hopefully, maybe next year for a long weekend if I've earned enough Brownie points? | Hey Oscar. It's me she has invited.
John |
19-02-2007, 07:52 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hey Oscar. It's me she has invited.
John | Hey two men fighting over me......thats a first! I can afford the pints I am an Accountant is Tax deductable!! Isn't it???
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19-02-2007, 07:56 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coventry
Posts: 6,015
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbozkurt Not quite a Mae West quote, "but come up ans see us some time.....or at least the islands, I'd stand you a pint or what ever your tipple is" and I promise you the birding and scenery is heaven! | I have only ever been to Skye and would love to visit the islands around you. I might just take you up on that invite.
I have been all over England, Scotland and Wales, but only the mainland (apart from one small uninhabited island - Eilean-nan-Ron) just off the north coast of Scotland.
mmmmm!! I will definitely have to give this some serious thought.
What are the best times (birdwise) to visit and where do you catch the ferry from.
John |
19-02-2007, 08:00 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pork Pie Town, Leicestershire
Posts: 579
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hey Oscar. It's me she has invited.
John | Sorry I don't read it that way, what do you other WABbers think?
Definately an offer of a pint of McEwans or better still a couple of wee double drams?
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My glass is flippin' empty not half full!
Oscar |
19-02-2007, 08:04 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Laindon, Basildon, Essex.
Posts: 2,547
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
I am visiting the Western Isles for the second time in May this year .... it can not come soon enough!
Ferries? .... on the way out via Uig (Skye) to Tarbet (Harris) and returning via Stornaway (Lewis) to Ullapool .... and then onwards and upwards to Assynt in north west Sutherland.
Debs .... that bar bill is getting larger .... by the way, your reports and photos as a far flung WAB member are so interesting!
Richard |
19-02-2007, 08:18 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlchew I am visiting the Western Isles for the second time in May this year .... it can not come soon enough!
Ferries? .... on the way out via Uig (Skye) to Tarbet (Harris) and returning via Stornaway (Lewis) to Ullapool .... and then onwards and upwards to Assynt in north west Sutherland.
Debs .... that bar bill is getting larger .... by the way, your reports and photos as a far flung WAB member are so interesting!
Richard | Richard....are you missing out the Southern Isles I was going to suggest I take people to the mess, at Balivanich, pints are £1.21 and a double short and mixer is £1.25. I will be working in Stornoway in May....Health Board willing so let me know and I will have to take you out for a more expensive pint 
Debs
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19-02-2007, 08:31 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Benbecula
Posts: 332
| | | Re: Surreal Sunday on my wee Hebridean Island
Quote:
Originally Posted by John I have only ever been to Skye and would love to visit the islands around you. I might just take you up on that invite.
I have been all over England, Scotland and Wales, but only the mainland (apart from one small uninhabited island - Eilean-nan-Ron) just off the north coast of Scotland.
mmmmm!! I will definitely have to give this some serious thought.
What are the best times (birdwise) to visit and where do you catch the ferry from.
John | The birds are great always but the weather is not! Around June mid summer, it never gets fully dark, the machair is out in bloom, the corn-crakes are around you could nearly bird and take pictures for 20 hours out of the day. I have even taken pictures about 1am in the morning of the setting sun, rising sun!
There is a ferry from Oban to Lochboisdale takes about to 7hrs or from Uig in Skye across to Lochmaddy in North Uists. Find attached the Calmac Ferry website, also links to accomodation, places to visit etc. Official Caledonian MacBrayne Hebridean & Clyde Ferries site
Also find a link to the Bird Recorders list of birds seen in the Outer Hebrides and the best time of the year to spot them etc. It makes interesting reading. Hebrides Bird Sightings: February 2007 You need to click on the word document or PDF to download. I have one in excel that I use for my ticking off if you prefer.
I think everyone needs to visit the Islands once in there life if not to return again and again, there is something for birders, wildflowerers..beach combers, hill walkers, oh and weather watchers
Debs
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