Sunday, July 27, 2014
After very hard rainfall yesterday and last night, I wondered if any migrant waders had dropped down at Achnahaird. I walked over the cliffs just as the tide was going out and I was thrilled to see a flock of nine waders come flying in and land at the other end of the beach. They were adult sanderling.
They looked quite lovely as they scurried about in the company of a handful of common gulls; while one or two ringed plovers stood on the sidelines, looking grumpy as ringed plovers often do. But the gulls began to chase the sanderling, and eventually they flew off right over me with faint squeaking calls.
Later, a couple of dunlins scooted about with hoarse calls, several greenshanks were alarming from the stream, and a flock of waders comprised of oystercatchers, at least fifteen redshanks, and probably some of the sanderling, flew up from the machair, careered across the beach, and zoomed out over the waves. The glaucous gull was seen flying away from the bay.
Greger drove out and met me at our lay-by near the main road with coffee and cakes, where a pair of ravens flew over calling. He had started the painting in the kitchen and was pleased with his day. Despite a couple of heavy showers, I was pretty pleased with mine; and it turned into a lovely clear evening, although we were both too tired to do anything but admire it from indoors.
// posted by Christine @ 1:10 PM 
