Monday, January 19, 2015
Greger took one look at the weather this morning and awarded us a day's holiday. As we left Ullapool we saw the old ferry chugging down the loch on its way to Stornoway - so my sentimental leave-taking of it on Saturday was clearly a bit premature. We drove to Ledmore Junction, turned right, and went for a walk in virgin snow along a track overlooking Glen Oykel.
It was a relief to walk without having to battle against the wind. A stonechat flew along the ditch on our left, and took temporary refuge from us in a snow-laden tree.
The stonechat then flew down to join two robins, a dunnock, and a wren on the sun-warmed gravelly bank of the ditch, where they were no doubt finding food items in the mud and the stones. A female stonechat was also present a bit further away.
On our way back two crossbills flew into a nearby tree and I got a shot of one (originally thought to be female, but I think the yellow-green colouring is too dark and solid, and also shows hints of red) and a second one of both birds when they flew to the top of another tree.
We had already seen a red male on the top of a pine on the drive out, so three crossbills were recorded today. A raven flew over calling. Back at the car we ate our sandwiches standing up in the cold, crisp air, and several drivers waved to us as they passed. It was that sort of day.
We then drove back to Ledmore and up to Kylescue Bridge, but there were no further significant bird sightings. The best thing we saw was a couple who had pulled into a lay-by above Loch Assynt and were sitting in state in fold-up chairs with tartan blankets on their knees and a large wicker picnic hamper between them. A bit classier than our lunch.
// posted by Christine @ 10:42 AM 
