Sunday, January 25, 2015
We worked most of yesterday so went out for a drive this morning. As we approached Loch Droma (which was iced over) two swans (presumably whoopers) appeared over the loch and flew ahead of us. We hoped they would go down on Loch Glascarnoch, but that was mostly iced over too, and we didn't see them again.
There were no snow buntings on the dam today, but a black and white bird flying over the ice and landing in open water near the intake tower proved to be a drake goldeneye. The tower, but not the goldeneye, can be seen below.
The raven was up the hillside beyond the fence. He flew past us calling mournfully and did one or two rolls as he went.
We drove on to the Ben Wyvis car park but didn't walk far because the path was icy. Blue, great and coal tits were active in the birches, a kestrel hovered in the distance, and a red kite floated about near a house where two people were at work with shovels clearing a very long drive. Buzzards and hoodies made up the list. It was windy, grey and cold today but it was good to get out for a while.
Back in Ullapool a scan of the harbour produced only two shags; the ivory gull seems to have gone. Then we went home and worked on our translation for a couple of hours, while real darkness fell and brought the short day to an end.
// posted by Christine @ 1:17 PM 
