Sunday, January 04, 2015
When you drive north from Ullapool and turn right at Ledmore Junction, the landscape flattens out, and coniferous plantations line the road with here and there a track leading invitingly onto the moorland. I pulled in at this one, leaving the opening clear but reasoning that access by forestry workers would not be needed today in any case. I saw only blue tits, a raven, and a distant buzzard, but I enjoyed the walk.
On the way back along the single-track A837, I parked by the cattle grid and scanned the plantation and the open slopes beyond. Coal tits were moving through the trees in a big flock and a familiar chippy call warned me that three crossbills were flying over. Then something enormous came over the ridge - and I got slightly better views than yesterday of a juvenile white-tailed/sea eagle. It was pursued for a while by a kestrel which had been hunting on the skyline, and then, luckily for me, it circled above the road.
Some time after the sea eagle had gone I was staring in the direction where it had disappeared, when I saw what I thought was "just another buzzard" cruising along towards me. As it drew level, the characteristic proportions and the lazy, masterful flight asserted themselves in my mind and announced the passing of a golden eagle.
The shapely profile of Cul Mor is seen here across Loch Borralan, which lies next to the road. On the drive out a pair of goosanders was recorded on the loch - and on the way back, a pair of goldeneye.
It was gone two by now and I had no lunch with me so I reluctantly set off for home. I pulled in at Ardmair and took a shot of the common scoter from the car.
There was a knot of eight or so shags close to the beach, diving and socialising; one already showed a crown tuft, a sign of their impending early breeding season.
Greger had only just got home before me; he'd been for a walk up Ullapool Hill and round by the Braes - so we both got out and enjoyed crisp winter sunshine for the second day running.
// posted by Christine @ 9:50 AM 
