Saturday, February 14, 2015
A sharp frost overnight soon disappeared under a fierce, bright sun - but the easterly wind was bitter. We drove out onto the Reiff headland and walked up Meall an Fheadain again for a leg-stretch. We discovered that we're not hill-fit yet. The lochan near the summit looked promising but held nothing, although a distant drake goldeneye was seen on a loch (Loch a' Mheallain) down by the road.
A nice Irish lady walking on her own was the only other person on the hill; and the birds were non-existent, although we did hear a chaffinch singing. Driving back northwards I spotted twelve to fifteen barnacle geese in one of the small fields between the road and the sea, and Greger kindly stopped in a passing place to let me grab a shot. There's hardly any parking along this single-track road.
The three great northern divers were at Achnahaird yesterday. The two at the top of the picture seemed to be an item while the third appeared to be trying to muscle in with some displaying and a bit of rusty wailing; but the two weren't having any of it and sailed serenely away together to the far side of the bay.
On Thursday, the beach at Poolewe was quiet while Inverewe Gardens in the background looked neat and tidy and ready for the summer season.
As we sat in the lay-by having lunch, a rather mournful-looking cat was very interested in making Greger's acquaintance, standing on its hind legs and peering in through the car window.
Two flighty, calling curlews and a pair of preening mergansers were the best of the birds; and two distant Slavonian grebes were seen in Gruinard Bay on the way home.
// posted by Christine @ 8:44 AM 
