Friday, January 15, 2016
I planned to check the harbour, then walk round the camp-site and river spit, and on to the river paths to look for the firecrest. It started to rain as I pulled up on Shore Street, but it was only a shower.
The glaucous(?) gull was still around, having a wash just off the west beach.
Far out on Loch Broom there were small groups of auks. Three very tiny-looking auks went flying up the loch - but I couldn't be certain of their ID. Then I saw a definite little auk, slightly closer in, and heading towards the harbour; and just before the ferry pier I spotted a second individual.
I've wanted to see a little auk for such a long time, and finally I was standing there looking at one spinning about in front of me. It really was cute. It paddled away from the harbour parallel to the shore, and for a while I followed. Then - "Uh-oh, the little auk's on a collision course with the glauc!" I mean, I've seen photos of these gulls wolfing down baby puffins, so a little auk might easily be on the menu. But in the event I needn't have worried; both birds took avoiding action at the last moment, and the little auk paddled on safely towards the camp-site point while the glaucous walked up the shingle to pick half-heartedly at a dead crab.
// posted by Christine @ 8:13 AM 
