Christine's walking & birds blog

Up beyond the higher quarry, a chiffchaff was singing as it hunted for insects among the yellowing leaves.


A bit further on where the trees ended, a large hawker dragonfly was fly-catching above the heather. I went through the gate onto the moorland and climbed the wet, rocky path that leads back past Ullapool Hill to the village. The calls of pink-footed geese made me look up to see fifty-four of them flying high to the east - one of the loveliest sights and sounds in the autumn sky.


Dropping down to the road on the last stretch of the path, I was reflecting on the fact that I still hadn't seen anything eating rowan berries when a bunch of birds on the ground ahead caught my eye. Five or six chaffinches were feeding on fallen berries - which had maybe become detached from the trees in recent strong winds and rain. Still, if the warblers don't want them there'll be more for the winter thrushes.

Also seen on the walk: great, blue, and coal tits, treecreeper, meadow pipits, stonechat, buzzard, and raven. The raciest moment came at the end. Just as I turned into our road, two collared doves (I thought) whizzed past me so close I could hear the air rushing through their wings. I know they're pretty speedy, but do they usually go that fast?! I lost them behind the trees, but a few seconds later a sparrowhawk emerged and flew back over me, flap-flap-gliding away to look, perhaps, for something a little slower while a collared dove lived to fly another day.