Friday, January 06, 2017
A free day didn't coincide with good weather, but by the time I drove into the car park at Achnahaird the rain had stopped although it remained grey and dull. The beach yielded only gulls - a great black-backed and over 50 common gulls.
Two great northern divers were feeding in the bay - perhaps beginning to show signs of breeding plumage.
Just before diving they draw their heads back....
Driving back through the Coigach area I spotted a golden eagle over a faraway ridge. It was mid-afternoon by now, and beginning to spit with rain once more. That's my excuse anyway.
The eagle disappeared but a pair of ravens started to circle above, seeming uneasy about something. Then I spotted the peregrine - so I'll post the picture because I've had hardly any sightings of this falcon since moving to the Highlands.
My plan to stop off at Ardmair on the way back was scuppered when I gave a lift to two boys who'd missed the bus and just been dropped off by someone turning off onto the Achiltibuie road. So in the end I just drove round by West Terrace to see what I could see - and what I saw was a glaucous gull cruising over.
It went down on the river spit among black-headed gulls; I was too tired to walk out there, despite the extra allure of purple sandpipers that had been reported recently - being content to snap it from a distance.
I still failed to find waxwings for the year, so it looks as though I've missed the boat. Can't complain, though; and as the waxwings move south, I hope birders all through the country get as good views as we've had this winter.
// posted by Christine @ 12:28 PM 
