Christine's walking & birds blog

The Formula One season has begun, so I left Greger in peace and drove out into Coigach again. The scoter was still offshore at Badentarbat beach, and in between showers I got better views. It's a very messy bird plumage-wise, and there seems to be some yellow on the bill - but the general colour and pattern suggest a female common scoter.


The scoter took off and flew low over the water like a kind of marine grouse, going down with a splash a bit further out.

On the opposite side of the headland, a walk in yet more showers brought my first meadow pipit of the year, at least sixteen skylarks, and no Lapland bunting. Back at the car park I took a last look at Achnahaird bay before getting into the car - and noticed a grebe on the water. It looked a bit big for a Slavonian, and in fact it turned out to be a red-necked grebe.




A summer plumaged black guillemot was seen far out, and a couple of razorbills were closer in (not too close, I hope - many seabirds have died on the east coast apparently).


As for the grebe; it came towards me as I stood in full view on the cliffs, and continued to dive, so I didn't think it was particularly wary. I made the mistake of trying to get just a bit closer - and when I looked again, it had gone. I don't like disturbing birds and I probably disturbed this one. However, there was a plane droning about at the time, and maybe it was spooked by the noise. Maybe.