Monday, October 08, 2018
The crossbills were in flight over the tops of the conifers near the cattlegrid on the A837; I heard their soft chatter from the car and for once, was able to pull off the road close to where they landed.
Nine out of twelve birds got themselves into this pic, including one of only three females.
Otherwise, the only other birds along this stretch of road today were redpolls, siskins, meadow pipits, a flock of goldfinches containing a reed bunting, and a kestrel. By about one-thirty the dull but dry and still morning was over and rain coming in from the southeast put an end to my birding.
Yesterday it rained and blew all day, and in desperation I went out for a walk late afternoon - without bins or camera, which felt kind of weird. Along West Shore, eleven turnstones being driven reluctantly along the waterline by a couple of walkers reminded me that on Saturday I'd seen eleven golden plover at Achnahaird - and one wheatear. On the ferry terminal door was a notice advising there would be no sailings from Stornoway until today.
// posted by Christine @ 8:43 AM 
