Thursday, September 11, 2025

On a day when rain was expected, wind gusts were forecast to reach 42mph, and the ferry remained in Ullapool, I decided to go out to Achnahaird. There were few other vehicles in the car park and I had the machair to myself! 

The first birds (apart from five or six curlew) were a ruff and a golden plover. (The plover promptly disappeared and I've scrutinised the one poor photo I got carefully in case it was a "special". I don't think it is.)

It was difficult to hold the camera steady even between gusts, while the binocular straps and flapping case nearly strangled me several times. There was quite a bit of swearing. Waders were visible against the water of the channel on the far side of the machair so I trudged across, passing a few dunlin and ringed plover on the way. Godwits and knot (five of each) were feeding among the pools.



There were four bar-tailed godwits and one black-tailed; I saw no godwits at all last year, and I'd forgotten how leggy black-tailed appear when in the company of bar-tailed.



At one point the waders went up in a panic, and looking up, I spotted a solitary goose flying over. The waders soon returned to earth. As I made my way towards the beach and the sea, I hoped to see the goose again - and at last there it was, a Brent goose picking at the grass in a half-hearted sort of way. It gave me a steady look as I clicked off a shot, but didn't fly.


I continued up onto the cliffs, noting six or seven sanderling on the way - and then the rain came down. By the time I reached the car my legs and the rucksack were soaked - but my Jack Wolfskin jacket kept my top half dry. The outing was probably not wise given that I'm still prone to a bit of coughing and sneezing - but I enjoyed the walk and the birds and I didn't get near anyone. Job done.  

// posted by Christine @ 1:37 PM
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