11-13th May 2013, North Uist bound and the first couple of days

A new destination for us, North Uist, and a lot of planning to make a long trip worthwhile. The Outer Hebridean islands are havens for wildlife so the attraction was obvious, we found what looked like a super comfortable cottage for the week, ticked off the days as departure approached and then it arrived...

With a very early ferry from Oban we booked a room for the night, the 300 mile drive from home was without problems, the accomodation was found after a short search, very clean and comfortable.
We looked around the harbourside for a restaurant, http://www.cuanmor.co.uk/ give it a try if you are in the area, superb food and service and very reasonable prices too!

An early alarm and we were off to the ferry departure point, The Lord of the Isles was our ferry, we took breakfast on board. A slightly rough crossing meant photography was none too easy bit I managed decent shots of a gannet....

And a great skua

With the early departure of the ferry we arrived at Loch Boisedale and the drive up to North Uist in early afternoon, a swift unpacking left us with time to enjoy a short exploration.

Eider ducks enjoying the sunshine.

And golden plover...

Skylarks were much in evidence, soaring and singing.....this male was displaying, unfortunately a strand of wire got in the way..

And the object of his attention...

She seemed quite impressed:-))

A ringed plover was seen...

We took a look at a local beach....

We got a great view of a lapwing....

Settling into our lovely cottage we spotted a male hen harrier hunting, long distance and cropped a lot...

On Sunday dire weather was forecasted, experience tells us to ignore that and get out anyway, little windows occur, the wildlife sightings in the shortest of gaps between heavy showers can be fantastic!

Parking up by a loch we really didn't really expect our first sighting to be a short eared owl perched on a fence post:-))

The next encounter was with something rather larger, time to check the testerone levels as I go head to head with a largish young stag! He urinated which is a sign of stress, I sat down to make sure I wasn't issuing a challenge, get close to these and they are mighty big!

In our chosen bay a short walk away, once the deer had scattered, we found a grey seal having a break on a rock..

 

And with a wider view when the sun came out.......

 

 

The rain hammers in again but we find some tufted ducks...

 

As we drove away a lovely female wheatear appeared at the roadside....

 

As my wildlife knowledge enlarges I thank the people I meet at my local raptor watch, I have learnt a lot there, I instantly thought golden eagle when I saw this, confirmed by several others watching too. A young male hunting......

 

We found a redshank foraging...

 

We had a short walk at Balranald our local beach.....

 

Eider ducks stretch their wings............

 

And a whimbrel settles in the long grass....

 

Monday was gale day! We took note of the forecast and tried for a sheltered place.

 

Loch Langas on the easten side looked good, the winds were wicked, car doors had to be opened and closed carefully, this place is not for the weak or fearful!

A seal took interest in us, as we did in it!

Unfortunately, and for some unknown reason Picasa won't load the pix:-((

 

A walk on the headland reminded us of the moor at home, but here we have red deer....

As we returned a hen harrier was hunting...

 

 

 

We had a break here and watched transfixed as a huge white tailed sea eagle sped by in the wind, a truly enormous bird:-)

 

Photography on the day was difficult, the wind was so bad even at near sea level it nearly had me off my feet.

 

I resorted to a shot from the car to get a lapwing later:-)

 

 

 

More updates as the holiday goes on:-))