The
Lewis trip was no more successful for sea eagles than the Iona trip
but a little loch between two beaches on the Braighe connecting the
Eye peninsula to the main island provided some compensation as it was the resting place for hundreds
of long tailed duck presumably on migration.
The
beaches and the loch margins were patrolled by a mixture of waders. Oyster-catchers, sanderling and knot but also some dunlin in their
handsome summer plumage and little ringed plovers.
Some
odd ducks appeared on a loch near Tiumpan head lighthouse. At first
glance I thought they were shoveller duck but close to, I guessed
they were some mallard cross-breeds, especially when they waddled up
to be fed.
The
trip to Bernera across the "bridge across the Atlantic"
was equally unsuccessful erne-wise but provided some spectacular
views and a sight of the tidal bell at Bosta beach.
A bronze bell
that sounds different notes as the tide ebbs and flows. We really
ought to make an effort to install such a splendid piece of art
locally. We have the coastline for it here.
A
scramble out onto the promontory at Crothair brought me close up to
the remains of a small broch, Dun Stuigh, only a few feet of walls remain but
it still commands the headland. Beneath it, in the bay was what seemed
to be an ancient fish trap with a low wall allowing the fish to swim
in at high tide but preventing their escape as it ebbed.
 |
| Dun Stuigh |
 |
| Ancient fish trap |
I
have been trying to capture the Green Flash at sunset for years.
Best seen over the sea, with a flat horizon, I have watched many
sunsets from our Lewis base. They are spectacularly beautiful like a
Rothko painting but, without a sea horizon, the green flash has
always eluded me.
This
year I think I captured, at least the green ray, on video, or maybe
I'm kidding myself.
 |
| I think there was a green element to those rays |
I'll try again next year and maybe the sea eagles will be less camera
shy.
No comments:
Post a Comment