June Blog

I can’t believe we are in June now. The warmth is here and the sun has been out a lot so we can say Summer is just around the corner.

May was a very good month and a busy one as well and I can’t wait to tell you what I got up to. I started from going back to Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides it was great to be back and see the Hebridean birds and wildlife. On the first week I started by visiting South Uist where I went on a walk on Stoneybridge and watched Oystercatchers on the beach as well as Little Ringed Plovers & Sanderlings.

When I got back to the house I was sitting in the garden and could hear a Corncrake calling in the field next to the house it sounded very close. I went into the house and grabbed my binoculars and scan to see where it was calling from. After about 5 or 10 minutes it kept on calling and I was about to give up when I noticed some movement and up came The Corncrake, it was just a very quick glimpse but I didn’t care I saw it that’s all that matters. Where we were staying on Balivanch was ideal it was close to the shops and there was a beach within walking distance so it was ideal. There were bird calls every morning from Starlings and Blackbirds which was lovely to hear there were a lot of House Martins flying around and one day could even spot a Golden Eagle way in the distance. For the rest of the week we visited Berneray, Clachan Sands, Eriskay, Culla Bay & a new beach up in Bayhead in North Uist were I saw a couple of Sea Eagles in the sky and a Corncrake calling behind which sounded like it was right behind me.

On a another trip up to Berneray we spotted more Sea Eagles which was exciting and saw the seals at the famous viewpoint. The second week in Benbecula was a great one too the best highlight for me was on a visit to RSPB’s Balranald Nature Reserve there were a lot of Birders around some were there looking for The Corncrake but I read on social media a Dotterel had been spotted so the rest were there to see it as well. I had never ever seen one before so I was one of those Birders very keen to see it. It didn’t take long after watching and listening to Skylarks I noticed a bird in the field I looked through my binoculars and I almost dropped them with excitement it was a Dotterel, it was to too far away to get a photo but it was my first ever so that was a great tick for me and other Birders passing by. The other birds I saw on Balranald were Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Sanderling & Eider Duck it was a great day Birding.

On the final day before I headed back home I had one last walk on Culla. It’s always lovely to walk on and on that day there were a lot of Sanderlings and usually they fly off very quickly or run away when you get close but this time they weren’t that bothered with my presence so managed to get close up picture. I had such a lovely holiday, another highlight was whilst on Lochmaddy I saw a Otter running across the road!!!. I can really say it was a great holiday and can’t wait to return.

After recharging my batteries I went Birding down The River Almond Walkway. It was a beautiful sunny morning going through the woods listening to the birds and when I got to the bridge I noticed a big bird flying towards me it moved to the side and it was a Heron. Down along the walkway I spotted a Mallard and her ducklings which was my first time seeing them this year. There were 7 of ducklings so that was great to see so I watched them swim with their mother up the River it was a lovely day.

May was a great month I must also point out after returning from the Hebrides I’ve also seen and heard Swifts so they have arrived. I hope you enjoyed this blog and I look forward telling you what I got up to in June.