I returned to Brora today having researched the new location
of the Harlequin Duck. Sputie Burn is on the other side of the mouth of the
River Brora some 1 – 2 miles from the beach car park and a considerable
distance from where I was watching yesterday. The walk loaded with watching
equipment was a fairly pleasant one along fields and stretches of beach.
The tide was out but there were pools of water between the
rocks therefore I felt reasonably confident that finding the bird would not
pose too much of a problem. Provided it had not departed back to Iceland of
course!
Once at Sputie Burn I set up the telescope and began scanning
the rocks. I saw two Sandwich Terns sat on rocks and noticed a duck sat with
them. In fact it was the only duck within the rock pools. Bingo the Harlequin
Duck was in the scope well that didn’t take too much effort on this occasion!
Sputie burn itself is a mini waterfall that falls on to the
shore. It looks out of place but must be a welcome sight for any tired migrants
who would first be drawn by the gorse and the bushes that surround the burn. (I need to mess around with the photo so that it loads!)
I spied several Seals at Sputie Burn and after the trek felt like joining them for a snooze before returning to the car for a refuel and on to my next destination. The next stop was Glen
Affric NNR where I hoped to run into some Crossbills. These birds have been next
to non-existent for the majority of birders I have spoken too. I have not even
heard birds in flight and there is plenty of habitat here.
I stopped at several areas once inside the reserve but could
not locate a single bird. Logging is still taking place on parts of this site
which spoils the landscape but there was still plenty of breathtaking view to
be had of the area. The walk up to the viewpoint along the Dog Falls trail was
well worth the uphill hike with splendid views of Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhain and surrounding
mountains.
It is back to the drawing board on the Crossbill front! The
days are flying by but this adventure is not over yet!
No comments:
Post a Comment