Wednesday 6 April 2016

Gyr Falcon, North Uist, Outer Hebrides - 30th-31st March 2016

Fabulous bird, in a fabulous place...

  Gyr Falcon, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

A stonking, first-winter, white morph (Greenland) Gyr Falcon. Not much else to say about it really. My photos aren't great (there are loads of better ones in the usual places on the internet), but they can do the talking.



 

Stretching her wings...


On the ground...



She (presumably a female based on size, although I'm not sure of the amount of sexual dimorphism, if any, with this species) spent most of the time I was there (several hours over 30th-31st March) sat on various fence posts. We kept a respectful distance, hoping she'd come down to feed on the dead Mute Swan that had collided with telegraph wires. When she did we were in Lochmaddy sorting out accommodation, or up nearby Cleitreabhal A Deas watching Hen Harriers and Golden Eagles (when she was flushed off the swan after a couple of minutes my North Uist's only jogger...).

 Sketches from my notebook

We had plenty of time to sit and admire her, as she watched over the dead swan, ignored the mobbing gulls, and went for the occasional walk. Some video here:


I travelled up from Yorkshire with Joel and Chris, though some sloppy satnav programming on my part nearly scuppered the whole trip. We weren't booked on the ferry, and hadn't secured any accommodation either, but everything worked out fine ;-)

A Great White Egret was also at Balranald, along with a couple of Glaucous Gulls.

  Glaucous Gull, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

  Great White Egret, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

A few Great Northern Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers were offshore, and there were healthy populations of Twite and Corn Bunting on the reserve.

  Corn Bunting, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

  Corn Bunting, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

  Corn Bunting, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

What most of my Corn Bunting photos look like...

  Whooper Swan, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

Traigh Bhan, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

Dead Pilot Whale on Traigh nam Faoghailean, attracting large gulls

  Sanderling and Oystercatchers, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

Traigh an Iar, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

Traigh nam Faoghailean, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

  Great Northern Diver, Balranald, North Uist, Scotland - Thursday 31st March 2016

Away from Balranald the birding was equally fantastic, with Joel in particular picking out loads of good stuff. We had the raptors Golden Eagles, White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers, Common Buzzards, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk; huge Barnacle Goose flocks; masses of breeding waders; Great Northern Divers, Black-throated Divers, Eiders and Black Guillemots on the sea; large white-winged gulls, including an Iceland Gull in Lochmaddy harbour; and all set in the most stunning scenery.

  Golden Eagle (2nd winter?), Lochportain, North Uist, Scotland - Thursday 31st March 2016

The view south while heading up Cleitreabhal A Dea

Sheep on Cleitreabhal A Dea

  Iceland Gull, Lochmaddy, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

  Twite, Solas, North Uist, Scotland - Wednesday 30th March 2016

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