Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Head North

Another sighting of White-tailed Eagle at Loch Feochan as we drove up to Oban and having explored mostly to the south so far, a drive north on Tuesday was on the cards. After crossing the Connel Bridge, a cantilever bridge that spans Loch Etive, a stop at Ardmucknish Bay in search of sea ducks. In fact things were pretty quiet on the water but we did manage some nearby views of Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, Red-breasted Merganser and several Common Eider

Great Northern Diver - Ardmuckish Bay
Next stop Shain Wood: An ancient semi-natural woodland typical of the Atlantic coast of Scotland. The wood stands above the surrounding land on a low, flattened ridge which juts out from the southern shore of Loch Creran. Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Jay, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Siskin but a pleasant surprise was a brace of Woodcock, inadvertently flushed.

The ever present Hooded Crow
On the shoreline of Loch Creran the usual Shag, more Common Eider, Goldeneye, Curlew and Oystercatcher. At least two Stonechat, Buzzard and the ever present Hooded Crow and a Weasel, which ran across the road on route home were other notables.