Barra Archives - Blasdale Home

Outer Hebrides – Under Dun Bharpa

Posted on May 12, 2024 by SteveJune 24, 2024

12th May 2024

Today the sea was rougher than previous days. Our Great Northern Diver as nowhere to be seen. Rain was forecast for late afternoon, so we set off for a morning and early afternoon walk into the interior, where we were surrounded by peaks, some of which were over 300 meters high. The Irish lad, staying at the campsite said he had seen Eagle flying there. This was supposed to be an area for Eagles. We walked into the hills but saw no Eagles. Instead, I photographed a bird at the other end of the size scale, a Eurasian Wren (Hebridean), building a nest in the bank.

Lapwings appeared to follow us around squawking.

After enough walking we turned around and headed back to home, to watch the waves crash into the rocks out to sea. Not much wind, but plenty of surf.

Birds Photographed

Stonechat
Lapwing
Northern Wheatear,
Eurasian Wren (Hebridean)
Twite

Outer Hebrides – Barra

Posted on May 10, 2024 by SteveJune 23, 2024

10th May 2024

Today was predicted to be sunny, and it was. Started off with clouds around the hills, these eventually evaporated. In the morning, we went for a walk towards the North, visiting the cemetery and the beach across the Machair. There was a standing stone in the Machair, which we rudely thought rather small, and insignificant. On the walk we spotted birds, and for the record I have posted sample pictures of them. birds. The Northern Gannets were too far out for good photos, but I do have one with its beak almost touching the water. Seaside cemeteries are very much a feature of the islands, which have no crematorium.

We walked further North to a beach which had warnings of quicksand. This probably was caused by a river and lake on the land side of the beach

Back to the campsite (Borve Camping & Caravan Site), and R was talking with an Irish lad, who told us about the Corncrake, a noisy, highly unmelodious bird which calls for a mate all day and all night. During the day it makes a few croaks every 10 minutes. It is a master of disguise, and though you hear it, you don’t see it. We tried to find the Corncrake. We could hear it but could not see it.

The owner of the campsite, who is also the postman, gave us the option of moving the van, so we took this up and positioned the van overlooking the sea. This move came about because a group of three were arriving on today’s boat and they would prefer to be together. We now have a prime position overlooking the sea.

I mentioned the owner was the island postman, and he would turn up at the campsite in the post van or his own white van, depending on what he was doing.

We then went for a drive to the north east coast. Saw a plane take off from the beach. The beach is absolutely huge and flat. It supports three runways, used depending on the wind direction. We stalked a few birds. Drove to a jetty recommended for pictures and photographed some lobster pots. There were many sheep and lambs walking along the roads, they did have road sense and would amble to the side as you approached in the van.

We also drove to the port at Ardmhòr where we will be leaving the island, just to check out where it was. Very small with a carpark for waiting. A very small jetty for loading cars.

We tried to find a shop in Castlebay. I forgot there was a Co-op and a distillery off the main road. We didn’t find anywhere to purchase food. We will be back tomorrow to get milk and other provisions.

Back at the campsite we tried again to find the Corncrake. This time we encouraged it with a recording of its call. Out it came, coming towards us, to fend off a competitor male. Yes, we saw it, pictures taken. Not a very glamorous creature.

Sunset was not as good as it should have been.

Birds Photographed:

Oyster Catcher
Common Gull
Northern Gannet
Pied Wagtail
Arctic Tern
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Pied Wheatear
Great Northern Diver (aka Loon)
Corncrake

Track

Outer Hebrides – Oban to Barra

Posted on May 9, 2024 by SteveJune 22, 2024

9th May 2024

We packed up the van and headed to Oban. Stopped at Tesco to fill up with diesel. Most of the pumps were devoid of diesel. Only two operating. After filling we drove to the port and parked in the waiting lanes. Left the van and went for a coffee at Costa. The sea food hut was already doing great business, well before lunch time.

[As an aside, I bought diesel on the mainland believing the island diesel would be expensive. This is not the case, the price of fuel on the islands is generally cheaper than on the mainland. There is some subsidy from the Scottish Government, or rather a reduced tax rate.]

We waited in the van for quite a long time. We seemed to be late boarding the ship. There was another ferry, bound for Mull, which arrived and then left before us.

We eventually left late but arrived pretty much on time. More than five hours on the ship. We ate a Stornoway Black pudding pizza for lunch on the boat. The journey is spectacular, after leaving Oban, and the Isle of Kerrera, you head towards the channel, (Sound of Mull) between mainland Scotland on the North, and the Isle of Mull on the South. There are islands and reefs, with lighthouses guarding the entry. The entry to the channel is also guarded by the spectacular Duart Castle. The image of the castle was very foreboding with the hills in the clouds.

Leaving the Sound of Mull you pass the Ardnamurchan lighthouse into open waters, making your way towards Barra and the port of Castlebay. Coming into Castlebay, you could see sandy white beaches on the port side. The heights of the island were obscured by clouds.

We disembarked and drove straight to the Borve Camping and Caravan Site, and set up the van for our evening meal. The campsite is right on the sea edge. You either parked your van on the edge looking out towards America, or if unlucky you parked one row back. We were unlucky the first night and did not have the sea view. The pitches had all been allocated, and a board with our name and the number of nights was at the entrance to the site and on the pitch. This was in case the owner was not about.

Our camping neighbour stopped to apologise in advance for having to leave at 04:30 the next morning to catch a ferry. The time had been changed dramatically. Interesting chap who we chatted to over drinks and cheese with a Hi-Top VW he’d managed to buy second-hand.

As you can see from the pictures, the weather was not good, there was low lying cloud everywhere, making for some scenic pictures. Who wants boring blue skies!