11th May 2024
Well, we missed the Aurora Borealis last night. We woke up se to masses of tweets and facebook postings of pictures of the Aurora from around the world, including some from our kind neighbours at home. This evening, we stayed up late, and set the alarm for midnight, but saw no sign of the Aurora. Up North in the Summer, it never gets properly dark, and is not a good place for observing the stars and the Aurora Borealis. A different matter in the winter when it is dark for most of the day.
Today we headed to the island of Vatersay, across the Causeway on the Southern side of Barra. The causeway caused R great concern. She was sure it would be underwater, salty and rust the car. She was surprised to see such a well-built high crossing. There are many of these causeways connecting the smaller islands together to the larger islands.
The roads on Vatersay were even narrower than the single track with passing spaces ones in Barra!
We headed to Bagh A’Deas, and parked near some houses. As we left the van, we could hear a Corncrake calling. This one did not know the rules about remaining hidden, there it was in the long grass moving around. We then walked across the Machair to the beaches. The Machair was incredibly beautiful, short grass which was covered in flowers. The flowers varied depending on where you were. Here it was daisy. Lots of cows and their calves were grazing on the daisy covered grasslands. The beach was yet again devoid of shells, other than small limpets. Good views of Sandray, and various other smaller islands.
On the walk back to the car we were accompanied by a flock of Lapwings, they did not like our presence and herded us across the Machair. Maybe they were protecting their nesting area, but to be accompanied for near 800 meters seemed excessive.
Back to the center of the island we stopped at the community café for a coffee, and cheesy chips. Here we walked down to Traigh a Bhaigh Beach and the Traigh Shiar Beach. Didn’t actually walk down to the latter, but viewed it from the side. There was a man rebuilding the wooden steps down to the beach.
Next stop was the Catalina Memorial, where the wreckage of a Catalina plane still lies, from its crash in 1944, leaving 3 dead but, thankfully, several survivors.
Final stop was on a beach looking towards Castlebay. Here there were two groups of people on the beach. One group were swimming in the sea. It was an idyllic spot, no wind and very warm. Yes we could strip off to our t-shirts.
We did not stop at the next view, as suggested by a photographer’s book I had bought. It was the gable end of a ruined house. We deemed it not very exciting.
Back on Barra, headed to the Co-op and bought supper and a bottle of gin from the distillery. The gin had a very distinctive flavour. Not sure whether we can grow into the taste. This set a precedent, and we later bought a bottle of Gin at any likely distillery on the islands.
Back at the campsite, the Great Northern Diver was there again. Diving down. It is amazing how fast it travels underwater.
Another camper on site has seen a Golden Eagle flying near a hill where we will be walking tomorrow.
In the evening, after such a lovely day, there were clouds, so limited chance to see the Northern lights. It did clear up a bit, but no sign at 11. 30. Set alarm for another hour, and still nothing at 12.30
Birds Photographed:
- Corncrake
- Oyster Catcher
- Common Gull
- Great Northern Diver
- Lapwing
Track
