Outer Hebrides, September 21-28, 2024

Took a trip with my old friend, Johan, via Edinburgh to the Outer Hebrides. We traveled with a rental car via the ferry from Ullapool to the isle of Lewis. From there went to the northernmost tip, Butt of Lewis. Then we drove through the isles of Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Eriskay and Barra. Lastly we returned with a ferry to Oban and continued back to Edinburgh.

This was not the best time for bird watching, but I managed to capture four new species. It was also a bit late in the season as some tourist attractions were closed (e.g. the Arnol blackhouse). Most food shacks and lunch restaurants were also closed (and they are not plentyful to begin with). As we stayed in pre-booked hotels, we were at least treated to good dinners and breakfasts. Most of the hotels seemed to end their season in October.

June, 2022

A good month for capturing new species. I went on two boat exceusrions into the Stockholm archipelago and a family trip to Tuscany, Italy. The latter was a holiday, so I did not bring the serious camera gear, meaning the bird photos suffered. Sadly, I dd not get a shot of the Eurasian Scops Owl (Dvärguv), but we heard it every night.

029 – Snäppor, spovar, beckasiner, m fl (Sandpipers, snipes, etcetera)

Kustsnäppa (Calidris canutus, Red Knot)
Kärrsnäppa (Calidris alpina; Dunlin)
Småspov (Numenius phaeopus; Whimbrel)
Enkelbeckasin (Gallinago gallinago; Common snipe)
Storspov (Numenius arquata; Eurasian curlew)
Grönbena (Tringa glareola; Wood sandpiper)
Skogssnäppa (Tringa ochropus; Green sandpiper)
Drillsnäppa (Actitis hypoleucos; Common sandpiper)
Rödbena (Tringa totanus; Common redshank)
Svartsnäppa (Tringa erythropus; Spotted redshank)
Gluttsnäppa (Tringa nebularia; Common greenshank)
Brushane (Calidris pugnax; Ruff)