Waterloo

14th May 2012

Broadford Bay looking south west from Waterloo.

The rain let up and the clouds parted just in time for the start of the event. The nine participants were armed with 2 telescopes and a plethora of binoculars which helped to reveal dunlin, shelduck, oyster catchers, curlews, ringed plovers, herons, red-breasted mergansers, and a great northern diver.

Then we encountered the highlight of the event, a female European otter (Lutra lutra) and her cub. Photo by Bruce.

Another one from Bruce.

And one from David.

Sadly David returned here a few days later and found an otter cub, dead with a broken leg.

Looking north west to the small island of Pabay. By this time the rain had returned.

The ground was littered with numerous mossy mini-pools.

Looking across the inlet to Breakish.

Has a sort of English feel to it.

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula), according to iSpot expert.

Bluebells (Endymion non-scriptus) of Scotland.

I wonder if this is thrift (Armeria maritima), not fully opened.

Part of a mixed flock of Dunlin (Calidris alpina) and Ringed Plovers (Chiadrius hiaticula).