Corncrake, North Duffield Carrs

Can you hear it.......WE DID !

Corncrakes, Iona

We were a few weeks too late for these this year as the grass was far too long. We could hear them calling in the field behind the Spar shop so we headed up the track to try and get a view. We stood for hours, neither of us in very good health as Simon had a streaming cold and Karen was the proud owner of a tummy bug but we stayed as long as we could ! Eventually a head popped up and bingo, they are such wonderful birds, so full of character. The island was also a lot busier this year as  we had gone later and the bus trips of guided tours were never ending, but not one of them heard the strange calls coming from the grass.....

Corncrakes on Iona

Corncrake Heaven !!

Iona's Corncrakes

  

Corncrakes on Iona

One of the highlights of our trip was a day on Iona for the Corncrakes. We left Mull with lovely blue sky but after our 10 minute crossing, the weather had totally changed and rain was falling. Well, it was torrential all day but the more it rained, the more the corncrakes sang and ran around. So, we were soaked to the skin but had the best views of corncrakes ever !

 It was one of those fabulous birdy days with such quality birds.

Corncrake

A new UK bird for us. We heard one within 10 minutes of getting off the ferry in North Uist. Often heard but very rarely seen so this fleeting run across the path was brilliant. We slept in the car that night, catching the return ferry the following morning. When we arrived we were so desperate for a calling corncrake but believe me, at 2am when we were still awake because of calling corncrakes, the novelty had definitely worn off !