The future's bright, the future's orange

Yeah, we went to North Uist today. Yeah you're getting a photo of a rusty tractor. Get over it...

After numerous reports online of people practically falling over otters and white-tail eagles in this particular link of the Hebrides chain (and indeed signs warning of the dangers) there were high hopes that the holiday would finally provide some stunning wildlife, after it all seemed to go into hiding after the otters, basking sharks, and minke whales of the first couple of days. But it was not to be.

A grey old blustery day seemed to be putting everything off, and made it hard to know what to make of the island (and Berneray where the ferry put in). It's got spots that must be beautiful in the sun, and we've plans to come back (well we're likely to more or less repeat this trip next year, though possibly at a more wildlife-fruitful time of year, for one thing I want to see a Corncrake). But it's always fun taking a ferry anywhere, and RSPB Balranald was a great walk (even if the most exciting thing it brought up were the (admittedly reasonably uncommon) Corn Buntings.

Last night in the Isles. Sigh. Back to reality soon.