Twist +2

So, day 2 sees me on Skye. I brought my waterproofs but they're no match for this weather. Curtains of rain. I know, I know, it's the west coast of Scotland. Never mind. The trip so far has been enjoyable. I left Dunton at 9am yesterday and stopped in super sunshine at Beckingham Marshes in Lincolnshire. A small RSPB reserve with bagfulls of Tree sparrows in the hedges and hedge sparrows in the ditches. There were house sparrows in the bat boxes on the Willow Barn. Apparently the only willow drying barn in England (so the sign said). And barn swallows flying over the fields.


On my way to Campfield Marsh RSPB reserve near Carlisle, I pulled into a layby on the A66  at the Cumbria border. There were lapwing protecting young, and snipe displaying, and a covey of red grouse AND a black grouse. With curlew flying around, too.

Campfield Marsh at Bowness on Solway is a very fine estuary reserve, well worth another visit.

Friends, who live on Hadrian's Wall, made a super stew plus rhubarb and raspberry crumble.

Today I also left at 9 and headed for Lochwinnoch RSPB reserve near Glasgow. That's over the border in Scotland.

Notice how England doesn't welcome you back

A pleasant stroll through a strip of woodland between the railway and the loch.

But then it was a mad 150 mile dash to Mallaig to catch the ferry to Skye. Made it with 5 minutes to spare. Then this rain started. And the wind got up. Ah well. I'm currently at a B&B that is 2 or so miles up a single-track road away from Portree.

Cheers

Twist -2

Hi,
I've been working at the RSPB since 1998. In 2006 I went to Ecuador on my first sabbatical. We get 4 weeks paid leave to do some conservation or learning work. (University lecturers get a year off for every seven years worked, but our's is still a great perk). In 2013 I was due another but firstly I was too busy to plan it and then too ill to take it. But in two days I'll be on my way.

Quis? Row is coming to join me for the second two weeks.
Quid? Corncrakes. Quid? Corn crakes
Quando? From Monday. We'll be home by 12th July.
Ubi? A hint is in the title. It will be The Western Isles Sabbatical Trip (Twist).
Cur? I'll be helping with the Corncrake survey. Sic. Sed. Cur?  corncrake.pdf
Quem ad modum? Listening for the creck creck call of the bird with a latin name of Crex crex.
Quibus adminiculis? I'm driving up to Carlisle on Monday to stay with Sandra and Dave. To Skye on Tuesday and then over to the Isle of Lewis on Wednesday, to Carloway. The survey involves driving around the island between midnight and 3am. Row will be travelling by train 1st class to Inverness

(Apparently Kipling got it from Hermagoras)

Cheers.