“Unashamedly, I am the noisy Plover King

A keen spotter of more than just a Lapwing.

Eagle-eyed I scan the skies,

Searching for just about anything that will surprise…”

The King and Author (on the left) with The Spotter Team ‘On the Road to No-where’.

The road to Keose and the ‘Rhododendron Lochan’

The imposing scenery at the end of the road at remote Brenish. Out to sea, not visible here, we could see the distant St Kilda island group

“And when there’s a fluttering dot or just a plain jackdaw

It’s me that claims it in the car-competition score.

You must understand that our holiday trip is more than just a game,

Where twitching and competing are just the same.

So golden eagle, and golden plover

Score points amongst one and another.

Little ringed, green or golden they are all beholden

As plovers they are, and I am the King,

I whisper noisily to my rapt audience

And in return get silent insouciance

It’s hard to be the Golden King,

Collecting points without hardly blinking.”

Western Lewis – Endlessly scenic. Home to many a point-scoring plover.

Pictures from along the way – The hamlets Valtos and Cnip, out on the Western most point of Lewis

The beach at Valtos. Ideal picnic spot and chance for Terry to frighten two innocents who were trying to have a swim in their own solitude [just visible]. Running the full length of the sands our Wild Swimmer was in before you could say Happy 60th…

Nothing but America out there

A Broch – A good one by all accounts. Evidence of early sentiments towards Vikings and anyone else for that matter. Remains of Brochs are scattered all over the islands and widespread in Scotland – often constructed in such a ways as to give testimony of the standing of the inhabitants as well as the sophistication of the societies in these wild parts.

Our 3rd Golden Eagle ‘Spot’ in about 20 minutes. A high scoring bird – which the PK [concealed in car] claimed…

Day’s End and Terry’s Birthday