For once we were greeted by glorious clear sunny skies, albeit a little cold. There was a good turn out of fifteen as we headed north along the mainland side of Clachan Sound. Within four hundred yards we turned right up through a deciduous woodland on a rather steep track, to reach a small burn. Keeping to the right of this we climbed through the woodland crossing a stile and eventually emerging onto a good track on the top.
We continued north now along a fairly flat track towards the Toad of Lorn. Over to our left were several small islands,including one named Eilean Dúin or Goat Island as it is known to me, and true to its name there were about twelve wild goats grazing on grass to the left. In front of us now was clearly the “TOAD” with his bulging eyes and wide mouth.
We passed below the “Toad of Lorn” and now headed east towards Dubh Loch. The clear weather had brought out several Common Buzzards and I counted four together at one time soaring off to our left. On the loch were several Tufted Ducks, mostly male with their white wedged shape flanks showing prominently. One of the group then spotted a Moorhen moving quickly across the water to avoid been seen; this was an unusual sighting as Moorhen are fairly uncommon in this part of Argyll. There were other birds around the loch including Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Dunnock.
Emerging onto the road opposite Loch Seil we turned right to take us back in the direction of the Tigh an Truish. However we soon turned off the road again passing Clachan Farm on our right and headed up the hill through a gate. On the telegraph wire to my left a female Reed Bunting sat flicking her tail, and a beautiful Grey Wagtail landed on the track ahead, but I was soon distracted as a flock of birds moved ahead of us. There was probably a dozen in total with several other birds feeding close by. They were soon identified as Fieldfare a winter visitor from Scandinavia, with their grey heads and rump.
We turned off the track now down towards Clachan House and joined the driveway down to the road by Clachan Bridge. Despite a good five mile walk we had managed to be back at the Tigh an Truish in good time for lunch.