Not quite

A couple of tours in this post with some of the birds just not quite in range. The Golden Eagle we saw just never came close enough for a decent shot...

...unlike the mating Golden-ringed Dragonflies that were quite approachable.

A WT Eagle showed very well but I managed to get the camera strap caught up so the best I managed was a quick snap as the bird disappeared behind the trees!

The first tour we managed to see an Otter but we probably didn't devoted enough time for the furry beast on the second day so we missed out. We did photograph lots of stuff on the second day though starting with a nice Golden Plover.

There were a couple of Common Gull chicks on the shore too.

It wasn't just the birds and mammals that we covered as the plants are of interest too - Greater Butterfly Orchid seem to do quite well despite the constant grazing that goes happens along the verges.

We saw an Adder at a new site and got another at my usual site.

Most of the Red Deer are seen at a distance so it was nice to get this stag close to the road.

Meadow Pipit might be a common bird but it's worth having a closer look at this attractive bird.

You wouldn't give it a second look if it was next to a male Stonechat though!

I mentioned that Whinchat seemed to be in short supply this year but there seems to have been a late arrival of these birds as they are in all the regular spots now.

Shark

When I was picking up the guests for this tour there was another moth on show - The Shark.

We got a couple of Otter at our first stop and a couple of WT Eagle at the next stop. We headed back towards the Otters and found there were three beasts together - a dog, bitch and the youngster. A nice Whinchat was seen just before we headed to a Golden Eagle site where we had decent views.

There were no pups to see at the Common Seal colony but it won't be long now. Just as we headed for lunch a couple of Golden Eagle gave us some awesome views.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary are out in good numbers and they can be easy to view as they feed from the Thyme flowers.

I have seen a few Golden Ringed Dragonfly but this was the first chance to photograph one.

Most of the orchids are in flower now with quite a few Lesser Butterfly, Northern Marsh...

...and Fragrant all being seen.

Red-throated Diver, Cuckoo and a couple of Gannet were seen in the afternoon before we checked out the waders, some of the larks and finches and we got superb views of Mountain Hare too.

Headdress.

Another decent view of the WT Eagle to start the day - looks like it has a headdress!

Awesome views of Golden Eagle were had next as we watched one of the birds bring in a Mountain Hare - didn't have the shutter speed for a sharper shot.

I think this the same bird coming in again but we'll not worry too much about that.

Good views of a Whinchat perched on the fence - it stayed long enough for photos too.

I thought I better put another Swallow shot on as they will soon be heading south for the winter.

Adder showed well - easy to see but not so easy to get a shot...

...but I can't say the same about the Golden-ringed Dragonfly!

Another cracking day out was finished of with a Mountain Hare and stunning views of the Skylarks.

Hunt.

A bit of a selection from a couple of tours. The Eider ducks are hanging out on the shores but there doesn't seem to be many ducklings around so something is successfully hunting them out.

The Adders have been showing well on most days with up to 3 being seen now.

With the hot weather the dragonflies are out in abundance but they can be difficult to photograph unless they are perched up. An obliging Golden-ringed Dragonfly posed for some shots.

A small squad of Goosander were loafing on the shore...

...while the adult WT Eagle kept an eye on it's youngster.

It won't be long before both species of eagle have their young on the wing. The Golden Eagle adults are not bringing in as much food now but every time they have been on the hunt they bring back a Mountain Hare. It's obviously a good year for the hares...unless you get caught napping!

Otter sightings are sometimes good and sometimes a bit more distant. It's nice to get a close encounter but this dog Otter had been in a bit of a skirmish and was seen to have an obvious limp when he headed back into the water.