Spine tingler

A stroll along the road was well worth the effort. The road skirts the edge of the loch so it's bound to give up something. A male Hen Harrier flew across the loch, a couple of WT Eagle could be seen at one of their regular spots, Crossbills 'chipping' in the forest, a Buzzard on a post and an Otter hauled out on a distant islet. It's never boring but the common birds can be overlooked - House Sparrow is a declining species but the only people that will spend a bit of time looking for them are the people that have lost them from their local area. It's a cracking bird when you take a good look.

It's just a Curlew and it's brown - the speckled and barred plumage helps the bird disappear into the grassy moorland breeding sites but everyone loves to hear the evocative bubbling call of this stunner.

The Great Northen Diver is starting to feel the passing of winter as some of these birds are renewing their bonds with their chosen mate and you can hear a lot of calling from these birds. It's not often you get the full 'song', most of it is contact calls, but if you do hear it echoing off the hills it's a real spine tingler.

Greenfinches seem to disappear in October/November and reappear in February although I'm sure you will find them feeding in a garden somewhere. Either way, in February, they will become more noticable as they start to pair up and the singing begins.

This pair of Oystercatchers are on territory and mating already but they won't actually settle down to nest until the middle of April at the earliest. The piping calls of these birds can go on all night!

Crossbill.

Just before the guests turned up for the tour I had a male Common Crossbill singing at the top of a conifer.

First stop for the day was for Golden Eagle - tough to see on the nest but it did the right thing and flew over the top of us!

An Otter asleep on the shore was next up and then views of the WT Eagle with it's chick on show too. Not a  bad start to the day. A female Hen Harrier was seen by a few and a couple of Stonechat and a few Red Deer were seen too. A male Hen Harrier was seen by all at the next stop and the Adder was sheltering from the stiff breeze.

Plenty of waders still to be seen on our travels with the usual Turnstone, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. A couple of Whimbrel were seen at our last stop of the day...

...three Golden Plover were difficult to pick out...

...but the two Mountain Hares were a bit easier.

Two Twite were flighty but we got decent views with a bit of patience...

...and I'm not sure what you will make of this bird! Any ideas?

Sunshine.

A day of sunshine made a big difference to the sightings. A WT Eagle in flight was nice to see despite the distance.

A couple of Otters were picked up and good views were had through the scope.

The flock of about 40 Dunlin were seen, a single Golden Plover and plenty of Northern Wheatear.

Common Sandpipers are all over the place now but there is some bird trying to spoil the shot!

Good views of two Golden Eagle were had before we picked up another two WT Eagle - one juvenile bird and a close view of an adult.

A Razorbill in winter plumage was a bit of a puzzler while it was preening but when it looked round it gave up it's identity.

Another two Golden Eagle, 2 Hen Harrier and the dance of the male Adders was seen as they fought for the attentions of the female.

Whinchat and Yellowhammer were well received but a couple of Cuckoo escaped the attentions of most of the guests. House Sparrows are a declining species but it's still difficult to get people to appreciate the charm of this bird - what a handsome fellow!

Some small stuff.

Another cracking day out was started with a tip off about 3 Otters. We set off to the location and picked up a single Otter on an islet eating a fish before picking up the mum and two cubs - here are the cubs riding piggy back on mum.

Catching fish and bringing them ashore gave us better views - what a treat!

A couple of year ticks were a bonus for me. A group of about six Long-tailed Tit were seen in passing and a Grey Plover was seen flying off later in the day. The camera never came out for the rest of the day but two WT Eagles, a single Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, six Golden Plover, Sparrowhawk, another Otter and Mountain Hare all added to the day.
A bunch of photos of common birds...Common Gulls are moulting into winter plumage.

The humble House Sparrow is a dying breed for some and very common for others - does anyone look at them? A male bird is always good to look at...

...but so are the females.

You can never see enough Linnets...

...and you may even find a Twite or two amongst them.

If you want a bird to look smart and have some attitude then look no further than the Starling, a fantastic bird to watch.

Dunlin and Ringed Plover are the common waders on the beaches - most people don't see them until they fly off but they are worth looking for to get good views.

Rooks breed on Iona but come across to Mull foraging - just a big, black bird - look at the range of blues and purples when the light catches them!

Just in case you thought the plot was being lost, a WT Eagle against the blue sky.