Juvenile.

A quick round up of the common stuff to start the day off - Grey Heron, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Black Guillemot and Cormorant were the best of the bunch. A visit to the WT Eagle site produced a youngster and an adult. Two, distant, Golden Eagle had us moving location but it didn't improve the views. Another juvenile WT Eagle was a good find while we viewed some Red Deer before we returned to the adult WT Eagle. A bit of  a wait finally gave us the views we wanted as one bird flew over us...

...to join it's mate in a tree. There were quite a few Ravens in the area a bit upset about the big birds.

Next up was a juvenile Buzzard that wouldn't shut up.

A Common Sandpiper was a nice find and it hung in for a photo too.

Another Golden Eagle at lunchtime improved the views but it wasn't hanging around. The Adders have decided enough is enough and are now hard to find - only two today. We may not have found an Otter today but the seven BN Dolphins put on a great show instead! A good finish to the day with plenty of Linnet...

...a nice Northern Wheatear...

...and cracking views of Mountain Hare.

A grand day out.

Monday was a grand day out with kids on board. The weather was good so we got things off to a good start with a Skylark and a few Mountain Hare. Eider ducks, Adders and some Red deer were soon to follow. The first of the big sightings was a Golden Eagle sat on a hill top and we managed to get some cracking views as it flew off. A very obliging Otter showed at close quarters and performed well while we had lunch.

A WT Eagle youngster was seen on the nest before we picked up one of the adults flying to a tree. We moved closer for a good view - awesome!

We picked up the other adult flying to the nest with food and a male Hen Harrier circled above us. The next big idea was to head off to look for Basking Sharks. There was some disappointment that we didn't get any but the Minke Whale and two dolphins made up for that! Another view of a male Hen Harrier seen us back to base.
Tuesday was attempting to replay the previous days magic. It never works out that way but they are all special in their own way. A squad of four Dunlin were a good find at the start of the day.

Mountain Hare, Shelduck and Lapwing were all expected but the Green Sandpiper we found on a small pool was a cracking bird. Next up was a small flock of about 2000 Manx Shearwater, lots of Gannet, an adult WT Eagle and a Minke Whale! A visit to the WT Eagle nest produced both of the youngsters and decent views of a young Golden Eagle. When one of the young WT Eagles took flight I took the chance to get a few snaps of the event.

We'd seen quite a few Red Deer already but a hind with a spotty youth was a real treat.

An Adder and a Common Lizard were seen nearby but the two stags we came across stole the show.

A Mistle Thrush that was crouched in a field staring at the sky was just enjoying the sunshine and not looking at an eagle!

We finished the day off with a group of four Adders and two Golden Eagles that gave a superb display.

Camera trap.

I've had the camera trap out a few times recently. You can't get a result every time you put it out but usually there is something on there like a Hooded Crow or grass blowing in the wind. Red Deer are fairly easy to see but it was nice to get a capture of a hind and calf in the dark...

...but that was outdone by two hinds with two calves in daylight!

There was nothing but deer from that location so I shifted the camera and managed to get lots of pictures of a Song Thrush...

...before getting an Otter in the middle of the night.

While retreiving the data from the camera I saw what was probably the same Otter fishing and bringing it's catch ashore.

Not the best of photos but I was watching a Common Blue butterfly feeding on various flowers when a hoverfly came in and chased it off the flower. It did this a few times so I stupidly tried to get a shot!

There are young Common Buzzards much in evidence at the moment. You can't go anywhere without hearing the mewing call.

The end of summer is fast approaching in the birding world - the waders are on the move, Willow Warblers are having a final song before they head back to Africa, the Robins are singing again and every sighting of a Northern Wheatear should be treasured.