Threesomes.

Monday and Tuesday both turned out to be fair weathered for the tours. Monday we headed off up the glen in strong winds wondering if anything was going to show. As usual it didn't take long to get something breaking the skyline but it was out of sight before I got eyes on it. We stopped and waited and bagged a juvenile WT Eagle which was closely followed by another and as they disappeared two Golden Eagle came from the same place!! Another Golden Eagle put in a brief appearance before everything was gone from sight. I had an inkling that the birds just might still be around so we headed off in search of them. What a surprise we got when one of the birds appeared in front of us and landed in one of the trees at the side of the road! We watched it leave the roadside tree and join the other two birds that were already in the air. Two threesomes in twenty minutes. We hung around to watch the three birds. One bird perched in the trees and the other two put on a fine display. I managed a few action shots of the birds touching talons. The birds approached each other and you can see the legs have dropped in preparation...

...then the lower bird turns upside down...

...before they break away again - awesome!!

These two birds performed this manoeuvre almost constantly and still carried on when the third bird took flight to join them.

Another trio was spotted after we finally dragged ourselves away from the eagles as we caught up with a family of Otters. We had two cuddled up on together on a seaweed covered rock and another a bit closer asleep on it's own.

I did wonder if everything was going to turn up in threes today but we soon broke that one with one Greenshank, 6 Dunlin (two lots of three?), 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Goosander and 2 RB Merganser.

With the strong wind still blowing the Gannets were putting on a fine display but the Common Seals must have been seeking shelter as there were not so many on show today. We got a superb view of a juv Golden Eagle that flew straight over us but look at the state of the photo!

We had a Red Deer stag with hinds run in front of the motor and another stag on it's own at the side of the road and then we just about finished the day off with Mountain Hare and a brief sighting of a female Hen Harrier before we headed off to see another threesome. Three Pale-bellied Brent Goose had turned up and were showing well. The left hand bird is ringed so hopefully I'll get the info on that one.

The threesomes were almost over with just one more to report and probably one of the better sightings for the day - three Goldcrest.

Tuesday I was back in the field and we started off with two Golden Eagles but no sign of any WT Eagle being chased off this time. It took a while to located that species but we had close views of one sitting in a tree. Three Otters performed well for us but there was always a distraction - WT Eagle was flying around, a couple of Buzzards crossed our path, two Sparrowhawk chased each other over the trees and a Golden Eagle cleared the ridge too. We were just going to check out the waders when they all went up so we stood and looked and waited and got the Sparrowhawk as it crossed right in front of us! We picked up Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the shore before we headed off. It was a stronger wind today and a bit quieter for small birds but we still got a few, Stonechat being the best of the bunch. Stunning views of Mountain Hare at the end of the day too. Not long after getting back to the shop there was an almighty racket going on as three stags roared at each other - I had to go for a look. I could only see one beast but he was giving it some...

Wednesday was a day of showers and I, sort of, had the day off. I was sent on an errand so I took the camera and binoculars. I was quite pleased to see a bundle of fur on the edge of the rocks.

It can be difficult to count how many otters there are when they bundle up like this but you can see one lying on top of another with another nose sticking up at the back. I was sitting out in the open with the Otters blissfully unaware of me but look what happens when you get a friendly 'toot' from a passing motorist!

Once awake the youngsters were reluctant to leave but they did go eventually.