Easter.

Friday was a real hot one with the temperature soaring to 24 degrees. An Otter showed very well in the morning but was a bit camera shy.

A good showing from both types of eagle, a couple of Hen Harriers and we even seen the Adders mating! Cracking views of Twite were had just after watching 3 Whimbrel come flying in from the sea. The Easter Bunny was on the run too.

Saturday was a complete contrast as the temperature didn't get over 12 degrees and we saw a couple of showers in the morning too! The Golden plover flock has increased slightly and there were a good number of Redshank at our first stop of the day. We had a cracking sighting of Peregrine perched on the roadside before it took flight and circled above us.

Only one Adder today and she was staying in cover in the dull conditions.

It was another great day out except for the lack of Otters - it must be holiday time for them too!
Sunday it was lashing down in the morning so the only thing we could look for was an Otter. Quite a few GN Diver and Grey Heron later we found an Otter asleep on a seaweed covered rock - result. The Otter was on the move before long and as we watched it swim off I picked up a male Hen Harrier flying past. It was still raining when we got another fly past this time by 5 Knot - an uncommon bird up here. We headed for sunny weather after that which improved things no end. Mountain Hares showed well along with stunning views of Lapwing, Wheatear, Golden Plover and Meadow Pipit. Our next stop was better again with Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Manx Shearwater and a superb Lapland Bunting!

The photo doesn't do any justice to the views that we had. A flock of about 50 Meadow Pipit were flying around and some were showing alongside the Rock Pipits and White Wagtails. A Common Buzzard provided a better opportunity for a photo.

The next stop gave us another migrant bird when we waited patiently for a singing Common Whitethroat to show itself. We hadn't had any eagles yet so we put a bit of time in for those in the afternoon.While we waited for something to appear in the sky we got close views of a female Adder...

...and did the rounds of the plants - Lousewort, Dog Violet, Wood Anemone, Butterwort and a good sniff of Bog Myrtle. Time was pressing on and it was looking quiet so we headed off. A few Whinchat were singing and flying about so we stopped for a better look.

They were never close enough for photos but stunning birds to see. The supposed brief stop was extended when a couple of Golden eagle appeared in the distance and two more soon appeared a bit closer before we eventually got a closer fly past.

We did have a male Hen Harrier too but the eagles were too distracting! Whimbrel was a hoped for bird by one of the guests and we were fortunate enough to get one in flight next to a Curlew before relocating the bird perched on a rock.

We finished the day in style as we watched the WT Eagle on the nest and the other bird flew in after about 20 minutes - an eggcellent Easter treat!!