Life goes on.

The last three days have been graced with sunshine and showers with the strong wind still blowing. It's certainly not as nice as it could be but the wildlife doesn't mind and neither do I - life goes on.

Tuesday we managed to get views of the two WT Eagle chicks being fed. The little grey heads come bobbing up as the adult tears tiny morsels of meat with it's monstrous bill before tenderly offering them to the hungry youngsters - it really is something to watch!

Lunchtime provided a real spectacle. A Golden Eagle cruised over our heads to be joined by it's mate and two Ravens moved in to attempt to chase them off. As the Goldies circled a male Hen Harrier came out of the forestry to join the chase and, best of all, an Osprey joined in the battle too!! The usual suspects padded out the rest of the day with Cuckoo, Whimbrel, Whinchat, Dunlin, Otter and Mountain Hare all seen well.

Wednesday was repeat performance with WT Eagle, Otter, Great Northern Diver, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and good views of Swallow on the ground in the morning stint.

A single Whimbrel showed well...

...while we watched a GN Diver. Lunchtime was a different affair from the previous day as we only spotted Crossbills overhead, a Merlin, Cuckoo and Whinchat...

...with no sign of Golden Eagle! After picking up some of the commoner birds and, of course, Mountain Hare we headed back to find some Golden Eagle. It paid off handsomely as we picked up one bird, then another, two more appeared with a male Hen Harrier in tow and to top it off a young Golden Eagle landed on a high point to watch the action. What a way to finish the day!
Thursday we spent dodging the showers but still had a cracking day starting off with Great Northern Diver and an elusive Otter that was seen well before we lost it completely!

We missed out the WT Eagle nest because of rain and headed for a Golden Eagle site instead. We could see one bird sitting tight on the nest with it's mate perched on a branch not too far away.

A quick look at the WT Eagle nest on our way past gave us one adult bird and as we drove off the other bird was seen to be flying towards us!

Usually when an Otter catches a Crab it will bring it ashore so it was a surprise to watch this Otter eating a Crab in the sea!

The good sightings continued for the rest of the day between the showers with Red Deer...

...a pair of Bullfinch (the female is just out of shot on the left)...

...a Mistle Thrush with young to feed...

...a shy Yellowhammer...

...and a cracking Mountain Hare.