Hard to get

The final tour before a trip to Newcastle was a real raptor showcase. We started the day with all the gulls going up in a panic as a Peregrine came charging through. We got decent views of an Otter that was moving away from us and couldn't relocate it when we moved to a closer position. A couple of RT Diver were on the loch in the same location. There was no sign of the juv WT Eagle but Sparrowhawk, Whinchat, Stonechat and Hen Harrier filled the gap nicely.

An adult WT Eagle played hard to get before circling overhead.

A couple of Golden Eagle played hard to get as well but with a bit of patience we had one bird cruise over us.

We'd had another couple of Hen Harrier and nice views of a Northern Wheatear before we came across a Kestrel hunting. By the time the camera was out it had settled on a post.

A couple of Curlew were resting up and preening quite close to the road.

A Black-tailed Godwit was a nice find as we viewed a Mountain Hare. A couple of Adders showed well as they sheltered from a stiff breeze.

We came across another Whinchat that posed for us on the fence - superb!

We paid another visit to see the juv WT Eagle and managed to find it this time. As we stood watching one of the adult bird came flying in with food and, for once, it was a case of 'right place, right time'.