Before the storm

The days just before the storm hit were pretty calm and there didn't seem to be an increase of birds at the feeders. They don't get much better looking than a Blue Tit.

There was an increase in the gull population though. There must have been 300 Common Gulls at the head of the loch with another 600 out on the main part of the loch.

The rough weather never seems to affect the seals and Otters. There were plenty of Common Seals to be seen 'bottling' close to shore...

 ...while an Otter swam past keeping an eye on me.

Not quite

A couple of tours in this post with some of the birds just not quite in range. The Golden Eagle we saw just never came close enough for a decent shot...

...unlike the mating Golden-ringed Dragonflies that were quite approachable.

A WT Eagle showed very well but I managed to get the camera strap caught up so the best I managed was a quick snap as the bird disappeared behind the trees!

The first tour we managed to see an Otter but we probably didn't devoted enough time for the furry beast on the second day so we missed out. We did photograph lots of stuff on the second day though starting with a nice Golden Plover.

There were a couple of Common Gull chicks on the shore too.

It wasn't just the birds and mammals that we covered as the plants are of interest too - Greater Butterfly Orchid seem to do quite well despite the constant grazing that goes happens along the verges.

We saw an Adder at a new site and got another at my usual site.

Most of the Red Deer are seen at a distance so it was nice to get this stag close to the road.

Meadow Pipit might be a common bird but it's worth having a closer look at this attractive bird.

You wouldn't give it a second look if it was next to a male Stonechat though!

I mentioned that Whinchat seemed to be in short supply this year but there seems to have been a late arrival of these birds as they are in all the regular spots now.

Divers

I had a quick look for the Glaucous Gull but there was no sign - it must be about somewhere. The Turnstones were hiding amongst the seaweed while the tide was in.

A few RB Merg were making their way up a river so I waited behind some cover and managed to get a few shots despite the stiff breeze.

You can see the wind was quite strong by the stance of this Grey Heron.

The Turnstones were still present when I returned so I had another go at them.

A single Common Gull was loafing just offshore...

...and a Greenshank was activly feeding along the strand line.

Another run out to look for a couple of wing-tagged WT Eagle was a fruitless search but I did get good views of a female Hen Harrier. A Black Guillemot was on the patch but just too far out for the camera.

A Shag and a GN Diver were fishing in the same spot in a choppy sea. I wasn't sure what I was seeing as they surfaced alternately and then disappeared in the chop but eventually they appeared together.

There were plenty of Oystercatchers on the beach...

...and a bigger group of GN Divers were seen at the days end. There are 10 birds in this group, one behind the flapping bird.

Ton of birds and some flowers.

Left to my own devices and in charge of a camera I was out there snapping away at anything that would stay still long enough. I started off with this Common Gull...

...and that was almost the extent of the birds. There was plenty to be seen but I got distracted by a bleating lamb...

...who then started to gambol. Note to Postie - all four feet off the ground;-)

The flowers have been catching my eye for a couple of weeks now so I thought I might as well have a go at them too. Lesser Celandine is starting to carpet the ground in places.

A bankside full of Primroses always looks spectacular but you can't get a poor display of this stunner.

I had a look around for Butterwort but they are not even budding yet so I had to settle for Pale Butterwort instead.

Oh look, a bird, quick with the camera - or not - Meadow Pipit wins again.

 

Wood Sorrel hides in the shady spots so it was a bit tricky to get this one...

...but then I found some in the sunshine.

Another bird distraction was this young WT Eagle flying over. You can see it's sporting wing tags so it's an east coast bird

Ton of birds, what's that about...Goldcrest was my one hundreth species for the year.

Another plant that will soon be in flower is the Wild Strawberry.

Just to finish with a bird - this is one of many Pied Wagtails around but all of them are male, I've not seen a female of the species yet.

Bump.

It was never going to be easy to follow the previous day so it was back to earth with a bump! A lone Common Gull was lingering near the shore in the morning light so I thought that would be a good start to the day.

As it happens this Curlew was the only chance of getting anything decent!

Distant views of displaying Hen Harrier, the distant views of both types of eagle and still no sign of any migrants. It's not easy to get through a day without a close encounter so the saving grace was this Otter.

He came out on the shore with a fish to show well...

...before moving a bit closer.

Another stint on the shore with another fish...

...before heading back out into a productive patch.

You can see all of the whiskers that help to locate any food items.

One last cheeky look across the water before he headed off.

All dressed up...

The weather has turned overcast instead of the blue skies but there is still no rain for us. Some of the pools that the frogs have used are now dry and the spawn will be lost. No frogs in the garden pond so it's another bird waiting to get on the feeders - Chaffinch.

Nothing else came close enough for the camera. Even the GN Diver kept it's distance.

No improvement in the weather on the next day but being out earlier helped with the sightings. The Otter family were out fishing and catching well so I didn't have to wait too long before one hauled out.

The Black-headed Gull is that common (for me) so to see two birds coming into breeding plumage was worthy of a bit of camera pointing!

You can find the Red-breasted Merganser close to the shore but they are not that keen if you stop to look. You can see the speed of this bird as it heads off - love the hairdo though!

Not a native bird but Pheasants are striking birds - all dressed up and nowhere to go.

A Common Gull was doing circuits...

...round a herd of Highland Cattle.

I managed to get reasonably close to two of the Skylark when I got home and got some photos of of one of them in the open - result.