This could be the last time

Another day starting in the rain but another good bird to start us off - a few Common Crossbill in the conifers. After seeing an Otter running up the shore it was raptors all the way - a juv WT Eagle, a Buzzard relaxing...

...two Golden Eagles wheeling round together...

...another juv Golden Eagle with a full crop being harassed off the Hooded Crows...

...and the pale Buzzard put in an appearance.

You may be getting sick of the Wheatear photos but one of these will be the last one until next March or even April - stunner!

The temperature is staying up so the Adders are still performing now and again but a cold snap will see them into the hibernating areas - this could be the last time...

The Red Deer stags have been roaring away and most have their harems - it was nice to get this group against the sky.

No sign of any Mountain Hares but there are plenty of Rabbits around!

A Hen Harrier was seen and a distant view of an adult WT Eagle at the end of the day. Prior to that we had been watching the Rooks digging in the sand - look at state of it! ;-)

SE Owl.

With more poor weather to contend with a decision was made to go for Golden Eagle first - one bird was seen sitting on the nest. Next up we were tipped off about a Short-eared Owl sitting by the road. We missed it on the first pass but found it when we backtracked.

We couldn't find any sign of Otters so we checked out the WT Eagle and then headed back along the road. A Red Deer stag was seen grazing in a field before we got lucky with 2 Golden Eagle in flight.

A bird on a post wasn't the hoped for Tree Pipit but just a Meadow Pipit.

The clear spell we had was brief but we still added Hen Harrier and Whinchat to the list. A single Lesser Redpoll was nice to see as the rain came back in.

The good thing about the poor weather is that it grounds the migrating birds so a mixed flock of Dunlin, Turnstone and Sanderling was a nice find.

A flock of about 30 Whimbrel were seen too.

The weather started to clear at the end of the day but the wind was still blowing hard. Lapwing on the nest...

...good numbers of Rabbit...

...and a few Linnet were seen.

On the trip back a pale-eyed Common Buzzard was seen in a field...

...and a fly past WT Eagle with a Raven giving chase finished the day off nicely.

Cracking.

Tuesday was a cracking day full of photographs for a change. We started with a couple of Curlew...

...and the pale Common Buzzard or is it a Honey Buzzard/Osprey/Rough-legged Buzzard.

The menace of the sea shore was looking for trouble - Great Black-backed Gull.

We had a laugh trying to photograph the young WT Eagle on the nest after the adult bird tried to sneak round the back of us.

A Hooded Crow watched the proceedings from the safety of the fence.

An Otter was a welcome find but it never came close enough to be inducted into the hall of fame. Lunch was quite productive with a couple of Hen Harrier, a distant WT Eagle and two Golden Eagle. As we left the area we spotted a large bird above the forestry and by the time we stopped to get a better view there were two birds. They were both young WT Eagles and keen to have a bit of interaction.

They even came a bit closer.

We'd already seen quite a few Red Deer but a close one will always trump the distant crowd.

The Adders were on fine form with at least 10 seen on the day. This one has a milky eye so it's ready to shed it's skin.

This is one of two Young Adders seen - it's only about five inches long.

Our Hare Hunt was a bit of a hike but it was worth it. We did see a few Rabbits...

...and a Hen Harrier along the way.

The first Mountain Hare we spotted was keen to stay hidden but we eventually got three together. They all headed in different directions so you had to follow the right one! I missed out to start with but soon made amends.

You would think that would be enough for one day but the icing on the cake was the Goldfinch posing on the thistle.

It's not just the big stuff.

Monday was another pleasant day. Best bird of the day had to be this very obliging Red-throated Diver.

With a couple of sightings of WT Eagle, SE Owl and a male Hen Harrier all in the bag we could have finished the day after the first hour! We got the runaround from the Golden Eagles again but after some nifty driving we got cracking views of one bird being harassed by a female Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk!
Tuesday another day full of excitement. The Mountain Hare was on the run...

...a young Lapwing scooted along the road in front of us...

...while the adult birds chased the Common Gulls.

You might not see too many Rabbits about but there is a thriving population of 'wickle fluffy bunnies' or Buzzard food if you wish!

The Snipe have been performing well too.

Common Sandpipers are....very common. A stunning bird up close though.

Add all of that plus Whinchat, Common Redstart, Dunlin, Ringed Plover....I could go on. We saw the big stuff too but it's hardly a day out without the small stuff and a soggy Raven!