Raven black

All the usual sightings on the tours but not too many photos taken so here are a few that I fancied. The Scotch Argus is prolific on the island but there are years where you get clouds of them and other years they are just everywhere. I don't think I have a decent shot of one so here is another failed attempt!

Doc will be pleased to know that as he was heading home I was pointing the camera at this WT Eagle - ach well:-)

There are plenty of family parties of Raven that are around but most of them head off in a black cloud as you approach. It was nice to catch this one on it's own and admire the blue plumage.

Stalling.

The tour on Saturday was another treat with plenty of Mountain Hare seen at the start and an awesome encounter with a WT Eagle. A couple of gull calling in alarm had me slowing down just in time to see the eagle disappear behind some trees. As we bundled out of the motor the bird reappeared, stalling above the trees, before falling back again.

We got eaten alive by midges at lunch but we made up for it with a superb Golden Eagle sighting. No chance of a photo of the initial sighting but a distant shot will suffice. The Goldie was heading for some Ravens with serious intent but then pulled out at the last second.

No Otter to be found on the day but that's the way it goes. An unusual sighting was a Great Skua putting in an appearance while we were looking for eagles!

Monday I gave the wee camera a run out - you can tell by the quality! I got a few more head shots of the Adders for the collection but I'm sure there are a couple that have escaped me.

An obliging Scotch Argus got the camera pointed at it.

A quick check round some of the flowers was worth the effort. Most of the orchids are going over now but the Harebells are superb. A few Field Gentian are in flower now...

...but the Grass of Parnassus is just in bud.

Stunning views of a  Speckled Wood on Meadowsweet had me bailing out of the motor but the butterfly was happy to land on the not so photogenic stones!

Death in the gutter.

Thursday I had a bit of  time for looking at nothing in particular. There are plenty of Scotch Argus on the wing, posing on the verges until you point a camera at them!

While attempting the above photo I was distracted by a couple of dragons in the ditch. Turns out they were Keeled Skimmers - nice.

The Swallows seem to be hanging around and possibly going for a second brood. Let's hope they have enough time to do the business.

The House Martins continue to have the same problems with the nest disintegrating over time. One chick is dead in the gutter and the other is being fed by the adult bird - it won't last long on the ground though.

Friday we started off with three WT Eagle - one flying in the distance, a chick on the nest and one of the adults getting some grief from a Buzzard.

A good supporting cast through the day with three Hen Harriers, Linnet, Twite, RT Diver, Stonechat and a recently fledged Spotted Flycatcher.