Left Embleton to spend three days in Scotland,the first bird I saw over the border was a Hoose Martin,I popped in to North Berwick for a pit stop and went to the Seabird Centre there was not much bird activity close in except for a few loafing Eiders,the Bass Rock was shimmering white to the east,smothered in Gannets.
THE BASS ROCK
EIDER DUCK
EIDER DRAKE
BASS ROCK
ARCTIC TERN SCULPTURE
From here it was straight to Dunkeld on the River Tay and handy for Loch of the Lowes my favourite Osprey nest site.
FEMALE OSPREY AT THE NEST
THERE WERE TWO WELL GROWN CHICKS
FLEXING THEIR WINGS
AND FEELING PECKISH
LOOKING FOR DAD
HERE HE COMES
NO FISH THIS TIME
HE WAS SOON BACK WITH A SMALL FISH
EVERYBODYS HAPPY.
LUCISTIC RED DEER
WILLOW WARBLER FLEDGLINGS
BEAVER SWIMMING ACROSS THE LOCH.
DUNKELD BRIDGE
CROSSING THE TAY
RECORD SHOT OF DIPPER ON THE RIVER TAY.
LENTICULAR CLOUDS OVER THE HILLS.
Next day my plan was to go to the YTHAN estuary north of Aberdeen to see the King Eider which had been hanging out there for a few weeks,well I found the Estuary no problem,there were probably 4 to 5 thousand Eider there all loafing around on the far shore and yes you`ve guessed it the King was nowhere to be seen,well I hung around there all day its a smashing place despite the disappointment of dipping the KING EIDER.
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| DUNLIN |
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| RINGED PLOVER |
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EIDER DUCKLINGS
PANORAMA OF THE YTHAN ESTUARY
LOOKING TOWARDS ABERDEEN |
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| SANDWICH TERN |
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| EIDER DUCK |
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| RINGED PLOVER |
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| LITTLE TERN |
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| BAR TAILED GODWIT |
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| BARWIT STEP |
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| BARWIT |
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| BARWITS. |
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| BAR TAILED GODWITS |
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| INCOMING EIDER |
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| LITTLE TERN HOVERING |
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| LITTLE TERN DIVE |
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| DIVE |
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| DIVE |
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| RED BREASTED MERGANSERS |
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THE LAST YTHAN EIDER, NO KING TODAY.
The next day I went across to the west coast to Fort William and Oban.The weather was still cool and overcast so any hope of seeing a mountain ringlet or chequered skipper were forlorn ones.
SISKIN ON THE NUTS
SISKIN
HOODED CROW OBAN
HOODED CROW
HOODED CROW OBAN.
BLACK GUILLEMOT OBAN HARBOUR
BLACK GUILEMOTS BREED IN THE SEA WALL RIGHT BY THE PROMENADE.
FLYING OUT
SNORKELLING IN THE CLEAR WATER.
FLYING IN.
BLACK GUILLEMOT.
And now a few of the ferries plying between Oban and Mull.
CORUISK
ISLE OF MULL
CLANSMAN.
A MOODY BROODING MULL ACROSS THE WATER.
That's just about it for this trip so hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did. |
