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 The weather forecast for today's tour was bang on . . . heavy rain, low cloud and a strong breeze. A challenging day to say the least!
We did see a Comic Tern, one of the first arrivals back on Skye. Great Northern and Red-Throated Divers gave us good views as they came close inshore, the Red-Throats even serenading us with their haunting calls.
A Red Deer and her calf sheltered from the rain, the mother lying down as she waited for her youngster to negotiate the fence she'd so easily jumped.
 A lone Puffin bobbed on the water under the cliffs, and the Seals loafed around as usual oblivious to the weather. . . . . And yes we even had one of Skye's famous upward waterfalls.
And despite the rain and cloud we managed to get close views of three Sea Eagles as they patrolled over the forest and loch. . . . . . There was however a touch of irony to my wildlife watching today . . more on that to follow!
 Due to the cold Winter weather delaying Spring this year we have a lot of birds still on feeders because of a shortage of natural food.
This little Siskin was being rather protective of his Nyger seed as you can see.
The Chaffinch didn't miss out though as he joined 30+ of his friends on the ground below, where I'd also scattered seed.
What a great start to BBC One's series "Hebrides: Islands on the Edge" on Monday.
It was a good reminder how lucky I am living and working here on Skye as I've pretty much seen everything that was in the programme in just the last week!
 Whooper Swans and Barnacle Geese have been departing North, with just a few stragglers moving through the island now.
Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles are seen almost every day, sometimes without even having to leave my house.
While we've no Basking Sharks yet I watched the year's first Minke Whales feeding close in offshore yesterday.
Although most of the Red Deer are moving to higher ground now I had roadside views of half a dozen feeding in a garden last week. Seals of course pop up all round the coast and are hard to miss.
And finally, mirroring the events in the TV programme, my favourite Otter looks to have said goodbye to her two cubs this week as we watched her fishing alone along the shore . . . . .
It's a great TV series but why not experience it all for real on a holiday to the Isle of Skye.
Had a little trip up to Neist Point today. I've a few blurry photos of this Great Skua - mainly because it flew three feet over my head and I couldn't focus. Luckily it wasn't being aggressive, it was just heading into land and I was in the way! Minke Whales were just off the point but proved too difficult to photograph today. Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Kittiwakes, a couple of late Barnacle Geese, and a Whimbrel completed a good day out. . . oh yes and there was a young Sea Eagle by the roadside on the way home but he was hunkered down and not being photogenic today.
The weather forecast for today's Tour may have been poor but the anticipation as always was high . . . . And Skye didn't disappoint. My favourite Otter may have said goodbye to her cubs but she still put on a great solo display fishing in front of us for a good 20 minutes. At first the Golden Eagle was less obliging and proved a challenge to spot on the hillside. But once we had it the telescope brought it into stunning detail as it sat and surveyed the area, it's golden head beautiful even in the grey light. Deer on the shore, a Sea Eagle on the skyline, Red-Throated divers . . well they were diving . . . Common Sandpipers sat on the fence, and of course Seals everywhere. . . . would I have swapped all that for a warm sunny Bank Holiday? . . . no way.
Had a day off today so went out to check up on a few Eagles. I'd hoped to get some Otter photos too but they were too far out and the weather closed in at the time I saw them.
The Great Skuas are back on their breeding grounds. This one was taking a rest from harassing the Kittiwakes.
 This beautiful Gannet was one of a few dozen close inshore at Neist a few days ago, brought in by the blustery showers.
There were well over a thousand Manx Shearwaters too, passing by heading North, but all a bit too far out to get a photo.
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The weather forecast for today's tour was bang on . . . heavy rain, low cloud and a strong breeze. A challenging day to say the least! 
A lone Puffin bobbed on the water under the cliffs, and the Seals loafed around as usual oblivious to the weather. . . . . And yes we even had one of Skye's famous upward waterfalls.
