22nd May 2013

We usually get lots of great sightings on our Tours but today's was particularly fantastic for Sea Eagles. 

I had good views of an Adult on the hillside as I was driving down to Portree to collect today's guests. But 10 minutes out of Portree we had our first as a group with another adult being mobbed by Greater Black-backed Gulls. 

Then a short while later two young birds being escorted out of the area by the resident Golden Eagle. These two were joined by two further young Sea Eagles, then blow me if another two didn't come off the horizon to join them - six in the sky together! 

At our lunch stop we watched Sea Eagle number 8 taking a fish back towards it's nest site. He kindly returned, briefly stooping at the water's surface before heading into the trees by the sound. A bit of searching located him sat in a tree where we managed to get the telescope on him. 

A high soaring bird brought the Tour's Sea Eagle total to a magnificent 9 for the day. I got a personal total of 11 as I had another youngster cruising the hill behind my house as I unloaded the minibus. . . . Skye really is "Sea Eagle Island".

17th May 2013

It's been a busy week with Tours, the last two days giving 7 Golden Eagle and 4 Sea Eagle sightings, although all were rather distant. 

Today things got even better. A Sea Eagle, coasting along the Sea Cliff 10 minutes out from Portree, gave great views as it landed on a peak. 

Then behind us a Golden Eagle put on a display before rocketing onto what must have been a kill behind a small rise. A short while later 4 Sea Eagles together, albeit distant. 

Terns are now back on the island in numbers, unfortunately the Skuas gave us a fleeting glimpse - pretty sure they were Long-Tailed but I didn't get a good enough look. 


3 impressive and close Sea Eagles (a great tip-off from Bob . . . thanks). 


Our day ended with a beautiful walk to Neist in the sunshine with Puffins and Great Skuas to enjoy amongst many other birds, and a last Sea Eagle which only I will claim as it was a few miles off!

14th May 2013

Well today's weather didn't have much to offer, but Skye's wildlife did! A heavy hail storm wasn't the most auspicious start to today's Tour but we soon left it and Portree behind and within 15 minutes had a young Sea Eagle over the roadside forest. It's presence brought up the local pair of Golden Eagles, and only a few fortunate gusts of wind kept the Sea Eagle out of talons reach as the Goldens were clearly not keen on it being there.

A short while later there were Red-Throated Diver in the foreground, Red Deer on the beach, and another pair of Golden Eagles cruising the hillside. This time the Eagles were on the receiving end as they were buzzed by a pair of Hoodies.

Golden Eagles numbers five and six came soon after, the male bird enjoying the windy conditions and putting on a few stoops for us. I will at this point mention Golden Eagle number seven simply for the sake of completeness - it was a distant speck and only seen by me.

A huge flock of over 40 Whimbrel was the ornithological highlight of the day, being one of the biggest groups of this passage migrant in Skye this year.

A forlorn single Whooper Swan graced the small loch, lagging well behind his migrating pals. The day ended with two distant and unspectacular Sea Eagles . . . . well it would have been greedy to wish for more!

12th May 2013 - Ironic!

As I mentioned, the weather for today's tour was pretty bad, we did though still manage to see lots of wildlife. 


However, despite driving round a large percentage of Skye and trying to take in all the wildlife hotspots, the best spotting was done from home! 

While making breakfast a Golden Eagle flew past the window just 50m up the hill. 

Then on the way home as pulled up to open my gate there were 2 . . . then 3 . . . . then 5 . . . . then 7 Sea Eagles circling above my house! Mostly young birds displaying and calling to each other and enjoying the sunshine after a wet day.

12th May 2013

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!

11th May 2013

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.

Hebrides: Islands on the Edge

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.

7th May 2013

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.

6th May 2013

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.

5th May 2013

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.

4th May 2013

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.