Scotland part four

 I remember many years ago someone told me of a small loch that had Black-throated Divers on it. So, no matter what time of year I was in that area of Scotland I visited that loch in the hope of seeing those Divers. My visits always seem to coincide with rain and I have never seen the Divers that is until this year. I went twice in the week we were up there and on the first occasion (once again in the rain) I saw one Diver however the images I got that day were rubbish. I went back a couple of days later (in the rain) and “get in” I saw three, a juvenile and two adults. I used the car as a back drop and an 800mm lens so I wouldn’t disturb them got the images I wanted then drove back to the cottage a happy man.

Jays were a regular visitor to the garden.

This Flycatcher on the other hand was just passing through. 

Scotland Week 1

Have been back from a fortnights holiday in Scotland for a few of days now and have just managed to get through the pictures I took during week one ( I will start week two soon). We were stayed for the first week in a fantastic cottage called The Cowshed in Lettoch near Killiecrankie the views were stunning and the owners Steve & Kirsty could not have been more welcoming, have a look at www.lettochcottages.com or www.facebook.com/TheCowShedLettoch, we will be back.
I spent most early mornings and late afternoons trying to get shots of the Swallows, House Martins and Starlings that were all nesting in the eaves of the cottages. Roe Deer were in the field at the back of the cottage and Buzzards flew above it, a great place to spend a holiday.
We did a lot of touristy things visiting Loch of the Lowes, Scone Palace, Glamis Castle and Blair Castle while I tried to sneak a little wildlife photography in along the way.

A panoramic view from the Cowshed



A great view in the summer it must be awesome in the autumn

Buzzard in a tree opposite the cottage

Buzzard

Swallow

House Martin

Starling with grub

Take off

Starling (hard work trying to catch them in flight)

Early morning Roe Buck

Roe Buck

Scone Palace

Glamis Castle

Piper outside Blair Castle

Ospreys at Loch of the Lowes

Great Crested Grebe

Oystercatcher seemed to be everywhere this one was at Scone Palace

This juvenile was at Blair Castle

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

This Common Gull was nesting in a bush next to a small bridge across a lake at Blair Castle. Every time visitors went over the bridge, the gull flew up and mobbed them.

It would also land on the railings of the bridge and protest loudly

Coot eating the flowers from Lilly Pads again at Blair Castle

Spotted Flycatcher at Dunkeld

I have not seen a white Deer before, this one was on a shall hillside just outside Dunkeld

This canoeist on the river Tay was training for an upcoming event

Common Sandpiper

My first Dragonfly of the year a Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Loads of Green-veined Whites were around this one had just emerged

A day flying moth (Speckled Yellow?)

I don’t have a clue what type of fly this is but one minute it was happily sitting on a wall the next…..

…..it was in the beak of a Blackbird, it happened so fast and the bird was so close I only manage one shot and its not that sharp but hey.