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. 

Isle of Mull part 9

You will be pleased to hear that this is the last and finale part from our holiday on Mull (I think I can hear the cheering). I thought I would finish with another of my favourite encounters. It was on a wet (the first real rain we had) Thursday afternoon during our second week. We were driving along the shore of Loch Spelve when we saw four photographers on the shore. They were obviously taking photos of something and when I abandoned the car, I could see what it was. An Otter was feeding just a few yards away and did not bother about the photographers being there at all. I parked the car correctly and joined them on the shore and for around two hours, we followed the Otter along the shore, only moving when the Otter went into the loch to catch something. It was a great end to our holiday on Mull.

As you can see, it knew we were watching it but it was not bothered.

It liked a good scratched and did it quite a lot.

It’s weird but it did not seem to like the feel of the Crab in its mouth.

However, it did eat it.

 

Scotland week 2 Part 2

When we pulled up to the lodges at Loch Garten the gentleman who runs the place was there to meet us. He explained all about the lodge but I was more interested in asking about the Pine Marten. He said if we kept the water bowl topped up we would definitely see a female (we would recogniser her by her bent ear). The first few nights came and went and I was beginning to think Pine Martens were only mythical creatures, only ever seen on celluloid or digital pixels, however at 23.01 on our 4^th night we saw the female Pine Marten drinking out of the water bowl, fantastic. Over the next few nights, not only did the female turn up but she also brought her two kits with her, brilliant.

I managed to photograph the Slavonian Grebe early one morning on a Loch when I was the only one there but unfortunately, the light was not very good. I went back to the Loch, however on the afternoon I went I was not the only one there. On the Loch side was a man with a dog and a fisherman, the light was nice but the fisherman was not so nice. Suffice to say I had a bit of a run in with said fisherman. He took exception to me being there to photograph the Grebe. He said he was there to protect the Grebe from people like me? Now I know the Slavonian Grebe is a scheduled one bird and you need a licence to photograph the bird on the nest and you are not supposed to disturb the bird, but I did not know where the nest was and I did not want to know where the nest was. I know some photographers want to get as close as they possibly can but I‘m not one of them. The Grebe was swimming out in the open that would do for me. I can’t even call the fisherman a jobsworth he said he was “protecting” the bird voluntarily. Now it begs the question who was going to disturb the bird more, the man who was letting his dog run around, the fisherman who was fly fishing in waders or me sitting on the Loch side with a 500mm lens and all the gear on to blend into the trees and bushes. Howay man I ask you? Anyway enough of the rant here are some of the images I got.

 

Female Pine Marten just outside the patio doors

Female with one of it’s Kits

With both of them

The female was looking was looking up at me from underneath the steps of the decking. I was only about four foot from her.

Slavonian Grebe

I’d been looking for Crested Tit all week but it was not until our last morning at Loch Garten that I managed to catch up with one. This was the only decent shot I got.

Male Ring Ouzel

Juvenile Ring Ouzel

Two juvenile Ring Ouzel

Red Squirrel