We woke up a bit late and had a quick breakfast the views from the sofa were quite nice, some phone pics below!
We decided, after all the driving to stay local today, with a reasonable weather forecast we thought a walk on the beach at Opinion Bay, just a few miles away, was in order. We parked up and walked through the dunes, couple of Wheatears here but too quick for pics, lots of Meadow Pipits as well, the view of Skye in the distance was pretty spectacular and the beach looked nice in the sunshine.
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| Meadow Pipits |
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| The Isle of Skye |
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| The Beach by Margie |
The Sea was like a Mill Pool which was handy as it meant the Great Northern Divers sat on the sea, some just behind the surf line, stood out nicely, probably at least 12 birds in the bay and more could be seen dotted around on the sea, they were in various plumages including some in full breeding regalia!
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Classic feeding pose |
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| Bit scruffy this one |
We walked along the beach towards the headland, as we did there was a commotion up ahead and a large bird took to the sky, got me bins on it, White-tailed Eagle lumbering along unfortunately away from us before it headed off across the sea towards Skye!! Pictures are record shots only as by the time I got the camera on it, it was miles away 😢
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| Come back you bugger!! |
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| Think the tale shape is diagnostic |
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| Bye bye |
So both thrilled and disappointed we continued on, there were plenty of waders on the beach, mainly Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Common Sandpipers flew along the surf line as did a very nice Greenshank!!
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Greenshank |
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| Greenshank |
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| Greenshank |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Turnstone |
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| Dunlin having a stretch |
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| Dunlin |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Greenshank |
I had been scanning the sea regularly and had seen a couple of Bonxies, to distant for pics and then one sneaked up behind us and flew right over our heads!!
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| Overhead Bonxie! |
There had been a few Gannets going past but distant again and then one flew into the bay, plunge dived, sat on the sea and then flew off!! Obviously I missed the dive shot!!
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
Plenty of Passerines on the beach with the Waders, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Wheatears and of course there is always a Sparrow!!
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| There's always a Sparrow |
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| Wheatear |
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| Pied wagtail |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Wheatear |
We had turned back now and were heading to the other headland, more rocky this end, some nice Common Gulls, a Hoody in a tree a group of waders on a rock and some amorous Oystercatchers, plenty of Shags on the sea and more views of the Divers and a distant Black Guillemot.
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| Diver/Shag patrol! |
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| Common Gull |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Mixed Waders |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Common Gull |
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| Hoody on a tree |
We reached the headland, the extra elevation gave good views all round, I heard em before I saw them a large Skien of Pinkfooted Geese heading north.
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| Pinkfeet |
A few of Margie's pics below!
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| These flowers were growing in the boggy bits near the beach by Margie |
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| Skye by Margie |
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| Distant Hebrides |
So a pretty good few hours, we decided to continue down the road to Redpoint beach, we parked in the small carpark, the sheep fields were caked in birds Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, a Hooded Crow flew over giving a juvenile Gull a piece of it's mind, it weren't happy!!
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| Wheatear |
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| Skylark |
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| Hooded Crow battling a Gull |
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| Bonxie distant as ever!! |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| There's always a Sparrow!! |
We felt we had walked enough for one day, so decided to leave Redpoint for another day and headed off in the car. One of the things I like about birding in Scotland is you can drive about slowly and there is usually something to see so we set off for a little tour, a good tip is to scan every Loch and Lochan many will have nothing on, but occasionally you'll get a Bonxie having a bath!
Well pleased with that, didn't even get out of the car, we headed on at another more coastal location we came across a nice male Goldeneye
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| Hoody on a Wire |
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| Cuckoo |
We now decided to head back to base, where we took of advantage of the hot tub which was very relaxing indeed!!
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| The Hot Tub |
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| The view from the Hot Tub |
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| Margie enjoying the views from the Hot Tub! |
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