The Glorious Twelfth
For obvious reasons I would not normally celebrate the start of the Grouse shooting season but this year was different. The moorland I visited was National Trust owned and there is now no shooting allowed. In addition the heather this year was the best I have ever seen and with perfect weather all I needed […]
Against All The Odds
One week in May my blog was all about the impending development of my only Little Owl site.The new purchasers were awaiting the planners approval to completely re-develop the old barn so the long-term residents, the Little Owls, would have their home destroyed forever. Well, the good news is that planning permission was only granted […]
An Islay Summer
Although we had less than a week on Islay recently the highlight of any July visit has got to be the show of Marsh Helleborines. Just one marsh held more than 200 Helleborines that were at their very best.Flagrant and Lesser Butterfly Orchids were also found and surprisingly two Hares were also boxing – until […]
Pipe Dream
A non-birding few days on Islay produced five sightings of Otters! The one in the blog photo came ashore with what looks like a Pipe fish that took some crunching with its powerful teeth. Other photos are on my Facebook page, which include their rat-tail dive – a view that you normally see as it […]
Keep A Grip
It always amazes me how an Osprey is able to fly off with a large trout after emerging from its high dive. Its talons are designed to grip its prey during lift-off from the water and it seldom fails to get airborne. The problem last week at Aviemore was the heat.The first fish was caught […]
Islay Miscellany
Although I go to Islay for its Hen Harriers and other exciting birds the wildlife enthusiast will find many other subjects to photograph. For the botanist there are the many Orchids to find. If your interest is butterflies then the Marsh Fritillaries are the main attraction. This weeks Gallery photos includes both the above plus […]
Dinner Time
Islay is now the third best place in Britain to see breeding Hen Harriers after Mull and Orkney. Mid June is the time when the female Harrier is required to help the male with the supply of food. Once the young are three weeks or more old the male, on his own, is not able […]
An Islay Chat
One family of birds that you are bound to see on Islay in summer are the Chats. The commonest one is the Stonechat and these are present all year round and love to perch in the roadside vegetation. The Whinchat is a summer visitor and is found on the moorland edge. What they both have […]
Fighting Black Guillemots
I always find that one of the most delightful birds to photograph on Islay are the Black Guillemots. A couple of early mornings at a breeding site had birds courting, fighting and finally copulating. They are one of Islay latest breeding species with egg laying only commencing in mid June. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife
Refurbishment Time
It was good last week to be back on Islay filming Britain’s most threatened raptor ,the Hen Harrier. In June the only time you would see the female Harrier is at a food pass or when she replaces material in the nest. This week’s photos were taken at just such time. It has been suggested […]