W Scotland - White Tailed Eagle and Gull Skirmish

Since the White Tailed Eagle, more commonly known as the Sea Eagle was reintroduced into the western isles of Scotland in the 1970s, I have always wished to see one, but have been based too far north of their current range to see one during our visits to NW Scotland.  This June we decided to visit a known 'hot spot' for these birds, the largest bird of prey in the UK.

 

On a beautiful sunny day we drove down to Glenelg on the mainland opposite to Skye 500yds or so across the blue water.  We were not the only people there and my wife jumped out of the car to have a look, whilst I parked the car in the small packed car park.  Having parked the car, I joined her to be informed that she had seen a Sea Eagle chasing a gull and had got a photo, but it had gone 

I waited 5 minutes, 10 minutes, perhaps 20 minutes, not seeing my quarry, knowing that sightings were not guaranteed, and to some extent the tide determined activity.  Had I missed the only sighting?  Then suddenly an eagle was seen flying away south, some 250m away.  I quickly took a shot.  Through the lens it was obvious that the eagle had caught a fish, when....

 

......a large gull appeared on the scene.

 

The huge eagle flew around gaining height before....



 

....the gull came closer to the eagle and performed some aerobatics,....



....swooping down and harassing the eagle....



 

....trying to get the eagle to drop the fish.



The eagle hung on and started again to move off to the South.



 

The last I saw of the eagle it still had the fish, still being tracked by the gull, which I presume was a Great Black Backed Gull, the largest common gull in the UK.  For my first ever White Tailed Eagle, I was treated a brilliant display by the eagle.

 

The last of the photos of birds skirmishing during my stay in NW Scotland.

 

 

 

 



Minsmere RSPB - More Insects

A few more photos of insects seen at Minsmere RSPB in May.

 

A beetle on concrete...

....perhaps hunting for these mites.



A spider and its prey.



 

Mating species of Crane Flies (commonly called Daddy Long Legs). What great colours they have!

 

A couple of a the same species of beetle on grass stems.

NW Scotland - Raven in Flight

More shots of the Raven circling looking for any opportunity to steal a few more chips from the gulls that had driven it off in the previous post.

 

NW Scotland - Raven & Herring Gull Skirmish

Early June 2017, on a dull late afternoon.

 

The protagonists, a Raven...

 

....and a Herring Gull.



 

The raven was feeding off last night's chips put out to attract birds on the rocks below the chalet....



 

.....when along came a herring gull to steal the ready meal.  The raven drives it off before....



.....resuming its feed until...

 

.....the herring gull is joined by another, and the raven makes a hasty retreat, leaving....

 

....the herring gull to polish off the remaining chips.



 

The raven hung around for a number of minutes circling around the rocks hoping the gulls would leave an opening, but to no avail.



NW Scotland - Loch Assynt Sky

Dramatic skies at the beginning of June over Loch Assynt and Quinag.

 

Bedfordshire - Lightning at Night

My first attempt at taking lightning during the thunderstorm a few hours ago through my bedroom window.  Not great, but pleased I managed to capture a few bolts.

 

Ivinghoe Beacon - Kite Flying Silhouettes

Walking the dog around Ivinghoe Beacon the other day, I came across a scout group enjoying flying their kites from the top of the beacon, making interesting silhouettes against the dappled sky.

 

NW Scotland - Buzzard and Herring Gull Skirmish

It seems that the Common Buzzard, despite its size does not have a quiet time, what with the earlier blogs of the Raven and Cuckoo.

 

Watching a circling buzzard from my chalet, a Herring Gull comes into view, and....

 

... flying close to the buzzard, calling loudly comes close to the resident bird of prey, before...

 

....flying off.  I wonder why the Herring Gull is so aggressive to the buzzard? Presumably the buzzard will take the young chicks of the gull, somewhat turning the tables the gull, which itself is a great opportunist, taking the young of many seabirds. 

 

Later I caught the buzzard making a dramatic dive as it dropped to the ground.

 

All taken at a distance in poor light, so quality not as good as I would had wished, but I found the skirmish interesting.

NW Scotland - Buzzard and Cuckoo Meeting

At the beginning of June 2017 watching from my chalet on a grey morning and hoping that a high circling Common Buzzard would come closer so I could get some detailed shots, a Cuckoo came into the viewfinder.

 

It flew close to the buzzard, before flying on (shots not too clear as at a distance and heavily cropped).



Not really a skirmish, but interesting that the cuckoo came so close and at quite a height.   I suppose cuckoos despite not bringing up their own young see the buzzard as a threat to their abandoned offspring. Through the week I had seen a number of cuckoos crossing relatively low down across the sea in the small bay.  In fact on one occasion there were 3 together, possibly a female followed by 2 males?  This year I saw and heard cuckoos all days in this location, the best year in about 8 weekly stays.

Minsmere RSPB - Whitethroat Song Flight

Back in May, I spent a few minutes watching this Whitethroat singing from the top of a bush before....

 

....it took to the air, singing away proclaiming its territory, almost hovering in a similar fashion to a skylark, but not reaching the same heights.



 

This display took about 20 seconds before it went back to the top of the bush.



NW Scotland - Buzzard & Raven Skirmish

On a grey morning standing outside our chalet at the beginning of June this year I spotted a Common Buzzard chasing a Raven some distance off.  Focussing in on the birds with my telephoto, I captured these images. The quality is not too good due to the distance and dark silhouettes against a whitish grey sky, but I found the behaviour interesting and quite dramatic.

 

The Buzzard is chasing the Raven......

 

....which starts to quickly...

 

...rise above the Buzzard thereby slowing down before...

....dropping to attack the buzzard from above and behind (Sadly this key shot is out of focus, but I have kept it for the story sequence)....



...before resuming its position behind the Buzzard.

 

The birds circled together, before the Raven flew off....

...leaving the Buzzard to soar alone over the area.



 

The first of a number of posts of bird interactions that I will post over the next few weeks.