Lochindorb - local birds

The moors around Lochindorb have become a featureless place managed to please the shooting fraternity? There's plenty of Red Grouse but precious little else...

She's looking a bit grumpy, maybe because the chicks were running amok!

But after stopping the traffic, they were soon in a much warmer / safer place.

As her partner watched on, observing the 'green cross code'....

I think I'm gonna start a 'bird on a rock' portfolio? So here's my first offering Common Sandpiper at the edge of the loch....

And one of 100+  Common Gulls breeding on a nearby moor...

Lochindorb - Black-throated Divers came close!

It's a bit of a ritual, start or end the day at Lochindorb! I've never seen anything rare there but you have to put some hours in... In the hope that what happened today... happens...

Parking the car at the roadside pull-in opposite the island castle, I soon picked up the pair of Black-throated Divers for the 2nd day running. They are fairly fresh in and seem to spend most of the time cruising the loch...

After a minute or so, they reappeared midway across...

 Then, separating slightly, coming ever nearer...

Typical, by this time the light started to get worse!

But how can you complain when these amazing Divers come close?

Surfing the waves (note the iridescent 'colours' trying to appear!!)

And then full frame close!

I'd like to say it doesn't get better than this but of course the light could be better :-)

One day, another year maybe? They drifted back out towards the middle - time to move on...

Lochindorb - Mountain Hare!

Talk about being in a high risk situation, this Mountain Hare was scampering along near the Common Gull colony and obligingly paused for a few seconds as I stopped the car...

What a gorgeous creature, they seem few and far between here nowadays!

A turn of the head, alert as ever...

Keep running...

Scotland - Black-throated Divers!!

I've been waiting nearly 10 years for these images!! Ever since my first trip to Speyside, the Black-throated Divers at Lochindorb became a must see! They are usually out in the middle (miles away) and at this time of year, the female is sitting or with young but the pair were out together in the small bay by the Lodge. I caught sight of them and screeched to a halt!

Stunning birds whichever way you look at them!

And constantly checking out for fish...

I was sat quietly in the car as they drifted even closer!

The light wasn't perfect, cluding up but I wasn't complaining too loud...

Just love the head on opportunities!

But they weren't to last as they dived and then gradually drifted away.

A couple of favourites to close on. Eye to eye contact and, droplets...

A magic moment indeed which probably wont happen again in a hurry, if ever?!!

Scotland - Redshank

Only a Redshank but given the light and a frame filling bird from the car window...

Worth a brief stop?