Wildlife Firsts!

Although it's not been one of my best photography days, it has certainly been one of wildlife firsts for us.

We'd booked another boat trip for this afternoon, so had a lazy morning. As we knew we'd be sitting on a boat for around 3 hours, we went for a short walk along the beach in front of the cottage. The weather was warm but a bit drizzly, and I just settled into taking photos of the beach debris, shells seaweed, etc...

We were watching for seabirds when we spotted what looked like a cormorant at the water's edge. On closer inspection with binoculars, it wasn't, it was an OTTER!! We watched it head inland, change it's mind, and then scamper back to the sea and disappear. I really wasn't expecting that. I was on a high for ages as neither of us had ever seen an otter in the wild.

Later we headed to Ulva Ferry pontoon to catch a boat to spot sea eagles. A fantastic afternoon and we were treated to wonderful flight and fish captures by no less than 3 sea eagles. Again, another first for us both.

I've added extras of both the otter and sea eagles. These are there to remind me of our brilliant wildlife day, not for any great photographic achievement!

The main shot is of a dilapidated old boat at Ulva.

We'e also been treated to flight of a more human nature today. As we've had several take-off and landings of light aircraft along the island's only air strip, in front of the cottage.