Today dawned cloudy for my morning walk along the bay at Kilchatten but the beach was still full of life. The Little Egret was back in the same rock pool as yesterday, behind them two Hares were foraging , the Oyster Catchers were in good voice along with flying Curlews and on the rocks the Shags were preening. Walking back I almost missed a small flock of Ringed Plovers which were very well hidden amongst the pebbles.
After breakfast we headed to the lighthouse and round the point and back via St.Blanes chapel. Almost straight away we started a Weasel in the undergrowth, the path was alive with Stonechats, Wheatears and Rock Pippits and high above the Black Backed Gulls and Gannets were flying high.
We had one eye on the coast and eventually spotted an Otter hunting in the distance, a long way off but still managed to get a few useable shots, further out to see there was a small pod of Dolphns feeding but too far off for any real photographs, the long lens is never long enough !
Closer though there were the usual suspects, Oyster Catchers and shags but on one outcrop there was a pair of Purple Sandpipers which was great to see. Heading back to our cottage we walked through a field of Highland cattle grazing which just topped off a great day out. a total of 10 miles walked today enjoying the great wildlife that the island has to offer.
Click the small images to view the larger:
