Red Squirrel

TheTamshee: spent some quality family time in Whinfell forest. This gave great opportunities to photograph the Red Squirrels that inhabit this extensive pine woodland.

Wild Otters - A Wildlife Watcher's Dream!

Wildlife On Mull

TheTamshee & family spent a wonderful week on the Isle Of Mull with fantastic opportunities to photograph Red Deer, Otters, Birds Of Prey

Ospreys In Flight

TheTamshee: has spent some considerable hours observing a "duet" of Ospreys in the yarrow valley while testing my newly acquired Swarovski spotting scope. This kit with up to 60 times zoom is top quality. My main focus has been on an adult male & juvenile which seem to be in prime condition. They have been spending most of the days soaring on the warm thermals above open stretches of the yarrow water and resting on favourite fence posts high up on the overlooking hillside. Photographing these majestic birds in flight has been quite challenging but very pleased with these shots.

Frog Eye's @ Inchgarth

TheTamshee: did not have to travel far to get this close up shot off "Frog Eye's" because he hops around our garden making frequent appearances.

White Tailed Eagle @ Loch Na Keil, Isle Of Mull

White Tailed Eagle #6277, a photo by Tamshee's Photography on Flickr.

TheTamshee: spent a couple of days on board the Mull Charters boat "Lady Jane" to photograph this magnificient White Tailed Eagle on Loch Na Kiel, Isle Of Mull
Via Flickr:
White Tailed Eagle swoops in on target fish @ Loch na Kiel, Isle Of Mull #6277

Swarovski Optik & Johnny Kingdom Weekend

TheTamshee: spent a long weekend at the Swarovski Opik & Johnny Kingdom Weekend with some like minded wildlife enthusiasts at the idealic setting of Aigas Field Centre near Beauly, Inverness-shire. The very well managed and structured agenda was spot on. Ranger knowledge was excellent with the days packed with hide visits to beaver, lochside & quarry. We were also treated to a trip to Glen Strathfarrar for spotting Golden Eagles while taking in the beautiful landscapes. Also on the schedule was a boat trip on the Moray Firth captained by Sarah Pern, boss of EcoVentures. The goal was to see Bottlenosed Dolphins but unfortunately we missed out on this great spectacle. What a fantastic 

Brown Hare

TheTamshee: is looking forward to Mad March Hare season

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Red Squirrels

TheTamshee: spent a few hours observing a couple of Red Squirrels foraging for food in the open woodland at Whinfell Forest. They eat the seeds of trees, neatly stripping conifer cones to get at the seeds within.  Nuts (especially hazelnuts but also beech and chestnuts), berries and young shoots are also favoured. Between 60% to 80% of its active period may be spent foraging and feeding. Excess food is put into caches, either buried; or cached in nooks or holes in trees, and eaten when food is scarce.

Raptor Workshop - Dalhousie Castle

TheTamshee: spent the day with photographer Ron McCombe and a few other camera trigger snappers at Dalhousie Castle just outside Edinburgh. The plan for the day was to photograph the displaying birds of prey in woodland and open settings. The range of raptors available, was many and Falconary Scotland certainally know how to condition and train these fantastic birds.The Kestrel and Merlin were my favourites on the day; because it's not often you get the opportunity to get this close with camera in hand in the open country side. Thanks to everyone for a great day out.

Grey Wagtail

TheTamshee: was strolling the river bank at Mertoun bridge / weir when this colourful Grey Wagtail hopped over the cobbles and posed for a few close up shots. Check out Here for more shots of this energetic little bird, always on the move; frantically bobbing, ducking and dashing about while searching for tasty insects.

 

Eildon Hills & Light Trails

TheTamshee: was travelling home from a afternoon at Bemersyde Moss nature reserve when the early evening sunset over the distant Eildon Hills caught my attention. The light trails from the passing traffic adds an interesting lead-In to the "flaming trees"

Duart Castle, Isle Of Mull

TheTamshee: spent some time circum-navigating Duart Castle or ( Caisteal Dhubhairt ) on the majestic Isle Of Mull. The castle dates back to the 13th century and was the seat of Clan MacLean This oddly shaped fortress was used as a location in the 1999 film Entrapment, starring Sean Connery  who has MacLean ancestry on his mother's side.

Sunrise @ Loch Spelve, Mull

TheTamshee: was on the shoreline at Loch Spelve, Croggan as the sun was rising. The plan for the morning was to capture the moody warm glow as the sun broke the horizon then scan the calm water and kelp shoreline in search of the Sea Otters that I've observed on previous visits to this magestic place.

Fallow Deer @ Loch Buie, Mull

TheTamshee: says that it's not only red deer that roam the lush moors of Mull. These shots of Fallow Deer Stag & Hinds were taken while passing the old school house on the road to Loch Buie. They tend to be skitish and will not tolerate people getting to close but patience and a stealthy approach can be rewarded with some descent photographs.

Common Buzzard @ Isle Of Mull

 TheTamshee: was well chuffed with these Common Buzzard photos because it is notoriously difficult to capture these raptors at close range and get some detail. Typically they will sense danger and fly off with that slow deliberate wing motion and take up a new perch on the next telegraph pole. Check out this Link for more photography from the Isle Of Mull.

Red Deer @ Isle Of Mull

TheTamshee: travelled to Oban and caught the Isle Of Mull ferry to Craignure. This westerly Isle is one of the gems of scotland; with an abundance of wildlife and scenic landscapes. The weather over the first couple of days was rather blustery with little opportunity to spot the wild otters around the picturesque lochs of Spelve or Loch na Keil. On leaving the ferry my first destination was Grasspoint where you are very likely to see the Red Deer and at this time of the year the rutting seasons is apparent with stags breaking the morning tranquility with bellowing roars.

Grey Heron @ Langholm

TheTamshee: noticed this Grey Heron standing on this fence across the river at Langholm while out cruising the countryside on the trusty Buell.

Nuthatch @ Inchgarth

TheTamshee: tempts the Nuthatch with some nourishing peanuts. The sideways glance before flying off is just the moment to fire the trigger and capture this typical nuthatch pose.

TheTamshee: spotted this Grey Heron; stalking the brown trout in the river tweed at Melrose cauld. Check out www.allanbellphotography.com for more wading birds.