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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
TheTamshee: travelled some distant miles to have the opportunity to photograph this majestic captive Golden Eagle displaying for a few keen photographers.The challenge was to capture the menace in the eagles steely eye's. Having the opportunity to get up close to this magnificient raptor; and experience the raw power in that hooked beak and pin sharp talons was a great experience. Check out Tamshee's Photography photostream HERE for more raptors and wildlife in and around the Scottish Highlands & Isles
2008's 'Behaviour: Birds' category winner, by Antoni Kasprzak from Poland
Birds are among the most popular subjects for photographers entering the competition. But the challenge is to take a picture with aesthetic appeal that also shows active or interesting behaviour. The winter in Poland had been particularly cold and snowy, making it difficult for the eagles to find prey. So when Antoni found a dead moose hit by a train, he knew it would be the ideal bait. Setting up his hide by the bait, he waited. Five hours later, an adult and an immature white-tailed eagle arrived together, and a struggle broke out. A snowstorm provided the perfect backdrop for the scene. Not surprisingly, the older, more experienced bird won, forcing the immature eagle to wait its turn for more than an hour, along with the queue of magpies and other scavengers. TheTamshee says: click title link for more fascinating photography, including a cat-eyed tree-snake, coiled around a branch, locked in an embrace with a Morelet’s treefrog
TheTamshee: and family got the hiking boots on and set off with destination, Grey Mare's Tail and Loch Skene in mind. Situated just 10 miles North East of Moffat is the "Tail" a spectacular 200 ft, waterfall in a dramatic moorland setting below White Coomb (2,690 ft ) The waterfall is one of the most spectacular landmarks in southern Scotland. The "Tail Burn" plunges 200ft into a gorge forming the fifth highest cascade in Britian. The challenge for TheTamshee was preventing the Indy kids from venturing off the stone path for some heather loup-in and plunging over the rather steep sided ravine. There was plenty to see on this fine day, mountain goats, 
common lizards darting across the path way but far to quick to get a photograph. The female Peregrine Falcon was nesting on eggs, the NTS has a camera on site, open at weekends. The climb up passed the falls is quite challenging, and caution needed when young kids in tow. 
The loch remains unpolluted and relatively undisturbed and it's shores have a desolate yet tranquil atmosphere. Golden Eagles once nested on the islet at the south end, but the last one was killed in the nineteenth century. Britain's rarest fish, the Vendace, has recently been introduced to Lock Skene as part of a species recovery programme.
