The Outer Hebrides - Part One

I have just returned from a fantastic trip to North Uist in the outer Hebrides. After an epic drive taking us up from Dumfries and Galloway through some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine we arrived on the Isle of Skye to catch a ferry across to Lochmaddy, Uist. After a very long journey our beautiful grass roofed holiday accommodation in North Uist was a very welcome sight.

Our accommodation

SHORT EARED OWLS

My plan for the week had been mostly to focus on finding Short Eared Owls to photograph. I had heard of a couple of locations in the area which would be worth a look so I planned an early rise the next morning and headed out to see what I could find. I was in luck, my first morning out gave me my first sighting. I spent a couple of hours watching this beautiful owl hunting. The light was difficult to begin with and a couple of heavy rain showers were thrown in too. I don’t think bad weather is always a bad thing, it can add some fantastic atmosphere and a sense of the true conditions that the wildlife has to survive in.

For the rest of the week I saw short eared owls every day. Often in poor light and often at too much of a distance to actually get good photos. It didn’t matter though, because I just loved watching them and enjoyed the moment without even lifting the camera. Whilst driving around looking for owls I managed to see so many deer, white tailed eagles, kestrels, buzzards, curlews, lapwings, amongst so much other wildlife. I saw many male and female hen harriers at a distance and I was desperate to get good shots of them but it wasn’t to be, well not this time anyway. Uist really is an amazing place and we have already booked to go back. These pictures are from the rest of the week at various locations throughout North Uist. Whilst we did have some short visits next time I hope to spend a little more time exploring Isle of Benbecula and Southern Uist.

Local Wildlife

I often find myself travelling to up and down the country to photograph various species, many of which cannot be found here in Bedfordshire. However sometimes it is nice to focus on the amazing wildlife that can be found locally which we sometimes take for granted. All of these images were taken over the past couple of days in our local area. My main aim when i went out was to find Otters, I was successful on both days but I also managed a few others whilst I was at it.

Day one I had a couple of brief glimpses of Otters and day two was all about the Otters.

An Evening with Ospreys

I recently spent an evening at the River Gwash Trout Farm photographing Ospreys. It was my second session this year, in the newly lowered and bigger hide. The first visit had been not my best on the photography front, the wind had been against us and the ospreys dived and flew away from us giving us lots of pictures of them from behind which is not ideal. So another session was booked and fingers were very firmly crossed for a better session. We was not disappointed, the weather was fantastic, the light was perfect and we had lots of dives. 

Number 30 was first to perch up. After surveying the pond he began to dive and for whatever reason changed his mind and flew in a big circle back to the willow tree. A short while later he dived again and this time crashed into the water and caught his tea, flying off with his back to us. 

Next up was number 11. We knew he was in the area but he took us all by suprise by not perching up. He cirled a few times then came crashing down from behind the hide.  He missed his fish but was soon back to try again, and again until he finally succeeded.

Next up was our favourite number 28. He is probably the most reliable of all the ospreys to arrive and put on a show. He does tend to see the trout farm as his own and often chases off other birds that try to fish there.

I have had a few sessions at River Gwash over the last three years but this was my most successful yet. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every one of them and will never tire of seeing these amazing birds.  I can highly reccommend the new hide for anyone who has not been. Hope you enjoyed the photos.