Early autumn and new life

03/09/25 - a slightly breezy day with patchy sun and light cloud with light rain in the afternoon.

Theo and Jacks tours both started with a Golden Eagle perched up preening on the ridgeline and an Adult White-tailed Eagle sat up in the conifers. Shortly after, Theo watched its mate fly in calling loudly before alighting in a nearby tree, both birds shouting at each other, like an old married couple their, "bickering" echoing from the treetops!

A bachelor herd of Red Deer were sat on the ridge.

Jack continued to a viewpoint at the end of the loch where they watched a pod of Common Dolphins leaping, great views in the scope.

Further along Theo briefly spotted an Otter which headed into shore with just a lucky guest managing a brief view. Jack joined Theo and a Golden Eagle appeared low soaring over the hillside giving a great profile view as it searched for thermals and flew up and away. A group of Harbour Seals were sat on an offshore skerry.

We spotted a few Fallow Deer in the trees.

Onto our next stop, Theo saw an Otter out on a reef giving good scope view before it duly nodded off. A few Grey Seals were hauled out. On leaving a guest spotted an Adult White-tailed Eagle landing on the islands, we decided it was lunchtime. The Otter eventually went off fishing as the tide rose. Another Otter then appeared beneath us, heading out to feed. The original Otter reappeared much closer to us fishing, we didn't know where to look. We gambled driving further on and a guest spotted it coming ashore from the van, with 2 cubs porpoising behind it in tow! A lovely but brief sighting.

Heading further down the loch, another great spot by a guest of an Otter tight inshore from the van accompanied by the tiniest cub! Around a 1/3 the size of mum, likely very freshly emerged. They headed into the rocks squeaking away but didn't show again when we pulled up.

Jack was further down the loch at this point, a White-tailed Eagle flew overhead before he found a different mother and cub Otter snoozing on an offshore skerry. Coming back along, he watched the adult White-tailed Eagle sat out on the reef and watched one of the earlier Otters out fishing.

Onto the grassland moorland for both groups, we both saw quartering Hen Harriers hunting on the moorland with Red Deer starting to gather for the rut and another bachelor herd grazing close to the road.

Theo's day finished with a flyby Juvenile Hen Harrier from the van just outside Tobermory!