Neist Point 2013

9th June

 The northern cliffs of Neist Point which is where all the fulmars and kittiwakes nest; the former greatly outnumber the latter. Note the millions of years of rock layering.

 A juvenile European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

 Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

 Razorbill (Alca torda)

 Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

 Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

 Razorbill

Lots of Manx Shearwater 

 Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

 Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa trydactila) (banana beaks)

 Kittiwake

 Human artifact near the lighthouse.

 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

 Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

Big noisy bird

Leitir Fura and Kinloch Forest

On 12th March 2013 three of us met up in rain and sleet with the aim of seeing what was about in an early and rather wintery spring.

 We were expecting to see a few lichen and weren't disappointed.

 Note the white, blister-like structures on the underside of the "leaves".

 The leaves seem to be oak but the trunk perhaps something else?

 Another lichen - should know what this is as it's all over Skye.

 Some of the lichen had a dull red colour.

 The primroses were out despite the harsh weather.

 A moss which again I should know the name of.

 Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)

 Isleornsay (I think).

 Coming in sight of the Scottish mainland across the Sound of Sleat.

Beinn Sgritheall (pronounced Ben Skreehell) (3045 feet - making it a Munro).

A flock of wigeon on Loch na Dal

Kyleakin and the Hill of the Red Fox

12 February 2013. We started in the village of Kyleakin, near the Skye side of the bridge.

 Skye Bridge, looking north from Kyleakin.

 Walking along An t'Ob, a strange little backwater in Kyleakin.

Common redshank (Tringa totanus) 

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) family at the Ob.

European herring gull (Larus argentatus) family, youngest on our right.

 West end of Loch Alsh

 Raft of common eider (Somateria mollissima) with Kyle of Loch Alsh in the background.

 Eider gang.

 Looking East from Hill of the Red Fox towards Skye bridge and the Scottish mainland.

These two show offs thought they'd go the long way round and still get there before us.

Broadford Bay in the distance.