15th August 2014
Parking above Loch Mor, we wended our ways around the south side of the loch, up towards Waterstein Head. We espied what everyone assumed was a Golden Eagle but which turned out to be a White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).
Loch Mor
Two Red-Throated Divers on Loch Mor (Gavia stellata)
Looking north over the loch towards Dunvegan Head and the Uists and Benbecula in the distance.
Looking north west towards Neist Point.
And another White-Tailed Eagle (the pattern of missing feathers suggests it was a different bird).
Thyme Broomrape (Orobancha alba), identified by Steve, who added "It is a parasitic plant with no chlorophyll and therefore no need for conventional leaves. Sea cliffs are its preferred habitat". And this plant was very much tottering right on the edge of a massive vertiginous cliff.
Waiting for ever for a basking shark.
Steve later declared this to be a Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).
Seen soaring near the top of Winterstein Head, this definitely was a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Unfortunately the camera was set to near focus, which may have taken the sharpness off the images.
The plant is Thyme Broomrape (the only one we have on Skye). It is a parasitic plant with no chlorophyll and therefore no need for conventional leaves. Sea cliffs are its preferred habitat.
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