Port Wemyss and Portnahaven

A visit to Port Wemyss to see the seals again. We got good views last time we were on Islay so we knew where to go. Some seals but far more Shags, flying past like planes from an airport. Then later wandering around the Portnahaven and Claddach area.

Port Wemyss and Portnahaven

A good chance to really test the new 7Dmark2+100-400mark2 with all the flight shots. It doesn't have the magnification of the big lens but it's a lot easier to track with. Definite improvement over the old 100-400mm in speed and accuracy of focus. Still not easy with rapidly flying birds just above water, though.

Grey Heron in sea near Bowmore

Red Deer

Red Deer demonstrating the futility of fences

Red Deer

Shag

Shag

Shag

Shag

Oystercatcher

Common Seal

Common Seal

Shag

Shag

Lamb by the beach

Common Dolphins near Claddach

Roe Deer

Sandpiper

Common Tern

Male Eider

Shag

Gannet

Common Tern

Common Seal

Waiting by the shore opposite Orsay

Shag

Shag

Fishing boat

Greylag Goose

Some interesting birds in the fields at Claddach, not that we could get very close.

Blacktailed Godwit and pair of Whimbrel

Lapwing

Orsay panorama

Information about the lighthouse

Broken egg found on Rubha na Faing

Ferry to Islay

Up at 0345, a car full of stuff, 6 hours on the road, 2 hours on a ferry, then another hour across Islay and we're on holiday.

Very murky and hazy weather but at least it's not raining.

Ferry route

Foam from the ferry

The Paps of Jura in the haze

Gannet

The first of many, many Song Thrushes

Gill on the ferry

Murky view from the ferry

Men at work

Port Askaig

Black Guillemot

Young Great Northern Diver

Guillemots and a Razorbill about to be swamped by the ferry

Shag

Duart Castle

As we'd spent days looking at it across the bay we thought we should at least go and see what Duart Castle was like. It was supposed to be gales and rain so something to do indoors would be useful. The rain didn't really appear (apart from a brief hailstorm) the wind was howling and gale force alright, especially on the top of the castle. Otherwise nice weather and the scenery is spectacular.

View up the Sound of Mull

Duart Castle and cannons

Duart Castle

Duart Castle from the shore

It's only a model... Shhh!

Across Duart Bay towards Craignure

Chimney Pots on Duart Castle Roof

Calmac fighting the gales to get to Craignure, slowly passing Lismore lighthouse

Calmac heading back to Oban

Calmac passing the castle shoreline

Shag