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

Ferry back to Oban

Down at the ferry terminal with plenty of time we watched the cloud descend and the winds pick up, ready to blow us back to the mainland. The crossing back was wild, wet and pretty miserable, hard to even see Duart Castle on the way past.

Despite all the weather we'll be back.

Ferry slowly coming in to Craignure

Lighthouse in the wild weather

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

Duart Bay

We decided to leave the car at home for the day and explore the area around the cottage; Kilpatrick and Duart Bay. After wandering down the road and to the shore of the bay our one-man bag hide quickly became a one-man-one-woman tent as we sheltered from yet more showers.
We squelched back to the house and had a look around the fields next to the cottage. Lots of Skylarks and warblers in the fields, Buzzards overhead (to the optimistic eye these always look like eagles initially).
After lunch a long trek along much of the bay to the west, seeing Gannets, Oystercatchers, Rock Pipits and a lone Redshank. The male Hen Harrier was seen further inland patrolling the grasses while by the shore was a small group of Mountain Hares, although given their habitat they would have been better called Marine Hares.
Finally, how is it that even in the middle of the sea birds still find things to hide behind when you try to photograph them (ie one lone rock the Gannet kept diving behind).

Barn Swallow

Chaffinch

Mountain Hare

Oystercatcher party

Boat heading up Sound of Mull

Male Hen Harrier

Red-breasted Mergansers

Gannet

Mountain Hare

Mountain Hare

Chaffinch

Ferry heading up Sound of Mull

Rainbow over Duart Castle and Bay

Ferry to Mull

Ferry crossing from Oban to Craigure.

Herring Gull closeup

Red Deer

Ferry coming in to Oban

Lighthouse

Ferry heading back from Craignure

Hovering Herring Gull

Duart Castle from the Sound of Mull

Hovering Herring Gull

Ferry to Mainland

Up at 5am we were caught by surprise by a sunrise. So more scrabbling around with cameras trying to catch it.

Sunrise over Loch Indaal

Sunrise over Loch Indaal

Sunrise over Loch Indaal

Sunrise over the Paps of Jura

Then quickly round to Port Askaig to catch the ferry back to the mainland. Extreme winds but were were well prepared this time. We started with bright skies but it soon clouded over and was quite dull most of the time.

Port Askaig

Finlaggan heading back to Islay

Ferry flag flying

Gannet

Gannet

Snow on the mountains