Wednesday, May 19, 2021
An adult white-tailed sea eagle flew strongly over towards the sea as I stood in Strath Kanaird listening (in vain as it turned out) for a grasshopper warbler. A buzzard took exception to the eagle's passage through its territory and the eagle showed some nifty moves in response to its attacks.
At Rhue, two red-throated divers were fishing off the rocks by the lighthouse.
A common sandpiper buzzed busily around. Far out towards the sea I could just make out an aircraft that seemed to be refuelling two smaller craft; but they looked odd - more like helicopters than planes. After a while the two smaller craft flew south - here, about to overfly Stac Mhic Aonghais, in the Summer Isles.
Then it dawned on me what they were. The previous day, we'd been on the river walk from Silverbridge when two aircraft, just glimpsed through the trees, flew over; Greger was intrigued as he'd seen film and photos of these but couldn't recall the name. Internet research revealed them to be American V-22 Ospreys, which have vertical take-off and landing capabilities and are probably taking part in the NATO exercises off the Scottish coast. An hour later, we were by Loch Glascarnoch having lunch when he called out "Quick - one's coming back!" and I scrambled out of the car and managed to click off a few shots.
// posted by Christine @ 2:15 PM 
