Outer Hebrides

First blog and post so will be a bit messy but here it is...

First day shooting with Andy Parkinson and David Winnard focusing on the birds seen in the Outer Hebrides. At the moment we have been photographing the range of wading birds at North Uist and migratory birds that fly close by the island.  

A Oystercatcher flying in front of two bird watchers

Black Headed Gull skimming the water

Gannet flying over the stormy sea

Gannet

A few Grey Seals got curious and came to the surface to see what we were up to...

Curious Grey Seal Bull

Female Grey Seal

A Bull Seal poking it's head out of the water

 We were lucky to see a few waves of Pomarine skua's which are rare to see as they don't breed in the UK, but is a pass through as a migrant in spring and autumn

Pomarine skua's flying up the coast

Pomarine skua

Great Skua in flight

Lots of Turnstone's were feeding on the very very smelly seaweed

Turnstone

Turnstone

Also flocks of attractive Dunlin's kept feeding across the mounds of seaweed

Dunlin

A Dunlin shaking off the sea spray

Dunlin

I loved the challenge of photographing the Arctic Turn and when the lighting was right they looked stunning

Arctic Turn in flight

Towards the evening the Arctic Turn's began to drink and feed by dipping down to the sea

A Cormorant sheltering from the strong winds