Hen Harriers!

A very wet and windy day.  We had booked a wildlife watching boat trip but it was cancelled due to the weather conditions. Instead we decided to have a drive around some of the roads and inlets as it was too bad to walk anywhere.

We saw some ringed plovers pecking around stones on a beach and eider ducks and various other birds in the water.

We drove to Ardnahoe and passed this pretty loch with it's boat. 

We continued our road trip in the rain and suddenly saw this male hen harrier hunting over a field.  We were thrilled to see it as they're so endangered  due to persecution.  As we were watching it another male rose up from the long grass and sent this one away.  I hope that it was nesting and will be successful.  We were so lucky to see two of them, a real privilege.

As we drove back to our accomodation we saw a pair of shelduck with a large flock of ducklings on the rocky shore.  By the time we'd found a safe place to park and dashed back with the camera they'd gone - typical!