Red legged partridge

Taken through the car window, this was one of a pair completely unafraid us.

Osprey

One of many Ospreys seen on our Scottish trip.

Roe deer stag

One of a pair seen on the Glentruim estate as we set off early one morning. He certainly looked to be in fine fettle although he had a few scars of battles past on his nose and rump.

pheasant

This is the pheasant that was 'charged' by the squirrel, he regained his composure and is seen here doing his territorial call and wingbeat on the garden lawn. I am sorry about the blurred images but thought it worth adding.

Red grouse

A drive along the Farr road into the Findhorn valley was rewarded with this 'famous grouse ' picture. There were quite a few of these and we also saw short eared owl, and a cracking male hen harrier.

Red squirrel

Our holiday accommodation in Scotland was on the Glentruim estate at Newtonmore and it turned out to be a major source of the photographs that I took. This red squirrel was a regular each day to the peanut feeder that I had hung outside our kitchen window and it was a great poser. On the last morning I was watching as it picked up the peanuts it had obtained by demolishing the feeder ( no easy task) and going away to hide them. A cock pheasant came along while it was gone and started to eat the peanuts. When the squirrel returned he quickly decided that it was not going to let this upstart pinch his hard earned haul and he brought his tail up over his back and charged right underneath the pheasant which jumped into the air in surprise and soon afterwards departed to leave the victor its spoils. The only shame is that the camera was nowhere near to hand as it would have made a great picture.

Snow bunting

I had taken the ski lift to the top of Cairngorm at Aviemore to try and see some ptarmigan which duly obliged albeit somewhat distantly, however, there were twenty superb snow finches up there to greet me on the rocks and also some rather dirty snow.

Sanderling

I had to lay on the beach at Culkein for some time before these birds decided that I was not a threat, very cold and uncomfortable but the picture was worth the discomfort

Razorbill

Another inhabitant of Handa island and happy to pose at close quarters for a picture, very smart looking little birds

Dipper

We were sheltering from the rain near Inchnadamph when this bird appeared in front of us and posed beautifully, obviously a bit of a show off.

White fronted goose

This singleton had perhaps been left behind by the flock that went North to the Arctic circle to breed, perhaps injured in some way but appeared to look healthy enough. this was another bird were were able to view from the conservatory at Culkein.

Great skua, AKA Bonxie

These birds were amazingly unafraid of humans and could be approached to within a few feet, the flight shot is from Clashnessie bay and the sitting bird from Handa island.

Puffin

This little fellow posed for me on Handa island, the weather was terrible but the birds were great.

Fulmar

These fulmars are the aerial masters of the windy North, seen here near culkein

Oystercatcher

These noisy 'Oiks' were just along the coast from our cottage at Culkein

Eider and her chicks

This was another Culkein beach picture, the bird and her chicks was not at all alarmed by my presence and her six chicks bobbed around her like little furry corks

Dunlin

This very tame bird was on the beach at Culkein, it was quite unconcerned by my close proximityand carried on feeding unconcernedly

Herring gull

This was the 'bully' at Culkein

Common gull

This was a regular in our holiday cottage at Culkein, high on the West coast of Scotland