September 27th dawned, still dreich but I was determined to get out and see what the Whitehead shore had to offer so, I headed out armed with cameras and binoculars reasonably early.
There is an old open air pool on the seafront, no longer used by the look of it but it provides a good perch for many birds so that's where I started my walk.
Redshank and Black Headed Gull on the pool edge
I headed along the seafront, enjoying the stiff breeze and the quiet, hardly anyone around, it's only 8:30 in the morning.
Relaxed Redshank
Redshank keeping an eye on the waves
There was a Redshank that didn't seem overly bothered by my presence as I walked closer.
Redshank splashed
Don't you just hate salt water splashed into your eyes??
Redshank watching me
Redshank dozing
Redshank watching a bigger wave
Redshank watching me go by
A very obliging Redshank that one, maybe it lives here? I couldn't resist a few shots of some gulls perched further along, do you think that middle one is on something???
Herring Gull youngster zoned out
Crossing the car park was like walking the West coast of Scotland in summer, flies everywhere, the seaweed had been stacked up on the shore by the high seas and it was attracting a LOT of flies, therefor a lot of fly eating birds.
Rock Pipit in the car park
There were a lot of wagtails and Rock Pipits around. I carried on along the Black Head path, mainly to get out of the flies being blown onto me, the wind was keeping them off me further along or, they were just sticking to the shoreline.
A flash of white caught my eye as something flew by, I waited and walked back to where it landed.
Wheatear female on the shore
Wheatear female on the rocks
I tried as many shots as I could, the wind was still quite strong and hand holding the big lens was hard work, she flew off when I got too close anyway ;)
Onwards along the path and a Hooded Crow popped up from a field alongside the path onto the fence.
Hooded Crow catching the breeze on the fence
It was a beautiful bird, stood watching me edge closer before taking off down to the beach for a forage so, I headed on towards the lighthouse.
I concentrated on the walk for a while, there wasn't that much bird activity as I got closer to the headland, lots of Gannets patrolling out at sea though. The walk around and through the headland is fabulous, this was my first time on the path, I had to get Jo and come back again.
I carried on right around and started up the steep stairs to the headland above, steep! I had to stop a couple of times and glad I did!
I was keeping an eye on and counting the birds on Birda and as I turned on one of the landings something caught my eye near a clump of rocks below.
I stood staring at the area I thought I'd seen movement in and then.......
Otter doing side stroke
An Otter! I was amazed. I'd only just seen one earlier in the month at Ardersier and here was another one swimming along the shore off Black Head, people out for their morning exercise were wandering by me, saying hi but no idea what I was seeing and photographing! Their loss I say. :)
I just checked my images and although it felt like a long time, I only watched and photographed this beautiful animal for four minutes! I guess that's longer than most people get ever!
Otter swimming in heavy sea
Otter swimming in heavy sea
I won't bore you with every photo I got but try to select those that best show the event on the day, the waves were pretty rough and it looked like it was struggling a bit but I'm sure it was fine, diving now and again for fish? I never saw it with any catch on this occasion.
Take a breath
Dive
Spotted!
Grab a breath
Prepare to dive
Full length on the surface
Another quick gasp.
I have no idea whether it struggled in the higher waves but I do know that if we swim in high seas like this it can be very difficult to get your breath, waves don't come at you in any particular rhythm making normal breathing difficult and one reason swimmers get into trouble.
Otter or monster
One last shot because I shared this one on social media and someone asked if it was the Loch Ness monster? You can see in a couple of these how people could mis-interpret blurred shots.
Anyway, I finally moved on up the steps, actually the otter swam around the headland and I couldn't be bothered going back down the steps to follow it. so, up onto the headland and past the lighthouse I went before taking the path back down to the original path along the shore.
I'm outta here
A few birds still around on the shore, despite the wind, plenty to forage though I imagine with all the weed thrown up.
The Wheatear was still foraging around but still as flighty so difficult to get a good shot of but I persevered
Wheatear in the weed
Wheatear closeup on the rocks
I could see more birds in the small cove as I walked on, couldn't make out what they were until I got closer. There was quite a mix on the weed, Starlings, Rock Pipit and Turnstones, nice to see and they let me get quite close.
Turnstone on seaweed
Turnstone face to face
I find Turnstones great birds to photograph, they've always been so steady when I'm around them and these birds were no exception letting me get really close. Too much food around I guess.
Turnstone, Starlings and Rock Pipit
Turnstone & Starling
There was a decent group of birds, five Turnstone if memory serves me right.
The Turnstone and the fly
Younger Turnstone
Half a Turnstone
Sorry, last one, I promise, you just can't pass up good opportunities right?
Turnstone up close
I've added this last one to show how close I got to these lovely birds.
me to move on again and the wind was blowing in my face now, not cold but strong enough to be a problem holding the lens up while grabbing a couple of shots of these Hooded Crows strolling the path too!
Hooded Crows walking the walk
Coming back for a photo?
I noticed the bird on the right later on the rocks, quite distinctive due to the damaged beak. I watched it eating seeds from the path and it seems to manage ok, wonder if it was damage or a defect? Hope it survives ok.
I've grown to .......... admire? Respect? Love Hooded Crows, Corvids in general, they're so aware, so clever, smart? The following shots have been cropped very little, this bird knew exactly where I was and what I was doing the entire time.
Hooded Crow walking towards us
Totally unconcerned by my presence
ow realise that the guy who had walked by earlier and been dropping seed as he walked.
Walking along the path towards us
So clever, easier to pick up a seed if you turn your beak!
s bird was feet away from us, we did stop so I could get these shots but it later walked right by us.
Bad feather day!
Not a care as we walked on
So aware
