Hi. All.
Yesterday morning was a nice day for wandering about with the camera, so i set off..

First i searched for otters, then i spotted one, but it was quite far off, but did take a few photos of it, then it caught some kind of fish [ i'm unsure which kind ] then it swam to its holt with the fish [the kids are still with the adults yet]..

Then i tried to take photos of the arctic terns.. they are quite difficult to take pictures of, as they fly quite fast, but i got a few.. in two of the pictures, they have a fish in their beak, and that is one of the problems with their decline, lack of sandeels, because of the lack of sandeels, the parents have resorted to feeding the young with pipefish, which the young find difficult to swallow, so they get weak, then die...

Then it was off to another location and met a really obliging shag, it was sunning itself, it then came closer to me, so i took the opportunity to take a few mug shots.. I find that shags are not the best bird to photograph, as they are un-inspiring, but i have found that if you take head shots, then they are quite comical..

PS. the otter photos are NOT very good, as it was far off..

Here they are..









PS.. I forgot about this ringed plover..



Arctic tern..







I'll put some shag mug shots in the next post..

Mug shots of the Shag..

george

how can you say that the otter pics are not that good! dont be so hard on yersel lad

they are absolutely 100% brilliant, and thanks for putting them up for us to enjoy

we have otters in the city rivers (eden, caldew & petterill) i have seen them but have no photos to prove it, we dont have any shags LOL, well not till after dark

I agree..give your self a break George lol..great pics in my view!

Lol Hog!!!!

Tass

George me ole mate - ALL your shots are good.

Nature and wildlife is a very difficult subject to photograph as your well aware I'm sure. Its a matter of being in the right place at the right time, as well as getting that all important shot which is not easy. I delete more than I save - and the ones I save are not brilliant

I'm sure many of us on here wish we could take photos like you, Ian and Oy etc. Don't punish yourself mate your photos are really good.

Thanks all for your comments..

It was just a pity that the otter was so far offshore [about 300 feet ] my camera was mounted on my tripod, i included them in my wee story, because it was part of it.. normally i would'nt show them otherwise, part o the story i missed out.. so i'll tell you now.. there were two german tourists, one in their car the other one was watching the otter with binoculars, the otter i noticed was getting closer to the shore, then it dived.. i approached the tourist, she said did you see the otter, i said i did, she said it disappeared, i said, yes it did.. then i told her it was in its holt right under her feet.. then i showed her how they entered the holt from the sea..

geordie..

This post was last modified: 25-05-2009 07:26 PM by george.

brill pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!

very nice George, it must be flaming awful to live where you do

Brilliant shots George.

Maybe we should all get together and gate-crash George's place and he can show us the sights.

Don't tell him though -

Yogi.

Maybe we should all get together and gate-crash George's place and he can show us the sights.

Don't tell him though -

Yogi.

I like your sense of humour Yogi..

Well today was a bit sad for me..

One of the villagers died.. but she had a good innings, she was 96 years..
So me and two of my sons went to the Kirk for the service..

But what was bothering me, was the cemetery, old Nan was going to be buried three graves along from my late wife, but I was ok...

Got back home and my grandaughter said.. grandad, do you fancy taking me out in your car, so i said ok.. [she is up at my bit on holiday from scotland]

so we set off.. this is some of the places i took her too..

Lower voe [three pics]







Then Grutness kirk her three cousins were christened there..



nice clouds..



two men casting peats..



Then last.. Aith marina..

stunning scenery george
how good the weather looks
do you have a boat?

i bet its light till quite late up there at this time of year

Hi. CW
The weather yesterday, it might look fine in the photos, but that was in between heavy showers.. the wind was blowing about 40 knots last night..

I have owned two boats, the first one was a wreck which was salvaged by two villagers, they were going to cut it up for firewood, so i asked if i could buy it, they gave it to me for free.. it was a 18 footer, the keel was smashed, and some of the side planks were broken, i fitted a new keel and made some new planks, then built a cabin, i fitted a transome so it could take an outboard motor..

then i built a new one a few years later.. it was a 14 footer, i made it out of marine plywood..

In the summer, it stays light till late at night. then on the longest day [simmer dim] you could play a round of golf during the night..

Great photos and scenery George. I like the one of the remote cottage.

Yogi.

Thanks all for looking..

Yesterdays photos..