markgriff
markgriff
I have just returned from a holiday with my family in the Highlands of Scotland. Unfortunatley, they are all non-birders, so my chances of getting out birding were slightly restricted.
However, we did spend an afternoon on the Isle of Skye, visiting Kylerhea. Knowing the birding opportunties for the area, I was relishing the chance of seeing a couple of the local specialities.
During our visit, I wandered off for a short while to see if I could spot any otters. I had no luck but on my return to the car, I realised that my run of bad luck for the day was far from over. My wife and mother in law proceeded to describe in great detail, two large birds that they had been observing flying overhead for the last ten minutes.
Being non-birders, they did not know what they had seen and weren't especially bothered. However, from their detailed descriptions, I knew exactly what they had seen and I was extremely bothered, as it would have been a much sort after tick for myself - white-tailed sea eagle!!!!!!!!!
Well, I waited and waited and waited but there were no further sightings. Despite this, I did see some great birds in Scotland but I will always be haunted by the fact that my wife and mother in law bagged a sea eagle leaving me coming home empty handed!
However, we did spend an afternoon on the Isle of Skye, visiting Kylerhea. Knowing the birding opportunties for the area, I was relishing the chance of seeing a couple of the local specialities.
During our visit, I wandered off for a short while to see if I could spot any otters. I had no luck but on my return to the car, I realised that my run of bad luck for the day was far from over. My wife and mother in law proceeded to describe in great detail, two large birds that they had been observing flying overhead for the last ten minutes.
Being non-birders, they did not know what they had seen and weren't especially bothered. However, from their detailed descriptions, I knew exactly what they had seen and I was extremely bothered, as it would have been a much sort after tick for myself - white-tailed sea eagle!!!!!!!!!
Well, I waited and waited and waited but there were no further sightings. Despite this, I did see some great birds in Scotland but I will always be haunted by the fact that my wife and mother in law bagged a sea eagle leaving me coming home empty handed!