An early train from Aviemore to Glasgow and a quick nip from one station to another, then board the train for Oban. All planned with immaculate detail...
OK the bus was booked solidly.
Still I managed to get an Osprey again floating south over the town before departure, but no pictures. All was going swimmingly until the train decided to stop. The delay meant I would miss my connection and have to spend 6 hours in Glasgow, probably getting drunk. I complained to the guard for want of anything better to do, and he to my surprise said he would organise something. This must happen a lot.
When he came back a taxi had been organised to take me from Stirling to Crianlarich so that I could pick up my train there. Sweet. Glad I wasn't paying for that!
Once I had managed to get the train schedule to find I had a plenty of time to get there, I sat back and enjoyed myself as we drove through some stunning scenery with my talkative cabbie.
Now for Tysties, shouldn't be too hard. Ten minutes later, bingo. The light however was all wrong so I would have to come back. I went for a walk along the front, an evening meal and a bottle of wine, and staggered back to get some slightly better lit snaps. Pretty nice sunset as well.
With that year tick under my belt, how to get the biggy. White-tailed Eagle. This is the last bird from my former birding days that I have yet to see in my dotage. Tantalisingly they were just across the water, but I also wanted to see Basking Shark and perhaps a whale or two, and a bit of sea passage stuff.
After checking out of the hotel after breakfast I wandered down to the ferry terminal to look at timetables. A boat to the Outer Hebrides was just about to depart - decision made.
I positioned myself on the Mull side of the boat as I figured big eagles would probably be easier to see as they fished along the coast. After about thirty minutes, I noticed a bit of gull action further on up the shore line, and as predicted a big ol' eagle was the subject of their attentions. They came towards us then the eagle side-stepped the lot and went for the trees, showing its rather distinctive tail as it did so. That made me rather happy. Scotland done!
Did miss a Minke which apparently was shadowing the boat on the other side.
There were dozens of them, locals said that it was the most they had seen for generations. Dozens became hundreds by the time we returned, we even looked to have run one over as it cruised into the wake at the front of the boat. Dolphins a plenty too, Commons, Bottlenose and Harbour Porpoise and a lone Minke rolling over as we headed back to Oban.
As we left the small islands, we left the sharks too. Manxies and Fulmar constant companions, while about half way across I picked up my first Storm Petrel, and a few Great Skua.
I thought we might stay on Harris for a bit longer than we did, so I got off the boat, then had to spend the remaining allotted time getting a pass to get back on the boat. Arse. But at least I can say I've been on the Hebrides. It transpires there was a Snowy Owl reported just around the corner at a bout the same time I was there. Arse.
The return trip was quite uneventful, with the exception of passing Tobermory. What's the f***ing story .... Yup that one!
Too late into port, too late to get smashed, too late to get a decent hotel, and too late for any decent food. Had to eat my Chinese on the harbour front. A passerby said how pitiful it was seeing someone in such a condition.
Now just the problem of getting into work for the beginning of my shift.
Only 4 hours late.
.
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