Saturday – Islay in the sun

I don’t sleep well, probably as a result of too much alcohol, but get up at 7.30.  David gets up, although it looks a bit like he maybe shouldn’t have, having not left the party until 1am.

We eat breakfast, which includes cheese and biscuits left over from last night, before driving to Loch Gorm to see if the Sea Eagle is still about.  It’s not, but it’s an amazing morning and there is plenty of life on the lake, although nothing new.  We also see a young Golden Eagle, with the white markings on it’s wings clearly visible in the early morning sun.

Afterwards I drive to the other side of Loch Gruinart and then walk North to Gortantoid Point.  I can see Mull, then mountains on the mainland in the distance, and plenty of other islands dotted about in the sea.  I see Red Breasted Merganser and Great Northern Divers, and I see lots of otter tracks.

Sunday – Islay in the Sun, day II

I sneak a bit of a lie in today, having had probably the best night’s sleep since being here.  I drive to the South of the island, past Ardbeg, before parking up near Ardtala.  The coastline down here is spectacular, lots of craggy rocks bursting out of the sea creating a beautifully jagged landscape.  There are seals basking in the sun with birdlife in every cove.

I walk up Beinn Bheigier, where it is possible to see the whole island.  But the best part of my day is sitting eating my lunch, near the top, in a dent in the hill, looking down on a young Golden Eagle practising it’s moves.  It flies into view, gliding and swooping, then lands on the hillside below, before taking off over Gleann Leora and gracefully gliding out of my line of sight.