Island hopping - 2 - Islay and Jura

 Another day, another island or two. This time a boat trip from Ballycastle via Rathlin's West light to Islay and then Jura. The upside is the chance to see golden eagle and sea eagle, the downside is the nine hours spent on the boat. The journey out is not that bad as we went via Rathlin and then cruised around Islay before heading to Jura. There is quite a lot of idling at slow speeds while cliffs are scanned and we had three hours on Jura to stretch our legs. Then we went looking for more sea eagles and needed a 3 hour plus journey back when there is not a lot to see that we haven't already seen. Anyway to cut to the chase the golden eagles were not to be seen but we saw sea eagles at two sites. The scenery is quite spectacular and there was a list of 42 birds including sea eagle, manx shearwater, storm petrel, common sandpiper, ringed plover, and all the seabirds associated with Rathlin. With no scope and no digiscoping, bird pictures are not good, but the scenery is nice. 

Caves along the south cliffs

Bull Point

West light

The golden eagles usually nest on the cliffs of the Oa peninsula. We found two nest sites but neither had been used this year. We scanned the cliffs looking for a perched bird and hoping one would lift and soar but we were out of luck. Fingers crossed we moved round to Jura to a sea eagle area and this time we got lucky with a perched bird sitting on a small cliff. It flew off over the top and we followed it round and were rewarded with two birds which gave good views and had the decency to give us nice flight views. At times like this I wish I had a good camera.

Sea eagle area

Golden eagle area 

That faint smudge on the horizon is a sea eagle!!

We walked round Jura and then looked for a second sea eagle site and a nest which we found in a belt of trees along the coast.

Yes we are in Scotland

Craighouse Bay

Craighouse "harbour"

It wouldn't eat Tayto Salt & Vinegar

Distillery closed due to covid!!

Looking for a sea eagle

Go in from the right, do you see the tallest tree? It's in the one beside it to the left.

There it is!!