Not my first of the year but definitely my best views so far. What a joy to hear the beautiful song of the Willow Warbler coming from all directions again 😍😍😍💚💚💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #bird ing #bird s #bird

It's been such a wet and windy spell lately it feels like ages since I stood on the shore and enjoyed a sky like this but enjoy it I did. Knowing what's coming later today I soaked it all in 😍😍😍💚💚💚
Ardbeg Shore, Isle of Bute #ilovebute

It was a lovely 5 Otter cycle along the shore in glorious sunshine. After watching the wee family of 3 enjoying the end of their feed I found this wee one further along the shore who munched a lot in the space of a couple of hours 😍🦦💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #iloveotters

Salome with the Head of John the Baptist (large dry painting done over a few days)

It was another Otterly magical day in the sun with this wee bundle 😍
So much fun being had in the waves and so many fish devoured in an epic 3 hour adventure on the shore 😍😍😍🦦🦦🦦💚💚💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #iloveotters #ilovenature

I spent well over 3 hours following and watching mum and her two cubs during this really thrilling encounter.
So many fish devoured in that time and lots of fun being had by the cubs throughout. An absolute joy to sit and watch it all 😍🦦💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #iloveotters

My first visit of the new year to feed the Reds was a lovely one. I put up two brand new boxes for the new year and done a wee bit of rebuilding to the site after the recent stormy weather. 5 wee visitors took turns for a feed in the time I was there 😍🐿️💚 #ilovebute

Easily my closest and nicest encounter with a fox at the weekend. I think we both got a fright as it came my way on a local hillside but it never totally bolted. I got to sit and watch it hunt for the next 25 minutes before it finally disappeared out of view 😍🦊💚 #ilovebute

An absolutely incredible end to an amazing Otter encounter this morning to see this Shag wrestled to the shore and nibbled on.
I've seen Otters kill birds before but this was the first time I've seen one brought ashore and partially eaten 😍🦦 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #iloveotters

It was quite dark and chilly in the woods again this week but these wee ones always brighten up every visit 😍
5 Reds in total while I was there and another joyful few hours for me in their company 😍🐿️💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #ilovesquirrels #ilovenature

One of 7 Otters spotted during a really enjoyable cycle at the weekend. I ended up spending a pretty amazing 3 hours following and watching this wee one. Loads of fish munched at sea and a few brought ashore and devoured right in front of me 😍🦦💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #otters

Another one of those nights spent willing the cloud to move in the opposite direction but when the gaps came they were pretty good.
At one point the green was huge and filled the whole sky and then a lovely wee burst of colour and rays 😍 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #AuroraBorealis

Some recent scenes from my Squirrel feeding site. It's been an absolute thrill to see this years kittens coming around for a feed and just this week I had 10 Squirrels all in view at the same time. The most I've ever seen since I started feeding them 😍💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute

A gorgeous wee flash of colour on a dreich morning 😍

What an absolute delight to see the Kingfisher back hunting at the Kirk Dam again 😍💙 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #bird s #bird #kingfisher #ilovenature

Today was an absolute Bute of a day 😍 a beautiful sunrise through the haar before work, a thrilling Basking Shark sighting off Dunagoil after work and then finished off dipping my toes in the water at St Ninians Point this evening. I've definitely had worse days 😍💚 #ilovebute

A glorious encounter with a Kingfisher at one of our local hides 😍
It was an absolute joy to sit and watch as this wee stunner landed on a stick I'd placed out in front of the hide 😍😁💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute #ilovenature #birds #birding #kingfisher

The inquisitive Barn Owl 😍
One of three Barn Owl nests I monitored over the season and probably my favourite of the three.
This was one of three owlets in this tree and the most confident of the three. It was always first out of the hole for a look around 😍🦉💚 #ilovebute

Self portrait with meaty face

Lovely morning for a cycle to work. Nice to see fellow enthusiast John Williams out on the road too 🌤️🚴‍♀️

A wee bit of Otter time this morning was the perfect start to a long weekend. I was out on the shore just after 5am and found this wee one enjoying a feed. I followed and watched for just over 2 hours with quite a few fish devoured in that time 😍🦦💚 Isle of Bute #ilovebute