The online presence of Tim Collier. Photographer, course leader, lecturer and blogger.
We were staying about as close to the shore as possible and so every morning and evenings, when we were back early enough, we would take a tea out and sit and watch sunsets and moon rises. Luing is famous for its sunsets particularly, with a vast open expanse of sky, and a wonderful foreground of Hebridean islands to set them off.
Ellenabeich is often subsumed with Easdale. It is in fact a separate village in its own right, where the ferry departs for the Island of Easdale. It is the largest village on the Isle of Seil, which is itself an island but never really seen as one, as it’s actually connected to the mainland by the famous Clachan Bridge, better known as the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’. The bridge was designed by a John Stevenson from Oban and built by Robert Mylne in 1792. It has a span of only 22 metres but for such a small bridge has a big place in the history of Scotland, and indeed in my own formative years, as I’ve travelled over it many times with my parents, as a young boy, and as a father with my own family. It remains a gateway to something beyond and magical.
Following on from the last post, when I passed through the Gulf of the Corryvreckan, I thought I’d take a look at a few of the images I took when we boarded a rib to enter the whirlpool over ten tears ago, it felt a very different place! It’s critical to time any visit to see the full extent of the waters between the north of Jura and Scarba and there aren’t that many occasions in the year when the whirlpool can be seen at its best. We arrived before dawn for this visit and caught the tides just right for a spectacular sight.
Late October most of the boats stop for the winter season, but I was lucky enough to gat a place on one of the last ones out of Ellenabeich, hoping for some good views of the White-tailed eagles that inhabit this area of Scotland in fairly good numbers.
We were heading off the island today towards Ellenabeich and Easdale when just passing the front at Cullipool I spotted an otter fishing in the bay. Carefully parking up and stealthily moving to a good vantage point each time the otter dived, I ended up with a prime view of this elusive mammal, which frequents the coasts around much of north west Scotland. It’s unusual to get so close and to clearly be seen by an otter as we faced each other for a few seconds.
August 2023 was a good month for seeing new birds, or ‘lifers’ as they are known in the birding world. First there was the Forster’s Tern down at Arne in Dorset.
We were off Iona on the early ferry and not booked on the Craignure ferry till about 4.00pm, so giving us a few hours on Mull. If you only a few hours on Mull then best to had round to Loch na Keal for as good a chance of White-tailed Eagles as anywhere, as they tend to sit out on the skerries with a recent catch.
Being on the island at night was an experience that reminded me of the nights I’ve spent on the islands of Skokholm and Skomer. No Shearwaters here, but the almost human cries of seals punctuating the stillness of the small hours was reminiscent of those wonderful nights I spent with my youngest daughter on the Welsh islands during her formative years.
Over two weeks in September I stayed on two vastly differing islands, for the first week it was Walney Island and the second week Iona. One well populated and in England, the other an island of pilgrimage in the Inner Hebrides. Two Islands – Two worlds.
From Stoer we moved a little south to Balchladich Bay, still on the west coast so taking the full force of the gale. Really difficult working here with stinging rain coming directly at us. The rocks once again were treacherous but seemingly dancing with the rain glossing and polishing them.
I’ll quote from my diary for today ‘The hardest day yet with heavy pulsing showers, but with that comes drama and interesting light’ We headed out on the ‘Mad wee road’ again and out to Achahaird Bay on the Rubha Mor peninsula.
Forty five minutes in the Stornoway terminal (you can’t actually stay on the ferry and must disembark and embark again) and we were once again on our way. A lone Guillemot was close to the shore by the terminal and gave really fine views of its winter plumage.
Here’s the next 15 that have been posted on my Instagram account @timcollierwildlifephotography.
A few days on the Solway during February to see the High Arctic archipelago Svalbard Barnacle Geese also bought some good sightings of Ban Owl, Whooper Swans, and the Yellowhammers feeding off the seed of the main paths at WWT Caerlaverock.
Although the site has been down for a few months, I’ve still been out photographing on a regular basis. As I said in the last post, if it’s within you you simply cant stop!
It was one of the highest tides this year and being around 11.30am  gave a good opportunity to get into the hide on this reserve, which is managed by the local council, a couple of hours before the tide was at its highest point and sit tight. The reserve has been partly created by the spoil produced when the Pen-y-Clip tunnel that takes the A55 was built.