July 2025

After visiting the Isle Of Lewis for a holiday and having a close encounter with a golden eagle on our first day, I had assumed that an image from that session would be featuring on this.

But that was until I went for a leisure drive around the north west of the Highlands, and happened upon a pair of black throated divers near the shore of a loch, beside the road I was driving along.

After checking for any chicks or a nest nearby (as they're Schedule One birds and cannot be disturbed intentionally, not that I would anyway, as they're so special!), I crept through the bracken and lay on the sandy shore.

To my surprise, one of the pair drifted over to have a look at me. And the light, late evening on a calm loch should have made for heavenly conditions...

For midges.

Within moments of lying down, I realised that the shore was a sheltered spot from the breeze, and I was being absolutely smothered by thousands of them. My Smidge was yards away in the car, so all I could do was put my hoodie up, and take as many images as I could.

I think I lasted just over five minutes before the pain got too much, and I beat a hasty retreat to the car, to douse myself in Smidge, and try to rid myself, the camera and the car of the horrid little blighters.

Still, the images were worth the pain. Stunning bird, in stunning conditions.