I have a couple. Seeing my first Sea Eagle on Mull. I was sat on fairly sharp ridge line leaning against a rock scanning the loch below. All of a sudden the Eagle swoops right over my head .......... it could only have been about 3 meters above me. It must have been gaining height on the other side of the ridge and just happened to skim across the ridge line at the exact point I was sitting
. Must admit that I got the fright of my life ..... almost jumped out of my skin!
I also remember solo biviying out on a hillside up Glen Etive. I woke early and rolled over to find a spectacular view down the loch which was covered in mist (the whole valley was filled with it) as I lay there admiring the view I felt a "presence" up hill behind me
. I slowly rolled over (still cocooned in my bivi bag) to see what it was. There was a herd of about 10 - 15 red deer no more than about 30 meters away! They hadn't smelt me and were happily going about their business ....... I watched them for a good 5 mins before I made a move to get the camera and frightened them off!
But above all I remember my first Kingfishers sighting. I was quite young and was out for walk with my father. I'd gone ahead to have a look at a pond that was on the track we were walking along. I saw a blue flash streaking from right to left accompanied by a high pitched call. It landed on a branch and it took a few moments for me to register what it was! Heart thumping in my chest I had to make a decision do I stay and watch or do I shout/run back to get my Dad (who hadn't seen one either!). I ended up slowly backing off hoping not to disturb it, I returned with father in tow and luckily it had stayed put on exactly the same branch! Fantastic.
