Had to go to Inverness on business yesterday and today. Traveled up last night and stayed overnight in the Newtonmore Bunkhouse. Got up early and headed up to Chanory Point (in the rain) to look for Bottle nosed Dolphins (see photo above). Hadn't even locked the car when one appeared, incredibly close inshore! Walked around to the point and spent 20 minutes watching as a pair (one very dark in colour and one much lighter) and a single repeatedly surfaced in front of me. They seemed to be quite relaxed, and occasionally leapt dramatically out of the water. Managed to take a few pictures (see one above), although they don't really communicate what a dramatic sight it was. How amazing to see such "exotic" creatures in such a very ordinary setting on a typical rainy Scottish day. (There's a good website about the Moray Firth Dolphins here).
Didn't have much time to notice anything else (apart from a Common Seal, two Sandwich Terns and a few Cormorants). Spent the day "shadowing" a colleague around rural north Scotland. Started in Inverness, then over to Ulapool, north to Ledmore (incredible views to Suilven, Canisp, Stac Pollaidh etc), then West to Lairg and back to Inverness. On the way back to Glasgow, stopped at Loch Morlich (photo) and had a short walk in the forest. Blaeberries are now ripe (photo), so enjoyed a few, while the Midges took bites out of me.
Apart from the above, plenty of Rabbits about, plus Devil's Bit Scabious, and back home, another garden Common Toad (photo).