A Magical Encounter with the Majestic Sea Eagles of the Isle of Skye
Wildlife photography has given me countless unforgettable moments, but this one on the Isle of Skye—just outside Portree Bay—stands out as one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had. Before arriving, I had done my research on the wildlife that calls Skye home, and the moment I saw that the white-tailed sea eagle (the UK’s largest bird of prey) could be found there, I knew I had to try my luck.
At 10 a.m., we boarded the Stardust boat and set off from Portree Bay into the open sea. The conditions were mixed—misty rain at first, but as we ventured further out, the skies began to clear, and the sun made a welcome appearance. My excitement grew, but I kept my expectations low. With only around 12 breeding pairs on the Isle of Skye, the odds of not only spotting one but also photographing it were slim.
Then, about an hour in, the captain pointed to a pair of white dots perched atop a rugged cliff. Through binoculars, we confirmed it: sea eagles. My adrenaline surged as the boat slowed, yet keeping the camera steady on a moving boat was proving to be a real challenge. I managed to fire off a burst of shots, but as I reviewed them, only one was in focus—and it was overexposed. Still, I was thrilled just to have seen them.
Little did I know, the best was yet to come.
The boat captain tossed a fish into the sea, explaining that while this sometimes lured the eagles in, the ever-opportunistic gulls often got there first, discouraging the eagles from making a move. Suddenly, a buzz of excitement swept through the boat—the eagle had taken flight, heading straight for us.
Through my camera’s viewfinder, I locked onto the bird—or at least, I thought I did. The boat rocked side to side, making focus difficult, but the sheer size of the sea eagle (with its 8-foot wingspan!) was on my side. As it neared, my heart pounded. At about 50 feet away, I refused to lose focus. Then, at 20 feet, it swooped down toward the water. Another burst of photos. Please, let one be sharp.
And then… boom. I knew I had it. That unmistakable feeling when you just know you got the shot.
The captain, ever respectful of the eagles, didn’t linger. After five minutes, we started moving away. I quickly reviewed my shots and found five that looked promising. I showed my wife, and we both just stared in awe. But before we could even process what had just happened, the captain called out—"Dolphins ahead!"
As if the sea eagle sighting wasn’t magical enough, a pod of about 20 dolphins appeared, playfully tailing the boat. They swam alongside us, their sleek bodies cutting effortlessly through the water. I’ve seen dolphins before, but never this close, never like this. Just as we thought the day couldn’t possibly get any better, we spotted seals basking lazily on the rocks, completely unfazed by our presence.
Eventually, we headed back to shore, but the adventure wasn’t over yet.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring more of Skye, taking in its breathtaking scenery with some light hikes and capturing drone footage of the dramatic cliffs and rolling landscapes. There’s something humbling about standing among these towering natural wonders, reminding you of just how small we are in the grand scheme of things.
As the daylight faded, we returned to our accommodation, and that’s when the final thrill of the day began: downloading the images.
Any photographer knows the feeling—the anxious excitement as the files load, hoping that what you saw through the viewfinder translates to a sharp, detailed shot. The first few? Out of focus. My heart sank. Shot after shot—blurred, overexposed, unusable. Then, image number seven: in focus, a bit overexposed but sharp. Then came the sequence of the eagle swooping for the fish. The first few frames? Still no good. And then—the shot. Clear, sharp, full of power and grace.
I clenched my fist, punched the air, and let out a triumphant “YES!”
There it was—probably the best wildlife shot I had ever taken.
Despite the challenges—photographing a moving bird from a moving boat in unpredictable conditions—this experience had been beyond rewarding. It’s moments like this that fuel my passion for wildlife photography. Because no matter how many times I do it, there’s always something new, something unexpected, something that keeps me coming back for more.
What a day!