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Sunset over Tràigh Thorastain, Coll
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Coll Northwest
A green flash at sunset over Tràigh Thorastain, Coll. Here, the sun is setting across the Sea of the Hebrides just south of Berneray (Barra Head). A green flash lasts only a couple of seconds just as the sun sets; it is a result of refraction of the sun's rays by the atmosphere. It is an optical phenomenon caused by higher frequency light (green and blue) refracting (curving) more than red light, so remaining visible after the red light from the sun has sunk below the horizon. It is a magnification of the thin green line around the setting sun, which is usually not visible to the naked eye. It is best seen in clear air over the sea with no cloud on the horizon. I have only observed a green flash twice in the 5 years I have been looking - the other occasion being at Barvas, Lewis in July 2010.
24 August 2014
Gannets (Morus bassanus) in flight, Mull of Galloway
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Galloway - Mull of Galloway
Gannets (Morus bassanus) in flight against a green sea, Mull of Galloway
02 October 2012
Eilean Trostain, Hougharry from Traigh Bhàn, North Uist
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Western Isles - North Uist
Eilean Trostain, Hougharry from Traigh Bhàn, North Uist
08 July 2010
Ludag, South Uist looking towards Barra
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Western Isles - South Uist
Ludag bay and old ferry slip, South Uist looking towards Barra
02 July 2010
CalMac ferry Loch Alainn leaving Eriskay for Barra
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Western Isles - South Uist
CalMac ferry Loch Alainn leaving Eriskay for Barra, crossing the Sound of Barra
02 July 2010
CalMac ferry Loch Alainn leaving Eriskay for Barra
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Western Isles - South Uist
CalMac ferry Loch Alainn leaving Eriskay for Barra, crossing the Sound of Barra
02 July 2010
Thrift or Sea pink with orange and green lichens
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Argyllshire - Loch Sween and Loch Melfort
A clump of Thrift or Sea Pink (Armeria maritima) by a rock with a typically Scottish west coast assemblage of orange, green and white lichens, with Seil Sound in the background.
30 May 2010
Sea kayaking in Seil Sound
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Sea Life Adventures boat trip from Seil
Sea kayaking in Seil Sound, a paradise of sheltered water for small boats.
03 June 2011
White tailed eagle eyrie
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Sea Life Adventures boat trip from Seil
White tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) eyrie on Jura, empty as the chick had flown by this time.
03 June 2011
MarineLife surveyor Alasdair Fyffe on the bridge of Tor Finlandia
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North Sea
MarineLife surveyor Alasdair Fyffe recording birds and cetacea on the bridge of Tor Finlandia, the Rosyth to Zeebrugge cargo ferry, using the last of the useful light of the day.
