Final Mull morning - Day 4

It would have been rude to head home without one final session with the scope so I headed out at 6am for an early start. The commitment to the cause paid dividends as I wrapped up the trip with two distant Short-eared Owls, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, a sky dancing Hen Harrier, three Curlew three Crossbills and a Whimbrel.

The journey back took us 7 ½ hours which seemed very long in very hot weather.

Here are a few links if you ever fancy heading to the Isle of Mull yourself.

Isle of Mull hotel

Mull ferry

Wild about Mull tours

Staffa tours

Corncrakes on Iona & Staffa sailing - Day 3

Corncrake delight

Walking straight towards me

Calling

The Strut

Heading for cover

Black Guillemots

Shag

Puffin

Fingals Cave, Staffa

Staffa rock formation

Our third day plans were changed when Mull Charters cancelled as there wasn’t enough people for the boat. Whilst disappointed initially our day worked out perfectly. An early start took us west down to Fionnport where we headed out to Staffa, a small island to the north of mull. The small island is home to Fingals cave as well as breeding Puffins and Black Guillemots. On the crossing we also found 2 Arctic Terns, 4 Common Terns, Gannets, a Great Skua, Black-throated Diver and several Great Northern Divers.

Instead of retuning to Mull we were dropped off on Iona to see if we could see the Corncrakes that had just returned from their migration from east Africa. After a quick recharge with a coffee and a rock cake we took up position behind the fire station. Within a couple of minutes I picked up a call fairly close but couldn’t see anything. These seemed to be the regular occurrence, heard but not seen. Then I picked up a very loud call (crex-crex) coming from a domestic garden which sounded close to the patch. Bingo ! As I looked through the mesh fence I could see my first Corncrake. I was happy with this but then the bird came out and walked across the patch and then called repeating, over and over.. The bird showed really well for about 30 minutes giving me every opportunity to take some photos of a lifetime. Very lucky indeed. I was quite surprised by the small size of the bird, about half the size of a Grey Partridge.

We returned to hotel buzzing after an amazing day. The trip had certainly worked out as we wanted.

Wild about Mull - Day 2

White-tailed Eagle (Pete Walkden)

White-tailed Eagle (Pete Walkden)

White-tailed Eagle distant shot

Unique signage on Mull

Otter delight (Pete Walkden)

Grey Heron being closely watched by Otter

Great Northern Diver

Golden Eagles soaring high

Tawny Owl

Yet another Wheater

Before breakfast I had my first explore of the islands towards Lochdon and in very windy conditions I recorded a Spotted Flycatcher, good numbers of Wheater, Red-brested Meganser, Rock Pipit, Wood Wrabler, Shelduck and Whimbrel.

After breakfast we travelled west for about 30 minutes taking in some amazing scenery and finding our first pair of Hen Harriers gliding around looking for prey. Our day was spent with Bryan Rains (Wild about Mull) who was recommended to us by midlands photographer Pete Walkden. Bryan drove us around the local area trying to find us exactly what we wanted to see. We were quickly seeing Great Northern Divers, Whimbrel, Curlew, Greenshank, Dunlin and Ringed Plover before we travelled higher up the moors. After stopping at a quiet location and setting up the scope we had views of our first White-tailed Eagle sitting on the nest. This is one of 30 pairs on the island. These giants of the sky have settled in very well to Mull since their re-introduction which generates must needed income for the island.

After a session searching for Otters unsuccessfully we headed upland on the other side of the loch. We did stop at the local seal colony that also had Eiders and Mergansers. This secluded road gave us perfect views of the valley below us. Whilst waiting for birds of prey we watched a newly arrived female Cuckoo, Wheatears, Crossbills and a Tree Pipit close to the mini bus. The slight bit of drizzle then stopped and the temperature seemed to increase. As if by magic a male Hen Harrier came out to fly about the woodland below us. Buzzing from this moment, two Golden Eagles came into view and displayed right above us for about 30 minutes. Absolutely amazing. The downside of seeing a pair together probably indicated that their own nest had failed. The recent snow has made it difficult for the nesting birds.

Bryan had another treat us for by showing us a Tawny Owl in a barn on the hillside before we returned to the loch for more Otter searching. This time we hit the jackpot with a mother playing with her two cubs and another Otter enjoying the sun watched by a Grey Heron.  Before wrapping up for the day we returned to our first Eagle spot where we found the male White-tailed Eagle that treated us to a fly past. The size of the bird was amazing, the eight foot wing span seemed to take ages to get going as it drifted upwards. A brilliant moment.

On our journey home we found yet another pair of Hen Harriers and 30 Pink-footed Geese. Quite a day……………

Many thanks to Pete Walkden for his superb images that really helps my blog. 

Magical Mull - Day 1

Mull

Loch Lomand

Ferry to Mill

Hooded Crow

Oystercatcher

Common Buzzard

A trip to Mull has been on my bucket list for very long time and after months of anticipation we set off at 5.30am for a long weekend. The early start paid dividends as we missed two accidents and even with two stops in Cumbria and the Lake District the journey only took seven hours.

Just before Oban we stopped at a small Garden Centre called Poppies that had a fantastic café over looking the loch and we were soon watching Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, Common Sandpipers, Eiders and Hooded Crows. The ferry journey over took about 40 minutes where we saw our first Black Guillemots, Gannets  & Manx Shearwaters of the trip. Landing in Craignure in blazing sunshine was a real delight and it looked liked we had timed our break perfectly.

Our hotel was the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa situated just two minutes from the ferry the hotel had fantastic views of the loch. To eat our meals looking out to such a wonderful view was a total pleasure. Even the hot-tub had an amazing view. We took advantage of the spa facilities before having the first of three fantastic meals.