Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Isle of Mull visit.


Its been 2 years since I last visit this fantastic isle of bliss so I was really looking forward to going again this year. We stopped this year just above Uisken bay along the road from Bunessan on the Ross of Mull, an area that we have grown to love over the years. Lovely spot for the morning and evening dog walk whilst taking in the wildlife.
Early start on the morning of travelling..4am. Just to get to Oban in time for viewing the Black Guillemots before boarding the ferry and also a cooked breakfast in the regular drop-in cafe.Well the breakfast thought went tits-up as the cafe is now a fish and chip shop!.But at least 20 birds around the eastern shore/harbor here putting on a good show,and canny bacon butties had at another cafe near here...


Within 30 minutes of arriving on the Isle the first barn door was picked up floating over the Ben mor area...cracking start!
 Whimbrel were in canny numbers in regular places we visited on this visit. My best count was 34 at Fidden to the north of the farm on the first day of arrival on the Isle..After this counts of 20 odd had here and also at Ardalanish bay on a couple of occasions.
 Not that easy to grab a photo of....believe it or not.
 As always visits to Salen were regular to stock up on supplies en-route, and also a toilet stop off. Nee pasties etc. sold now in the post office, gutted! But the residents bird feeders produce some nice entertainment.
 Lapwing chicks at Fidden, she shielded 4 very young-uns the first ones we seen here.
The view looking down loch na-keal
Road side entertainers along with countless Wheatears.
 Iona on the Monday, as always the first fine day of weather we visit here for half a day or so.
Exceptional visit - 4 birds seen and between 8-10 heard around the main populated areas here.

Really nice to see Ray and this better half on a few occasions on this weeks visit... On Corncrake watching duties just up from the Spar shop here, whilst we checked the coastal path out later.
 Otter...! This was the 5th one we seen on the Sunday (our first full day) within 4 hours of setting off from base camp- 1 large dog Otter feeding at the head of loch Beg, and a mother and 2 well grown offspring just a little further along the road.
 This was a sight to behold, I lost contact with this Otter before I seen it settled on the rocks eating a crab.

This Golden eagle was picked up half way down loch scridan, great scope views had.

The 2 shots above are of the loch na-keel goldy.
White-tailed eagle going over, were else can you scope a Golden eagles nest and then spin around and view a White-tails nest!??
Male hen harrier bombed across the road in front of the car one morning...only manged to grab a couple of record shots before he disappeared over the hillside.
This female/ring tail was the cause of some confusement once picked up. One minute we were watching it then it dipped below the tree line and then we were viewing a buzzard and 2 hoodies , the bird was lost completely never to be seen again!

Raven family near Gribon gave us a fantastic flight display, we later watched the young birds begging for food off their parents.




Just a few of the incredible creatures that inhabit this wonderful area, we also picked up countless Buzzards, a couple of Peregrins, 3 Sanderlings (not too common here), single Knot, couple of Mountain hares briefly legging it, Singing Ring ouzel, Tree pipits and a Tawny owl and Merlin on the way back to the ferry on the day of our departure.






1 comment:

  1. Great write-up and pics, Steve. It's years since I last visited Mull. A wonderful place. Iona too.

    Malcolm

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