30/12/2003
Fabulous sunny day today with snow capped peaks. We had six sea eagles together in the mountains after just seeing two golden eagles with buzzards. We had another three golden eagles, two sitting and one holding like a buzzard in the wind when we could even see his feathered legs. Finally the otter we had been looking for with a peachy coloured sea in the background and the sound of him munching his shellfish.
17/12/2003
No trips just lately, it seems that all of you tourists think we are deep in snow up here. In fact we have the least snow in the uk in the Hebrides. Anyway a great sighting of two eagles very close to our new house today. One took a rabbit or a hare. As usual the buzzards and ravens did not like their presence and were dashing around excitedly. Have a nice Xmas everybody and do think about a late winter trip to the Hebridean Islands.
09/12/2003
Can I do a bit of market research? Why do we see no tourists during the so called off season? There are great fly/drive deals with easyjet and the airport is 20 minutes from fab scenery! Todays view from the new house is truly awesome with a gigantic blaze of sunshine beaming down onto the island of Inch Kenneth as if the mothership is about to descend. I think the landscape in Lord of the Rings is very very tame!!
04/12/2003
Wonderful misty and then sunny day today. As the weather cleared I spotted something on a rock in the mountains which turned into a terrific view of a young Golden Eagle. Out of the mountains and on a small sea loch we saw mum and three otter cubs and then another two otters roaming around on very photogenic craggy islands just offshore at Carsaig. Great day with no one about.
01/12/2003
Here we are in December with clear blue sky and warm sun. However I can see from my chair that our highest mountain Ben More is capped with snow. Not for the fist time we are the only area of Britain bathed in winter sun. Yesterday was a good wildife day with porpoise and the two eagle species. After much searching I found a male otter asleep on the seaweed until a dog came by and sent it off to hide for a while.
27/11/2003
It was a lovely day today and of course we get fabulous views out to sea and over the islands from the new house. We have just had our first guest in the new suite and we think it looks super. Where are all these adventurous tourists? These romantic Hebridean Islands are all yours in the winter months. Otters are having their young, Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles are displaying over their territories and the sea is at its most interesting.
23/11/2003
Yes we saw the usual eagles and otters today and the porpoise were a plus but this was the most beautiful day of the year, with no wind, misty peaks and warm sunshine. There was snow on the mountains but we had lunch on one of our lovely southern beaches, collected pebbles and watched the seals. There was no one around and the light and colours were truly amazing.
16/11/2003
No wildlife trip today but it has been a beautiful sunny and warm day at our new house. The sun is just going down way out to sea over Iona and a lovely yellow sky is dappled with hundreds of flecks of puffy grey clouds. It is very peaceful and snug here and the sheeps wool insulation in the house seems to be very good indeed. Now we know how a sheep feels.
13/11/2003
This is a great time of year if you catch it right and today we had good views of a sitting Sea Eagle, 2 or 3 Otters, Hen Harrier, Great Northern Diver and a 'real' Golden Eagle sighting, as we saw one bird circling and landing and then watched another gliding low and sitting on a crag in a very golden eagly locality and moment!! Its all very evocative because there is no one about.
10/11/2003
Wonderful wildlife sighting today when as the sun was just going down we had a school of about seven bottle nosed dolphins very close inshore. With them was the smallest baby dolphin I have ever seen. It was all the more special because we had a mirror calm and peachy coloured sea. There was no one about but the leaping dolphins and the sound of their blowing. It was a really magical Hebridean Islands moment.
09/11/2003
Cold dry and windy today but close views of a sea eagle going over us, two male hen harriers and a female,3 otters,turnstones diver, greenshank,golden plovers etc. 2 more sea eagles building a nest, and a young golden eagle circling above us and plenty of Lord of the Rings type scenery and atmosphere.
03/11/2003
Winter is probably best for the big three here as today testified. Within 15 minutes of leaving the ferry point we had two otters, one catching a fish almost as big as itself. A sea eagle flew over it scattering birds and landing. A sparrowhawk flew a meter over our heads, a hen harrier gave super views and 30 minutes later we had a female merlin sitting on a rock, then we walked on white sandy beaches in the south. Loads of divers around and no people. Great!!
28/10/2003
Lovely clearing day today with pretty keen people. Hen harriers, otters, sea eagle, golden eagles chasing ravens and nice views of two summer plummaged great northern divers. I don't need to mention turnstones, red deer, seals, eiders, greenshanks etc do I?
27/10/2003
Bit drizzly today but we still got sea and golden eagles, 4 otters, sparrowhawk, slavonian grebes, goldeneye, turnstones, hen harrier and of course the obvious things!! The higlight of the day for me was a long tailed duck close inshore with red breasted mergansers. Better weather tomorrow I believe when our furniture arrives at the new house!
20/10/2003
Another lovely day when the Island looked as beautiful as it could be. We saw all three members of the diver family, slavonian grebes and a pile of otters on top of each other. It was a picture that would grace any wildlife magazine, with heads sticking out and tails belonging to goodness knows who!
18/10/2003
I have decided that if this amazing weather, sunrises and sunsets continue, I will give up wildlife and be a poet! It is such a different and more inspiring life here on Mulls wonderful west coast. As some of you know it is of course considered to be the most spectacular coastal run in Europe.
17/10/2003
I am not sure that our wildlife is not a distraction at the moment away from this fabulous weather and colours. Best sighting today was a pair of White Tailed Sea Eagles coming from on high with their talons down to alight on a rocky point. Within a few moments we realised that they were interested in two otters that were fishing in the same place. Only Mull can give such wonderful wildlife sightings in such a setting. Lots of waders about also,
15/10/2003
Great waeather again today and I am just going to check whether Aurora Borealis [Northern Lights]is showing again tonight. There are clouds of Redwings and Fieldfares arriving on Mull right now and I had a great drive from a meeting late last night with masses of willdife about.
14/10/2003
I am often asked, when is the best time to visit Mull. Well I suppose it would have to be now because its sunny and warm for at least a week. The Island is very quiet and you can have a big piece of Mull all to yourselves if you wish. Another great sunset coming up by the way.
13/10/2003
A real birders sighting today as we picked up a sea eagle above the mountains about 4 miles out. Without a flap it headed for us, crossed the loch and we lost it behind trees.Minutes later it swept over the trees within fifty yards of us and hit sea level where it belted over the sea and chased a duck which it failed to catch and after sitting with crows it headed off up the loch to give us another great sighting 10 minutes later.
09/10/2003
More poor weather today and a full Landrover made for a challenging day. However we saw the big three and got very wet indeed watching a family of otters diving for fish and running up on shore with them. The highlight of the day for me was definitely the Black Throated Diver which does not breed here of course. Dippers were good also.
08/10/2003
Three weeks to the completion of our new home and it looks really terrific. We are in a wild spell of weather at the moment but its great!! If I were a tourist I would be walking one of our fabulous beaches today and getting blown off my feet. Or you can come on a wildife trip and see otters, sea eagles and golden eagles, but still get blown off your feet!! Plenty of harriers about by the way.
04/10/2003
Most people of course want to see an eagle sitting on a rock about 6 ft away! but for me today was the way we should all see a golden eagle. It was a really showery, very windy and cold day and I caught him coming head into wind 3 miles out and 2,000ft up.He kept coming wings stretched back and outpacing a dozen ravens. He did not flap at all until he was over our heads and kissing the bottom of the clouds when he turned and raced back at amazing speed to alight on the skyline.
02/10/2003
Top eagle sightings from the highest road on the island today. We had one sea eagle that drew up two adult golden eagles and their two young. Another great shot of a golden eagle late in the day as it alighted on prey on a mountainside. My new Swarovski telescope has been a good investemnt because we could see every detail as it tugged at its prey and repeatedly glanced around. Great northern diverand black necked grebe also.
01/10/2003
Mull was warm, sunny and very serene today and we had two golden moments. First was a Golden Eagle sitting on the side of a small ridge with his bronze head flashing in the sunshine. Two young Sea Eagles and ten Ravens flew over his head and he was of course unconcerned.We had lunch on one of our glorious beaches and watched an adult Sea Eagle sitting sillhoueted on a cliff face and gazing out to the Isles of Colonsay and Jura.
30/09/2003
Got the date of my posting about the Kingfisher wrong. It was today the 30th of course. By the way I hope we are going to see some of you up here in this wonderful place this winter? There are great fly drive deals to be had and you can leave England and be on the late friday evening ferry to Mull in under 4 hours. Its great winter weather here these days and the best season for willdife.
29/09/2003
A wet start to the day but we just about got a sitting sea eagle and then a flying one and a hen harrier. Three otters across a loch and then a good view of a golden eagle with two buzzards. Porpoise later in the day and a nice sunset as usual tonight.
29/09/2003
Truly fabulous weather today when we went in pursuit of a reported bea eater. We did not see it but saw a Kingsisher instead which is rarer than a bea eater here in the last few years. In fact it was my first Kingfisher here in perhaps 15 years. It is not a Hebridean bird of course and all about global warming. Otters, Sea and Golden Eagles today of course also.
26/09/2003
Truly awesome sky tonight! Wildlife seen in the last few days includes greenshank, redshank,bullfinch,greenland wheatear,stonechat,goshawk,sparrowhawk,peregrine,buzzard,kestrel,golden and sea eagles inc young birds,knot,golden plover,porpoise, curlew,whimbrel,otters,goosander,merganser,red deer,seals,turnstone,dunlin,ringed plover,male and female hen harriers,various seabirds,barn owl,bats,red grouse etc.
20/09/2003
We continue with wonderful views of otters and I should record more wildlife but how can I ignore the most spectacular sunsets and evening sea views that we now get on the West Coast of Mull?I suppose you all know that Mull officially has the most varied landscape in Britain? A big whale was seen here recently. Possibly a Sei or Fin Whale. Dolphins fetched everyone out of the restaurants in Tobermory yesterday as they jumped around off shore. Mull is amazing!!!!!!!!
15/09/2003
I did not have a trip today but instead went down to check on the new house build. To be honest we think its terrific and we have a great team working on it, led by Hughie and Cameron who are the best joiners on the Island I think. But today is about the most wonderful sky, reflecting on the sea and the Treshnish Islands way out to sea. We simply must have the best sea views and sunsets in the world. How can anyone live in Watford!!
14/09/2003
A good day today with a nice keen group, good views of mother and a young otter, a sea eagle sitting out on a marsh and looking fab in my scope. Two golden eagles sitting in a tree and refusing to fly for ages. And yes I am on TV again! Yawn!! Watch out for The Natural World on BBC just after new year when I am going on about the sea eagle. If they dub me out again and put in Attenborough I won't be pleased.
12/09/2003
Our new house is looking really exciting, along with the weather here, which though a little more varied continues to be pretty good. Hen Harriers are giving the impression of being common!! Both eagle species have their young up and about and we are also getting good views of Great Northern Divers and other arctic species.
29/08/2003
A good day today with three Golden Eagles above us and then two further birds in the perfect place to see eagles!! I then discovered the reason for the two Sea Eagles hanging around a certain mountain, when I found one feeding on a dead sheep with ravens. Also a good wildlife guides 'spot' of three otters today as they were well asleep on a tiny headland.
27/08/2003
Need I say that the weather was great again today? I was very peased to see the two newly fleged young sea eagles as I had 'lost' one of them somewhere. Had a good crowd of 'novices' out with me and a cute little seven year old called Ailsa who I had a bet with which I think was 50p an otter sighting. When she left with her parents I forgot to claim my money as I spotted one first!
26/08/2003
Fabulous weather again and very settled. lots of eagle sightings and today we had 4 otters in a pile across the water, a golden eagle on mountains to our right and two sea eagles on a mountain behind us. Only on Mull can you get such sightings and all at the same time!! Getting Basking Sharks off Calgary Bay. Our new house and guest accommodation look great and are nearly ready thanks to very good tradesmen here on Mull.
23/08/2003
Our weather went off with a bang in the last week with lots of cloud and rain but today is mirror calm again and sunny. The new house and base looks terrific with wonderful views from all the windows. Lots of arctic species are migrating through now including Whimbrel, Bar Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover and plenty of young Eagle sightings also now.
19/08/2003
Every now and again I get one of those one off sightings and we had such a sighting today when as the rain cleared two Golden Eagles set off at pace from their perch on a crag.One swept low behind a small hill and the other followed and very low to the ground it took a gull in flight. Training their young? I saw a similar thing with sea eagles a couple of days ago as an adult flew very low out to sea and weaved after a gull.
16/08/2003
We have had the most wonderful year for weather here and tonight is no exception. Who needs wildlife on an evening like this. From our new home on the west coast we have simply wonderful views miles out to sea and the silhouetted blackness of the Treshnish Islands is filling the horizon, whilst the sea is flat calm and totally empty.
15/08/2003
Lots of sightings of young sea eagles now as they get more confident and practice their flying. Hen Harriers are also doing the same but it is now more of a challenge to find otters as mum and the two cubs had become pretty reliable! but I found two local families of humans power boating and generally enjoying themselves at the expense of the otters on their territory and I think the otters have taken it badly and possibly moved away for now.
10/08/2003
Back to lovely sunny waeather and we could have spent the entire day in one square mile of Mull today because we saw adult and young Sea Eagles flying and sitting, a Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier, Kestrels, Ravens, Golden Eagle with Buzzards and bird of the day an Osprey repeatedly diving in the water with no success unfortunately. Otters later on by the way.
09/08/2003
One or two problems with my Landrover in the last two days but we are still managing to get the usual good views of Sea Eagles, particularly newly fledged young and a misty low cloud day brought quite dreamy views of a family of otters which a BBC photographer told us he could not use because shots need to be sunny!!
05/08/2003
Another typical day with our 2 eagle species and otters but I had a terrific view of a young peregrine practicing his skills on about 20 ravens on the way to collect people. In the same area on the way back a male hen harrier came straight over the landrover and passed prey to two young hen harriers about 50 metres away.
04/08/2003
Loch Frisa could have looked big and empty to the untrained eye today but within 30 minutes we had a Golden Eagle, adult Sea Eagle, Osprey and lots of Kestrels and Buzzards plus a pair of Red Throated Divers. Its a beautiful Hebridean sunset tonight and I have just looked out of the window to see a Tawny Owl on a post with the sun setting behind it!
02/08/2003
August is not a good month for me and its only the 2nd!! In fact I go a bit like a wildlife Basil Fawlty. But what can I do? August seems to be a month when I get more excited about seeing Sea Eagles, Otters and Golden Eagles than my customers do!! and they have never seen them before!! Can I appeal to keen people to book my trips as soon as possible please? The new house is looking amazing and we will have a page about accommodation on the website soon.
02/08/2003
My best ever Osprey sighting on Mull today. Our party watched a fishing Osprey for about an hour. We had it in a spectacular locality and to add even more interest an adult White Tailed Sea Eagle came out to look at it and was mobbed by the Osprey.
29/07/2003
Another really good eagle day which had a first for me, when we found two white tailed sea eagles and one of them was sitting on top of an ancient standing stone. It felt like a very Gaelic and historical sighting. The Gaels had a very beautiful name for the bird, which translates to 'The eagle with the sunlit eye'.
28/07/2003
Cuckoos, short eared owls, good views of hen harriers and lots of smaller birds on the move now but very evocative sightings of eagles lately. Two day ago we had three young sea eagles from the highest bit of road on Mull and about a mile away, when two of them straightened up and came right over us and off into low cloud and cliffs.
22/07/2003
Perfect Mull weather today, with just enough sunshine and cloud. Top line views of the big three today including nice sightings of 2 of this years young Sea Eagles. Golden Eagles sitting and flying over us and very close views of 3 Otters. Usual sightings of Whinchat, Wheatear, Twite, Rock Dove, Raven, Porpoise, Seals, Red Deer and lots more.
17/07/2003
We have a spell of really hot weather and I have had two very typical days with eagles and otters but I thought the highlight of yesterday was an osprey going over the Landrover as I went to collect people for the trip and a large family of red grouse crossing the road, also a party of stoats on their way home, like me.
12/07/2003
Great sighting today of a Golden Eagle taking a rabbit within 50 meters and going off chased by a buzzard. But the highlight for me of the last two days was a tip off about an Osprey which we found a few hours later sending the gulls mad at Lochdon. Young sea eagles are fledging anytime now!
08/07/2003
We have the most awesome sky tonight on the West Coast of Mull. Great Golden Eagle sightings today with a male Hen Harrier repeatedly attacking a female eagle. We turned round today at one of the best sea views in Britain and also had three Golden Eagles overhead pestered by Ravens and Kestrels. It was a cannot be beaten eagle sightng!!
02/07/2003
Super weather again and of course our usual sightings of sea, golden eagles and otters but the higlight of today was definitely a school of about twenty bottle nosed dolphins pretty close off one of my favourite viewpoints which also has lots of orchids right now.
28/06/2003
A perfect Hebridean day today with sun and mist shrouded peaks. We had the usual white tailed sea eagle sightings, 5 otters and what I felt was the highlight of the day when I spotted a white flash on the side of a mountain, which turned into a pair of hen harriers diving at a sitting golden eagle, who as usual was not too bothered.
27/06/2003
We had misty weather today which is untypical because it is either raining or sunny here usually! Golden eagles were nowhere to be seen but we had good views of a a sitting sea eagle and after much searching I found three otters which thrilled one of our party who had the sighting of otters as a lifelong ambition.
24/06/2003
We are continuing with our usual sightings but we had terrific views of a short eared owl flying and sitting very close. Also a good time of year for our more interesting orchids. Why do people keep asking me "if their sightings were exceptional" when it is just an ordinay day at the office here on Mull!!!
20/06/2003
The weather is pretty difficult to read at the moment and it makes every day challenging. However we are still getting top drawer views of Sea Eagles, 5 Otters today and two Golden Eagles. Pity I am only getting Short Eared Owls on the way to collect people for the trips and on the way back!!
13/06/2003
Perfect wildlife watching weather at the moment as it is not too sunny and not too wet. We are now getting all of our top species and I suppose I should be clear that on almost every trip we also see warblers,tree,meadow and rock pipits,stonechat, whinchat,wheatear,redshank,snipe,all our gulls,shag,eider,seals,red deer,red breasted merganser, flycatchers etc.
12/06/2003
Lots of big sightings every day now. Short Eared Owls Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles, Porpoise, Redstarts, Otters, summer plumaged Red Throated and Great Northern Divers and today a spectacular view of a White Tailed Eagle taking a young gull and fly above us with it.
09/06/2003
Too many sightings to list at the moment!! but highlights of today were 2 bottlenosed dolphins within 30ft of us which were then tracked by a group of about 20 porpoise. Then an adult sea eagle going low over 2 hen harriers about to pass prey to each other. They ignored the sea eagle, passed the prey and then set about a buzzard who was also over their territory.
05/06/2003
At last I have tracked down Hen Harriers passing prey in the wonderful way that they do. Today we had 3 Otters, Golden Eagles sitting and flying, Sea Eagle sitting. Male and female Redstart (what a bird!!), Wood and Willow Warblers and coming back Peregrine Falcon. Male and female Hen Harriers hunting.
31/05/2003
Usual otters, eagles, porpoise in the last few days but a nice moment in time today when we stopped for scones and drinks.In a few minutes we had male redstart[the most colourful woodland bird!] wood warbler, willow warbler, great spotted woodpecker, redpolls, siskins and two white tailed eagles with calling buzzards and later great golden eagles, otters and male Hen Harrier.
28/05/2003
We have rather moody and misty conditions here but we still had excellent sightings of White Tailed Sea Eagle sitting on a small island then flying pretty close, 2 male Hen Harriers disagreeing about territories, 3 Otters and a great shot of Ravens mobbing a Golden Eagle sitting on a hill side.
25/05/2003
One of those wonderful wildlife moments today when we had two separate otter families coming together and playing and feeding happily in one big "pile" of otters. There were almost too many otters filling my telescope today!
22/05/2003
Distant eagle sightings today but lots of them. Also super male hen harrier doing his sky dance, two seperate families of otters yesterday, great northern divers, porpoise, red throated divers and pink footed geese. The weather is improving !!!
19/05/2003
Keen people today and we duly had very good views of Sea Eagle and Golden Eagle, Otters Porpoise and Divers. THE TRIPS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY THIS YEAR AND WE ARE TURNING AWAY LOTS OF ENQUIRIES. WE WANT YOU IF YOU ARE KEEN!!!!! SO PLEASE BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE!
18/05/2003
Had a my very good friends Annie and David out with me a few times this week and of course had the usual sightings of eagles, otters, porpoise etc. But we had a "fantabulous" sighting of a golden eagle today alighting on a dead lamb and proceeding to eat it. Terrific view in the telescope with its golden head glintting in the sun.
16/05/2003
In the last few days, golden eagles, white tailed sea eagles, hen harrier, female pintail, great northern divers, otters, orchids, short eared owls, cuckoos, pink footed geese, greenshank, golden plovers, dunlin, whimbrel, porpoise. Very variable weather and talk of bea eater, white billed diver and great grey shrike!! More important the new house build is going well!!
11/05/2003
It has felt more like April in the last couple of weeks, after feeling like June for the last 3 months!! However it is a lot better for sightings!!Golden eagle mobbed by ravens and hooded crows today and a sea eagle very high and then close and sitting,hen harrier doing his sky dance, porpoise, great northern divers in summer plumage, male otter sleeping, possible bee eater to check on tomorrow!! and lots more!!
09/05/2003
We had a good view of a White Tailed Eagle drying its wings on a dead tree stump today, distant sighting of a Golden Eagle carrying prey, nice views of female otter with her 2 cubs playing on the rocks. Today the telescope came into it's own with a Golden Eagle sitting on a cliff face. It then flew straight over us displaying.
05/05/2003
One of those perfect views of a Sea Eagle today. We were very high up and the weather cleared slightly. It was still a little misty with cloud capped peaks, when we spotted a Sea Eagle two miles out. He steadily sailed across the peaks to come right over our heads, when he was then attacked by 2 ravens and then glided away.
03/05/2003
On the last 2 trips we have had great sightings, young sea eagles have been around and today one flew over us. Adults have been behaving themselves and giving nice shots sitting. Dramatic views of a golden eagle,silhouetted picking at prey, as it's feat hered legs ruffled in the wind. We had a lady on the trip today mad keen to see an Otter and we had views of them running around on the rocks. We are starting to get good views of Porpoise,Twite,Whimbrel,Short eared,Owls,Redpolls and Red Throated Divers
30/04/2003
We had a doubting crowd today!!! because it started pretty drizzly, but it picked up, we had a great shot of a sitting golden eagle and a sitting Male Hen Harrier. Nice shot of mum and 2 Otter cubs close, with one of the cubs calling. Sea Eagle sitting on top of a tree while an immature and 2 golden eagles soared in the background. Then 2 golden eagles crossing overhead. On the way home, short eared owl attacking a raven and another one sitting very close. Plus divers, goosanders etc.
29/04/2003
we look west from our new home toward distant islands and superb sunsets and it was too much to resist tonight and so we went for a short drive to scan the sea and sure enough we had good views of a minke whale quite close inshore which we watched for about half an hour. However the setting is the thing here and it could not be more spectacular tonight!!
23/04/2003
Terrific sightings and wonderful weather again today. Best sightings were Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Male Hen Harrier, Short Eared Owl attacking a Buzzard, Golden Eagle attacking a Sea Eagle, 2 separate families of Otters, Britain’s most attractive bird, the Black Throated Diver in summer plumage and the highlight of the day 5 young Sea Eagles in the mountains close to us and throwing prey to each other.
22/04/2003
In the last few days... great northern, black throated and red throated divers all in summer plumage. Short eared owl, hen harriers, bottle nosed dolphins, porpoise, greenshank, redshank, twite, redpoll, willow warblers, linnets, goldfinch, snipe, golden and white tailed sea eagles and wader with a repeated wick, wick call and then regular whimbrel like call? Poss Lesser yellowlegs or marsh sandpiper? Anyone know?
19/04/2003
In the last week we have had trips every day. The weather has been stunning and we have continued to have terrific views as usual of Otters, Golden Eagles, White Tailed Eagles, Hen Harriers etc. Top sightings were of a sea eagle low to the sea taking prey, nice shot of golden eagle sitting on hill top, merlin sitting. Family of otters and a sea eagle gliding over us at the same time.
10/04/2003
Clear blue skies and 4 golden eagles, an adult see eagle sitting on the skyline and exciting views of three young white tailed sea eagles and a young golden eagle talon grappling and interacting. 3 Otters doing all the things otters do, sun bathing, and tumbling around in the seaweed. Male and female hen harrier together and of course the sun.
08/04/2003
Superb weather continues here.Today we had a male and female hen harrier together on their breeding grounds.A golden eagle, as good as you get views of 4 otters, about 5 sea eagles and latterly two golden eagles alighting on a ridge. Usual greenshanks,red deer,seals,ravens, divers,mergansers and eiders etc. Keen people out with us today!!
03/04/2003
A moody,brooding,Hebridean day today. First big sighting was a golden eagle sitting on the skyline and then flying. Summer plumage slavonian grebe, numerous great northern divers, peregrine falcon flying out to sea, three goldies scrapping, mum and the otter cubs again, female merlin, dog otter on the shingle, red and fallow deer and lots of regular sighintgs.
01/04/2003
Very cold strong wind today and no eagles!! Wierd!!!! About 6 Hen Harriers though. with a male and female displaying together. Great views of a female otter with her cubs in a little'pile'on a seaweed covered rock. Plus my favourite bird the male Merlin.
30/03/2003
Very cold but still very sunny and dry here. 2 Golden Eagles 1 crossing above us being mobbed by a raven, female otter with 2 cubs. While mum was fishing they were scrapping on the seaweed. Red throated diver and great northern divers, crossbills, 2 male goosanders fighting and the highlight of the week, my first short eared owl of the breeding season.
27/03/2003
More glorious warm weather today and calm seas brought 6 otters ( 1 really close!!). A distant sea eagle sitting on a tree and a golden eagle flying and sitting on a hillside being mobbed by hooded crows and buzzards. Great Northern dver, red throated divers in summer plumage, razorbills, greenshank, black guillemot and common guillemot, hen harriers and lots of red deer.
24/03/2003
Very warm day today, saw a young Sea Eagle sitting on an island and then flying low over the sea and along the sea cliffs. 2 seperate otter sightings, the best of which brought a fish ashore and gave us a great view.
21/03/2003
We were not out today and the weather continues to be very good indeed and stangely dry for the time of year. Our bracken normally only crunches underfoot during May!! At a Scottish Tourist Board meeting yesterday I could not help watching a pair of Sea Eagles out of the window and soaring behind the head of the Boards chairman!! Nothing to do with his speech!! Birds were scattering half an hour ago here as a Peregrine Falcon wooshed over the cottage.
16/03/2003
More glorious weather here and a great day with a group of about 14 bottle nosed dolphins very close to shore and doing what dolphins do. They were in very shallow water at times. It's easy to get dolphinitis and so I was gazing out over a mirror calm sea from our cottage later in the day. I did not see any more dolphins but instead I had a super view of a young sea eagle alighting on our headland.
15/03/2003
The Island is quite beautiful at the moment and we have had a mix of trips from looking at eagles in the mountains to watching waders off our southern coastline. The beaches in the Hebrides are the most beautiful in the world and it was such a delight to sit there enjoying the dazzling white sand with my group yesterday. Where are all these Eco Tourists who are missing so very much at this time of year.
13/03/2003
Glorious weather again with no wind and lots of sunshine. A very good eagle day with all manner of sightings. Also two seperate otter families. I thought the sightng of the day was a white tailed sea eagle coming from 4 miles out above the mountains to sail over our heads without a flap of his wings.
10/03/2003
As always the weather here was much better than the TV forecast. We had keen people wantng to see sea eagles which duly obliged by giving two people very close views and the rest of the party good soaring views being mobbed by buzzards. No otters today but good views of golden eagles a male hen harrier and eight great northern divers together on the way home. Terrific weather forecast for at least the next week!!
07/03/2003
A wet day today and a challenge to find eagles, but sure enough in my most exciting place of the moment there was a pause in the rain and up came the two white tailed sea eagles I had been looking for. Great to see them on such a wet day!! Close views of otters, black guillemot,golden plovers,skylarks,turnstones,two female hen harriers,snipe,redshanks,greenshank,seals,red deer stags etc.
05/03/2003
A wet start to todays trip but that can be perfect when it clears and it did! One sea eagle overhead. Dramatic shot of 2 golden eagles stooping at prey then flying 1 mile out and sitting in a tree. Female hen harrier crossing in front of us. Another 2 golden eagles at about 2000 feet then returning very low over our heads to sit on the mountain side. 2 further goldies and a sea eagle coming overhead. Usual sightings of deer, seals, divers and then a male hen harrier on our way home.
02/03/2003
More dry and sunny weather here today for a trip in the West of Mull. We had 2 adult sea eagles sitting on a headland, a large immature golden eagle flying and then sitting, various slavonian grebes, a red necked grebe and great northen divers. 4 more golden eagles in two different territories, a very close view of an otter with a large fish and finally two immature white tailed sea eagles to finish the day.
19/02/2003
We are in a spell of glorious weather and I had a short cycle up the coast yesterday. I had great views of two Golden Eagles chasing each other around the sky. One alighted on a small crag about 200 yards away and though I did not have my binoculars I could clearly see its golden head shining in the sun. We both enjoyed wonderful views out to sea.
18/02/2003
If you are visiting Mull around Easter you may see special yellow posters asking for vistors to be on the lookout for egg thieves. Please therefore keep a lookout for any suspicious behaviour and report this to the Oban Police: 01631 562213 or Salen Police on Mull: 01680 300322
15/02/2003
Clear blue skies and snow flecked peaks. 2 sea eagles sitting on a rocky islet. slavonian grebes,great northern divers and a male goosander. In one glen we had 2 golden eagles and 3 sea eagles,then superb views of a an otter rolling on his back. Another golden eagle sitting on a mountain top and 1 overhead. An otter and 2 adult seas. A very close immature golden eagle. Below our third highest mountain an eagle on prey being pestered by ravens, then a female hen harrier and another golden eagle!!!
10/02/2003
Horizontal wind and rain today and the Island was awash. But they tend to be good otter days!! and sure enough we saw otters on seven seperate territories, the last sighting being of a mum and cub. The weather cleared and the sun came out at 4pm and we had great views of three Golden Eagles pretty close and arguing about territory. Also 6 Barnacle Geese today.
08/02/2003
Mull is one of those moods when it does not need any wildlife sightings to make it magical. A couple of days ago the entire island and islands offshore were covered in snow. Today the snow is gone and we had a sunset to die for. Driving down the coast I saw two sea eagles sitting on the shore and sillhoueted by a fiery red sky.
01/02/2003
Mull was warm in the sun today and we had the sort of views of eagles that everyone hopes for. Two adult sea eagles were sitting on a small islet offshore and there are usually otters about when they do this. Also super views of a male amd female golden eagle coming head into wind and adjusting their wings tips to steer. Good view of a male merlin also today and another sea eagle coming over our cottage.
30/01/2003
Snow and lovely views today of the bird that started me birdwatching many years ago, the male Hen Harrier. Although he is not my favourite bird of prey I do think he is Britains most beautiful. A few hours later we saw a female gliding past our cottage. They are an excellent birdwatching bird of course, because they are so leisurely in their hunting technique
28/01/2003
I was not on an organised trip today but goodness me it was a great shot of a Peregrine Falcon sitting on top of a Gull as we turned the corner at Calgary Bay. Stormy seas and wind created a mood more like Lord of The Rings than Lord of The Rings!!
22/01/2003
We were out with some of our regular winter guests today and recorded 7 white tailed sea eagles, 6 golden eagles (2 of them talon grappling above us!), 1 slavonian grebe, 5 great northern divers, 1 male goosander, 1 sparrow hawk and 3 otters.
15/01/2003
The rain has finally arrived along with strong winds but it is still wonderfully atmospheric. Seen today, a very low golden eagle and in the evening more woodcocks, an otter crossing the road and my now daily barn owl. There have been a number of reports concerning dolphins and a couple of killer whales!!!!!!!!
12/01/2003
First rain for a long time today but it brought a Forsters tern into Oban harbour and lots of barnacle geese just down the road here. At least 8 tawny owls today, a barn owl, a lot of woodcocks and a superb male goosander which is not an easy bird here.
10/01/2003
Stunning sunrise and an equally awesome sunset today but that’s the Hebrides!! We saw all three members of the Diver family today, where are all these eco tourists to enjoy it at this time of year?
09/01/2003
I would like to welcome everyone to our new site. We will not be posting a daily list of species as it would be ridiculously long. I will therefore confine myself to more unusual wildlife moments here on Mull. As I sit here doing my first entry we have had weeks of glorious sunshine here in the Hebridean Islands and there is a very striking shot of a white tailed sea eagle sitting on a small headland about 200yards from the window of our cottage, where he often tracks the local otter.
Sightings from previous years
2008
2003
David Woodhouse
Isle of Mull Wildlife Expeditions
Ulva Ferry, Isle of Mull
Argyll, Scotland
Tel/Fax: 01688 500121
Mull Eco-Charter
