27/12/2006
These could be the best of days when you are somewhere remote, big and windswept, such as it was at Carsaig Bay today. Searching for tiny saphires and fossils with the sea crashing around
you and all of humanity it seems has gone away. How can anyone choose Meadowhall against such inspiring wild Hebridean Island moments ??? Isn't this life of ours about quality of habitat as well as shopping??
24/12/2006
Its a wonderful sunrise over Ben More today and we are expecting a lovely Christmas. Cracking views of sea eagles yesterday and evocative views of young otters on a small seaweed covered boulder as the sun was going down and behind
them a spangled golden sea. We had just seen mum a hundred meters along the shoreline. Magical is th word for thse islands on calm winter days. Have a super Christmas.
20/12/2006
No wildlife trips at the moment but it's all down to these fickle tourists who think its snowing here in winter.
Well I was just on the roof fixing a slate with five young sea eagles over my head. It's also mirror calm and beautiful in fact. Please take note of my National Park postings previously.
06/12/2006
Great weather and great day today with two seperate otter families and both species of eagle. All three divers also.
01/12/2006
Vital for the future of man and beast here, to say nothing of the islands themselves that we bring National Park status to the area.
All who agree must contribute no matter how little, to the consultation which finishes soon at www.infoscotland.com/seaviews
30/11/2006
We have just had people with us for a winter wildlife package.We also had a reporter from the Scotsman newspaper on the first trip out when we saw otters, sea eagles and just one exciting golden eagle that gave us a race across mountains.
Second trip I took them down to Knockvolagan which is a myriad of white sandy beaches and it was terrfic being just above the beaches with the shallow sea and wind whipping up small waves. I loved it and we saw top views of two goldies on the way back.
20/11/2006
No wildlife trips at the moment which is everyones loss!!! Today we had two sea eagles right over the house and one alighted with some sheep below the house.
Yesterday two golden eagles were really close at the end of our track as I put the wheelie bin out. Why does the Hebrides switch off in winter when its great here. I also hope all Mull fans are contributing to the National Park consultation?
10/11/2006
URGENT ! We must bring national park status to the Hebridean Islands as they have virtually no protection at all. People can hang glide around an eagles nest, water ski, wind surf, power boat, jet ski etc on an otters terrritory.
It is vital that we get this designation and if you agree go to www.scotland.gov.uk, to consultations, down the environment list to Marine park consultation and then to summary of questions. Thankyou.
09/11/2006
A beautiful and languid day in The Hebrides today and just 5 minutes down the coast we had a 'brief encounter' with two sea eagles sitting dramatically on a large boulder with a silver
sea behind them. One was standing on a shag or a cormorant before they both took off across the loch. Loch Buie was equally beautiful today with no one about. We saw an otter, a golden eagle and a few divers.
07/11/2006
Its confirmed winter is best! Sea eagle before we had got in the vehicle, buzzards, porpoise, otter and sitting sea eagle and then flying same place. Red deer, further sea eagle sitting,
great northern and red throated divers, little grebes, great otter with two peregrines flying and sitting above, slavonian grebes, both seal species and lots of more obvious wildlife. Top weather.
01/11/2006
Demand for trips is tailing away now though I am full today. Its a pity because you can have days like this with a clear sunrise no wind and
lots of optimism that we wil see plenty of things. Nature is taking over here of course as visitors melt back to suburbia and wild creatures have the island to themselves. Please note my posting recently concerning the possible national park.
29/10/2006
Of course you don't need to be on a wildlife trip to see interesting things here. On a juant to have a look off our most north westerly point we saw
two golden eagles sitting on a small hillock, two great northern divers offshore and a really close view of a male hen harrier and wonderful oceanic views looking northwest to Rhum and Skye.
23/10/2006
More mystical and beautiful weather here. All three divers today, two otters swimming and onshore but best of all as the weather truly cleared we had one godlen eagle sitting
on the skyline and on the adjoining territory two adults sitting and then flying. Missed dolphins very close to our house though this morning
20/10/2006
Really beautiful calm sunny day today and just on a trip to get some baby food for our new grandchild we saw a pink footed goose and two adult sea eagles on a rocky seaweed point
enjoying the sea views across to Ben More on Loch na Keal. Yesterday same area we had a young sea eagle sitting in tree 12 feet above my vehicle.
18/10/2006
Its been a great summer and today is no exception with mirror calm sea from the house,sunny,warm and windless. These are great days for scanning the ocean for cetaceans but unfortunately
I am doing paperwork today but we have still had some excellent trips lately. Yesterday was like today weather wise and we had top views of sea eagles sitting and flying. Check my previous posting please !!
12/10/2006
URGENT !! Currently the Hebridean Islands have virtually no environmental protection whatsoever and people can water ski, wind surf, jet ski, power boat for instance on an otters territory.
We have lobbied for a quarter of century for national park status. The government now agrees !Go to www.scotland.gov.uk and then 'consultations' and to the marine national park consultation and support our cause please.
11/10/2006
A hell of a weather forecast turned into a great day with six separate otters mainly in bad weather but as it cleared being in the right place at the right time helps.
We saw a golden eagle drooping his wings to dry off on a fence post with two sea eagles sitting nearby and as the weather cleared they were off for big fly around. More eagles on the way home.
05/10/2006
Very much a no golden eagle day with lots of rain and mist but we did see an otter passing by and marking its territory on a big boulder. Late
on we saw two of this years young sea eagles and 500m from the house very close views of three golden eagles. The latter was long term and spectacular views as the weather cleared.
01/10/2006
I have found that historically this is the best time of year for eagle and otter sightings and so it is proving with every trip now.
The light though and the elements are so spectacular also and the evening sunset here in the west is fabulous. I also saw a scoter on the way home which is an extra.
27/09/2006
Buckets of sightings lately and today it was difficult knowing which way to look with otters below us and sea eagles and golden eagles above.
This morning we have two adult eagles behind the house being chased by buzzards and ravens and the eagles are obviously after mountain hares and hopefully not our cat 'Cervil' !!
25/09/2006
Plenty of porpoise today plus manx shearwaters,red throated diver,sea eagle,greenshank, male and female hen harrier,golden eagle sitting on top of a mountain with one flying nearby.
Highlight again was probably mum and the two otter cubs who are now about twelve months old and still scrapping as youngsters do.
22/09/2006
I have had a problem with my diary postings but here I am back again. Most significant thing of late has been the very dodgy weather with some challenging days but we only need that
small window of weather during the day and frankly sightings have been numerous and spectacular at times and I have had a lot of happy customers.
16/09/2006
Probably the most important thing for me at the moment is how the weather is continuing to be really beautiful and we have woken again this morning to clear sky and no wind. Across the sea to Iona we can see the white sand beaches
shining and Ben More has the sun behind it and whispy cloud trickling off its peak looking as if it is still smouldering like some tropical volcano. Plenty of porpoise and eagles lately and very pleasant customers.
13/09/2006
One day is rolling into the next, so this is me trying to catch up. The forecast was rain later and so off to get golden eagles and we had good views as they displayed and interacted with young birds.The weather closed in and so it was otters for now !!
We covered a fair bit of coastline and then there he was near a seal colony. He took a fish to shore and we all saw him enjoying that in the telescope. The rain was vile into the evening but tomorrow is another day.
08/09/2006
Another top day with an osprey sitting by the shore. Report of a definite hobby in Glen Aros!Three golden eagles having a mighty argument and then a golden eagle and sea eagle sailing above our heads.
We had seen a female harrier earlier and last sighting of the day was a male otter eating a fish directly by us as I stopped to look around for him.
06/09/2006
Another big day today with an osprey catching a fish, trying to eat it but being chased off by a sea eagle.Female hen harrier,Greenland wheaters,whimbrel,dipper,family of otters,two
other golden eagles,further adult sea eagle carrying prey,golden plovers and dunlin.Two sea eagles sitting, red throated divers in summer plumage, red deer of course and seals and etc etc.
05/09/2006
Seriously wet day today and we got soaked watching a very close otter at the ferry point. Then lots of sightings peering through rain filled windows and soakings as we got in and out of the vehicle.
But a good ending on the way home as it cleared for a time and a sea eagle leaned into wind on top of a spindly lochside tree. Then a female hen harrier drifted closer and closer.
04/09/2006
Today was a top day, with dolphins on my way to collect people and then very close when we got back to the area.
Then two otters swimming to shore and another one curling up to have a nap. A sea eagle crossed the loch amd then we had another on the side of a tree. Further otter and dolphins on the way home and a sea eagle crossing to the mainland.
03/09/2006
Some typical trips at the moment but otters are a bit quiet. However it is all relative I suppose because I am so use to seeing them every day more or less.
The weather is more up and down now but in no way is it driving wind and rain as it can be at this time of year. In fact the sun is just coming out again acros the sea on Iona.
31/08/2006
We had a sighting of a young sea eagle eventually standing on a sheep carcass and eating away together with a number of ravens, but the best sighting was probably on my way home again
because there were two bottle nosed dolphins jumping offshore. We went two minutes up the road to small cliffs and there was a whole school of them which we watched into the evening.
29/08/2006
Everyone seemed thrilled by the day with two seperate otters, a golden eagle sitting on a mountain peak, two soaring young sea eagles and later two adults sitting.
We had a top view of a female hen harrier as she went across the road to then sit in the grass and on my way home a hunting sea eagle came incredibly close to me.
26/08/2006
Interesting views of a young sea eagle sitting on top of a small dead tree. Along came another youngster and pushed it off. Along came an adult who pushed that one off to join the other on the ground.
The first youngster was pretty cross about things and walked around with wings outstretched and made a racket.
22/08/2006
Having crossed a glen a sea eagle alighted on a conifer to give close views. A golden eagle circled with prey to then sit on a mountain top with his mate on the peak opposite.
A male otter scratched and cleaned himself about 50ft from where he was yesterday. Two young sea eagles were sitting around on a hillside. Almost home a Peregrine circled above me.
21/08/2006
Best sighting today I suppose was when we went onto a small outcrop to scan around for the male otter I have been seeing in that area.
I did not reckon on him being asleep with his chin across his paws and looking toward us only fifty feet away. In fact it was too obvious for me and it was one of my guests that spotted him first.
17/08/2006
Unusual sighting today of a Sunfish from shore. In fact only about 25 yards away I suppose. I have seen one once before here and coincidentally across the same loch from this one.
My first sighting of a Sunfish was from a boat in the Pacific when we were looking for Blue Whales and it is a mighty strange creature indeed.
17/08/2006
Very good weather continues here as do lots of varied eagle sightings. I would ike to stress again though that this is not Kenya where lions sit on the bonnet of the vehicle
and if you are just looking for something to do the trips are not really for you. Please also beg steal or borrow binoculars or just get use to using them if you are not as keen as some.
10/08/2006
Another big day today with top sightings of an otter eventually trotting below us into his holt. Dramatic sightings of sea eagles with one coming for perhaps 4 miles away to come over us.
Young golden eagle sitting on a crag showing his very white flares!! All three divers the other day by the way.
07/08/2006
Back to sea eagles, otters and golden eagles. Probably best sighting today was a sea eagle rising amid a cloud of crows on top of a mountain.
At any range the sea eagle is just so spectacular with their massive wings and their legs dropping early as they come into land. Nearly as warm as El Hierro today too.
06/08/2006
Back from a weeks holiday in El Hierro which is a lovely quiet island and a ferry from the teeming mass of life on Tenerife. Perhaps as big as Mull but we encountered not a single Brit on the entire island.
Spectacularly situated hotel. What is it about much of Europe compared with Britain? Is it just down to 'style'. Whatever it is we do not have it !!
25/07/2006
I am struggling to keep up with postings lately but yesterday was interesting. We had porpoises early on and eventually found an otter curling up on a small point. Within a couple of minutes there was an adult sea eagle gliding above a mountain ridge
and two golden eagles sailed over us with one landing on the hillside. We seem to have lost the minke whales from Grasspoint now.
20/07/2006
Minke whales again today off Grasspoint with porpoises. An adult golden eagle drifted over us to meet up with a very young eagle and a sea eagle
was sitting out on a rocky island. No otters today but it looked very good for them and it was a dreamy misty light today which was beautiful at Carsaig.
19/07/2006
Very hot and calm weather continues here and we also continue with sightings of Minke Whales from Grasspoint as they interract with mainly kittiwakes today.
Sightings of whales from shore are always exciting because this is pretty rare in the Britain. Sea and golden eagles also today.
17/07/2006
After yesterday this was a murky drizzly day which looked really good for otters but could I find one? Anyway it was a good day for something unusual and that was puffins from mull!!!
To see puffins you have to go to staffa or the treshnnish islands but there they were today bobbing just offshore on loch scridain. Unusual indeed !!
16/07/2006
Yes otters, sea eagles and golden eagles today but also minke whales associating with manx shearwaters and last sighting of the day an
osprey coming from the sea, over us and alighting on a tree.
15/07/2006
Terrific weather here and each trip we are getting good sightings of otters, sea eagles and golden eagles. Young sea eagles are now fledging from nests which is going to add to
the colour of each day and I don't mean this years bright yellow wing tags that they are all sporting!
08/07/2006
Another sluggish start today but then a cloud of ravens soaring up with two sea eagles. We found them again sitting on a mountainside and one sea eagle flew off with some prey. More views there
of the sea eagles mate and then a golden eagle flying and sitting on a craggy area to blend impossibly for one lady who just could not make it out even in the scope. Dramatic views I think then today of breeding sea eagles doing their thing.
07/07/2006
This began as one of my quietest days of the year and for two hours we saw little but then it all kicked off with very close views of three otters. So close we could count their whiskers! Then a Sea eagle being chased by a
buzzard. Then two golden eagles one eventually sitting on a hillside to give good views. Finally six adult sea eagles together and interracting.
06/07/2006
Lots of eagle sightings today with the highlight one of last years young flying over us and alighting on a craggy mountainside. I need to check where he comes from via his red wing tag!!
Golden eagles that have not been rearing young this year are also showing again on their territories and this means more eagle options for me as they do very little indeed when they are not breeding.
04/07/2006
A hazy day today that promised much but yes we saw sea eagles and two otters basking on a small island but I felt we would see more. However the evening was excellent with at least two
Minke whales seen from our house. There were also lots of shearwaters with them and this gave pointers as to where the whales were.
30/06/2006
Too many big sightings to count lately but todays was the best of the year so far !!! We had seen the two sea eagles sitting and then soaring over Lochdon when I spotted an osprey up with them but some distance off.
Round the loch we went to see the sea eagle being seen off and eventually after about an hour the osprey caught a fish, it rose above us to be then attacked by a sea eagle which caught the ospreys fish in mid air as it let go of it above us.
28/06/2006
No otters today but we looked hard. The sea eagles were dramatic sitting across the bay on a headland and then flying off.
But golden eagles delivered again as one raced across a hillside pursued by a raven. A female hen harrier also came across an estuary upsetting the gulls.
27/06/2006
More fabulous weather here with very calm seas also. Otters, sea eagles and golden eagles were where they should be today !!! Top view of a male hen harrier circling ahead of us and a nice group of customers to add to the day. Countryfile are up
here doing a piece on the possible marine national park and I hope to say a few words today on this. I am a big fan of this stamp of quality for these islands and if you agree send a letter of support to the Editor, Oban Times, Oban, Argyll.
27/06/2006
I was taken by the two male scoters sitting close inshore today but I suppose for everyone else it was the two sea eagles and one sitting with his prey.
The godlen eagles displaying above us and the male otter rolling around on a tiny islet. OH and getting on Countryfile !!
25/06/2006
I have missed a couple of postings lately but thats because I have been intoxicated and distracted by this wonderful weather that we are enjoying.
Tonight the entire area was red from top to toe. The sea the islands and our highest mountain. This is the most beautiful place in the world.
20/06/2006
A vile and desperately wet day today and so I was off to try and find a golden eagle before the serious rain and it was a dramatic, windswept and sweeping sighting, and then it rained !!
I probably also had the best sightings of the year of a family of otters that were very close, visible and highly active, maybe even excited by the wild weather.
19/06/2006
A real cross section of different sea eagle sightings today. The golden eagle was spectacular as it came from a distant ridge pursued by ravens to then glide over us.
Mum and her otter cub were initially offshore but they came onshore for a moment but I think the male was a bit more exciting further up the loch as we caught him drifting inshore and he then stood on top of a small rock to pose just like an otter!!!
17/06/2006
We are in mizzly murky weather right now having had lots of sun and no rain. Golden eagles do not like this but good views of sea eagles continue, black throated diver, guillemots and razorbills.
Whinchats, wheatears, stonechats, reed bunting, twite and we are hearing corncrake. Two separate otters yesterday, lots of orchids, palmate newts, deer of course and seals.
10/06/2006
There are views and top views and interesting views of our top species and the two eagles gave very interesting ones tday. We had seen a sea eagle earlier but one carrying prey and alighting on the hillside was pretty interesting
as it was hot and sunny and its bill was wide open and wings outstretched as it rested with its prey for a time on the hillside. The godlen eagle came sliding over a hill mobbed by at least 20 crows. Two more sea eagles rushed out to sea and back.
07/06/2006
The wildlife jigsaw of golden eagle, sea eagle and otter slotted perfectly into place today, though we did not get yesterdays good view of male hen harrier nor the porpoise.
I am always pretty surprised that anyone could visit wild Scotland and not have a pair of binoculars around their neck and today was no exception. Bring binoculars !!
05/06/2006
Across the sea from the house was like a mystical dream today with strange cloud and sun formations on the mountains and reflecting on a mirror calm sea.
It was no surprise within ten minutes to get a ring of bright water and then the otter climbing onto the shore and standing in the shallows with this wonderful backdrop. A top day today with lots of sightings.
02/06/2006
Summer warmth at last here. Hen harriers are hard to find but otters, sea eagles and golden eagles are givng their usual excellent sightings.
We still have the odd summer plumaged great northern diver around the island and saw one yesterday. Ospreys seen by others as were the two fin whales off the west of Coll!! Basking sharks also.
31/05/2006
It has been the strangest May with very cold weather and unusualy strong winds. This has impacted on all of the smaller insect eating birds but the bigger birds of prey
have ajdusted but nested in some unusual places probably to escape the cold winds. Otters are as usual one of our main species and with plenty of young it seems. Please do try and bring binoculars if you are on the trips !!
25/05/2006
Good views of sea eagles today and a golden eagle carrying prey that eventually sat like monarch of the glen on top of a high mountain. The otter was a mere glimpse orginally as it rolled through the seaweed but I felt there was
a good chance it would climb onto a flat rocky area and sure enough there it was with its long tail and high back end wandering around the rock looking just like an otter should. Off it then went across the bay to two cubs.
24/05/2006
Tough very cold windy day today but Mull invariably has something up its sleeve and we did get a really unusual view of an otter as we watched and followed it from above as it dived beneath the sea.
22/05/2006
Another sunny day today but cold and windy. Up came a sea eagle under Ben Taladh which then landed near some sheep. Ten minutes later there was another one overhead which also landed a little bit nearer the sheep. Then another one
was circling which then drew the sitting birds up to circle to about 3,000 ft and drift off windward. Ten minutes later after the palmate newts!! we had two golden eagles really close and doing what eagles do best to look very very good.
20/05/2006
Fabulous and dramatic sighting of two golden eagles today as they drfted along the peaks of Glen More to eventually come tearing back to sweep up and land on a ledge.
We waited for what seemed an age to see my favourite sea eagles when up she came flashing here white tail against the forest and then land on a hill top to eat something.
19/05/2006
Today was about mum and her two cubs which gave really close views for some time as they came across the loch calling and then wandering
around on the shore below us while we had lunch. Yes golden eagles and sea eagles but the otters stole the show today.
16/05/2006
A misty murky day where the windows of opportunity were going to be vital.However otters were easier in the still grey conditions and a female with two cubs duly gave good views as did one on the way out with a sea eagles also.
After a long wait and an interesting light sparrowhawk the sea eagle appeared along the forest tops. Two golden eagles with one carrying prey also found that dry moment.
13/05/2006
Many of my friends will know that I have lobbied for a Hebridean Islands National Park for around 26 years now and the Scottish Executive now say that they favour this and want comments. Every single letter and comment of support for this
would be welcomed idealy via a letter to The Editor, The Oban Times, Oban. Argyll. Thankyou.
11/05/2006
Many mad keen to see an otter today and so I was really pleased when we got Mum and two cubs. Brilliant views of two golden eagles close plus a late afternoon sea eagle with help from my
friend on the road Gerald Seymour, top thriller writer !!! Not name dropping of course !! Could everyone please note that mine are not photographic days out!!
08/05/2006
Three male hen harriers and a female today, one was very close. A very good view of golden eagle. Around 9 sea eagles with the last one
being only perhaps 50m away and gliding along a shingle coastline to rise up into the hills eventually. A good day but no otters!!
07/05/2006
Impossible to keep up with my diary postings lately but today was another big day with a very good view of an otter catching and eating a lumpsucker. Sea eagles perching and then flying over us pursued by ravens. Porpoise seen from
sea cliffs and then a very close view of a golden eagle coming over our heads and glidng around a hillside. Another really good view of an otter and various divers and smaller birds such as whinchat, wheater, redpoll etc.
02/05/2006
Wettest and toughest trip of the year today with incessant driving wind and rain, but there is always that magical moment on Mull even on bad days as we watched an otter playing in the shallows looking like a
black white photograph with white sea and black silhouette as he went on the rocks and rolled around on a wild wild wild day.
01/05/2006
Good weather and an early sighting of a male otter catching fish and bringing crabs up onto the rocks with gulls standing by. Three young golden eagles interracting, a peregrine sitting, possible
young sea eagle went past me by the time I could identify it and latterly a lizard after we had watched a family of four otters.
30/04/2006
Lots of top sightings lately including a golden eagle right over our heads having first watched him sitting in a tree. Today.. divers, cuckoo,whinchat,wheater,otter and two cubs
close,two sea eagles,4 golden eagles, two seperate peregrines,goosanders,mergansers,snipe,male and female hen harrier,porpoise,black guillemot,razorbills and etc etc.
21/04/2006
Another lot of satisfied customers today with sparrowhawk chasing a common sandpiper only just arrived from Africa down into the water. Very close otter below us. Golden eagle sitting on the skyline which then flew across our glen.
Lots of smaller birds today including twite, stonechats, wheatears,willow warbler,skylark, rock and meadow pipits and two separate young golden eagles.
20/04/2006
A big sightings day today with peregrine falcon sitting in the sun. Close views of a young goldie being chased off by an adult. The resident adult white tailed sea eagle came close to check on things and then a distand view of a male otter
basking in the sun on his back with his legs and paws out like a bear but he then came very close to us as we froze like statues 25 yards away.
19/04/2006
Not my usual route today as we went north up the west coast which has wonderful island and ocean views and reckoned to be the most spectacular coastal run in Europe. Nothing major caught our
eye until we entered an inland glen where I thought I saw a sea eagle on prey. It turned out to be a young golden eagle dragging his prey and eventualy he landed on a fence post to give good views in the scope.
17/04/2006
A typical day to start I suppose with an otter, golden eagle, sea eagle. Later we watched another sea eagle dropping his talons and landing behind a mountain. Good chance I could find him on the ground!! Sure enough there he
was sitting on the hillside and after 10 minutes he was off to be dive bombed and talon grappled from on high by a golden eagle and chased almost to the ground. Off he went to leave the two adult goldies soaring and chuffed with their success.
16/04/2006
A male hen harrier just went along our decking and over the grassland. Yesterday we saw Frisa the TV sea eagle, a golden eagle carrying prey in the same area, otters giving
a big view as we looked down on a family of three. Golden eagle sitting, Divers of course, Peregrine falcon sitting and then another three otters across a loch going in and out of the water and the two cubs fighting.
14/04/2006
Pretty wild cold weather lately and tough to spot things but yesterday was worth the wait as a golden eagle slid off the top of a mountian and out across his territory.
The other day his big female mate was chasing an adult sea eagle off. My last otter sighting was also wild as they played on a surf batterd islet with gulls excited above them.
09/04/2006
Terrific sighting of a sea eagle as the weather cleared brilliantly and we were in just the right place. There it was fifty feet over our heads and being chased along by buzzards. A really memorable moment for the people with me I would think.
06/04/2006
Lots of eagle sightings in the last few days with birds close and also distant, sitting and ineterracting with other birds etc. Delightful view of a family of three otters napping in a little 'pile' on top of an islet. Good in the scope!
Best moment was perhaps yesterday when I opened our main door and an adult white tailed sea eagle glid right over me and away across our land to the hills behind. Also male hen harrier admiring our decking!!!
03/04/2006
We waited a long time for a good golden eagle sighting but looking out to Mull's finest sea view there they were, two adult golden eagles sliding along a ridge across the mountain road and within maybe 50 yards of us.
Sea eagle early in the day with two goldies but no otters until I returned home past the same territory we had checked and there he was rolling around as if to say 'up yours David'.
02/04/2006
A number of golden eagles today and a sea eagle driving windward pursued by calling ravens. A good dramatic view!!
Best of all though, apart from the coastal walk, was the summer plumaged black throated diver, which is of course Britains most handsome bird!
30/03/2006
Pretty good weather I think with numerous eagles today including all three Glen More golden eagle territories up and about. The two adult sea eagles were well worth the patience as they soared around and eventually landed.
We had an otter going under a small hump backed bridge and wandering down stream catching fish as it went. But all in all an excellent eagle day on Mull.
28/03/2006
Back to serious wildlife as my season gets underway in earnest. A wintry day today with frequent icy showers but mum and her cub were two close otter sightings.
Two sea eagles drifted above a forest with one coming over us and later in the day two golden eagles angry about a sea eagle coming through their territory.
19/03/2006
Loading my vehicle for the trip today I thought, is it a tourist, a red deer, or a sea eagle sitting on the hill behind the house and sure enough it was an adult sea eagle. Otters, more sea eagles, golden eagle and what I would only call
'romantic' views of two short eared owls drifting amid snowy patches and golden hills on the highest road on the island. The Hebrides is the most beautiful place on earth, but keep it quiet.
17/03/2006
Another clear sunny day with snow on the mountains, a huge star filled sky tonight and a barn owl.
17/03/2006
Beautiful sunny and calm weather here for a few days now and will continue into next week I think. Anyone wanting to see Scottish Wildlife should check for a forecast of easterly winds and come to the Hebrides!!
There are excellent fly drive deals and it seems you should hire your car from Arnold Clarke Scotland.
14/03/2006
Today it's a bit like Sardinia in May!!Yesterday was like Greenland in mid December with driving sleet and rain. The sea was foaming and across the sea all the sea cliffs and mountains are covered in snow. Very very wild!! So birds of
prey were tough but we still saw male and female hen harrier two or three otters and best of all my first short eared owl of the season in Glen More.
07/03/2006
A day for the pessimist with rain and mist but we had a young lady up from English Heritage in the Midlands hoping to see an otter. We had two seperate ones and then a delightful group of mum and two cubs and so she went home very happy.
A golden eagle sat on the side of a crag as the mist swirled around it and two young sea eagles on the way home, one of which had not been seen since it fledged last summer.
01/03/2006
11 people saw Mull at its scenic best today with snow everywhere and clear blue skies between the odd snow shower. We saw the otter they all wanted to see and a number of golden eagles with a young sea eagle latterly. But the drive back was even
better with flat seas another otter and wonderful sunset and light across the sea and pink peaks of snow.
28/02/2006
More beautiful weather again today but now with an odd light snow flurry, which adds to the scene of course. 11 people on a trip tomorrow out of the blue.
Is there some birding convention on or something!
27/02/2006
It was awesome here on the west coast yesterday with red hills and snow capped peaks. We have had around two weeks now of sunshine and clear skies
but today we have the odd shower but the rain is welcome and washes you car of course! Could all of my friends check the website of Scottish Natural Heritage and the national park debate. More tomorrow on this.
22/02/2006
Another glorious day with around 20 eagles in total but I stopped counting. four seperate otters, slavonian grebes. pink footed and white fronted geese.
On the 23rd I saw porpoise on the way to the ferry and a red kite in Perthshire where I was attending a housing meeting on behalf our community trust. Perthshire is pretty nice.
21/02/2006
Another fabulous fabulous day here. Lapwings are now showing over the grasslands and there are some waders about. All the grsses outside the windows are golden and dry looking. It's hard to concentrate on paperwork with the sun flooding in.
20/02/2006
Out the window is like being moored on a summers day in some Norwegian fjord with Ben More kissed with snow, a clear sky, sparkling sea and pleasantly warm.
Anyone thinking of coming to western Scotland do check the good fly drive deals.
18/02/2006
Fabulous sunny day yesterday and same today with Ben More out the window topped with icing sugar and a light cloud around the peak otherwise clear sky and the odd cloud.
Winter is best and it seems we have about a week of this.
16/02/2006
A wet windy and misty vile day today!! But its an art form when we can still get sea eagles, four otters, a young golden eagle and almost home a close view
of an adult golden eagle chasing a young bird directly over us as the sun and rain looked good miles out to sea over Iona.
14/02/2006
A good day beckoned with grey skies and odd showers. First off was three young sea eagles all from last years nests I think. Then two otters wandering around on a shingle spit and going back to the sea.
Another sea eagle sitting halfway up a Conifer and two more separate otters. Golden eagles overhead and finally a female hen harrier.
12/02/2006
Another murky but hauntingly calm day and perfect of course for spotting otters and so the big male on Loch Scridain was no surprise.
11/02/2006
Wet weather but lots of eagle sightings in one shape or another today. Plenty of divers also but that is very normal in winter here.
03/02/2006
Another lovely calm day again and out of my window right now there is a big ball of a red sun hanging over the tip of the Isle of Ulva.
02/02/2006
Big big sightings of two seperate pairs of golden eagles in sunshine in the mountains. Two met up and were mating. Just as evocative was an otter, a lot of rings of bright water and in the calm sea thousands of bubbles as it breathed below the surface.
Also all three members of the diver family various waders including knot and greenshank, porpoise but no sea eagles today. Did it matter!!
01/02/2006
More calm dry weather and I think the highlight of today was a walk along the coast at Loch Buie in the hope of finding the otters there. After an hour I saw them about 800m away, so off we went
and eventually we were very close as they groomed each other and caught fish with the cub occasionally calling for mum. A terrific wild place with a wonderful sighting of mum and her cub and no one else for miles and miles.
30/01/2006
Beautiful weather again with no one about but about six sea eagles in rapid succession. Two landed yelping among gulls but the most interesting was a confident last years youngster
who was mum and dads first! It seems he has been to Ireland and there he was sailing over our heads to land on the hillside behind. Also female otter with two cubs and a big conger eel for lunch.
29/01/2006
Beautiful sunny weather here again.
27/01/2006
In case some people have not seen it, there is an excellent wildlife film about Mull repeated on BBC2 this Sunday.
25/01/2006
Absolutely beautiful day here today and it seems we are in for at least a week of it!! I have been seeing hen harriers around here a lot lately and it was the same last year.
My friend from the RSPB was round here yesterday and reminded me that we had over 50 breeding pairs, which is little known of course mainly because the sea eagles get the press.
21/01/2006
We have had couple of people on our winter wildlife package and the weather was challenging but I had two spectacular spots!! One was a sea eagle sitting above a sheep on small outcrop.
The other was a golden eagle doing similar in the mountains. Both eagles eventually flew to give good views. Otter also today.
18/01/2006
A very wet day today but we still saw otters, divers, a sea eagle on a misty shoreline but as the rain lifted slightly I saw two sea eagles sitting on a little island a mile away
so off we went through the forest and along the coast There they were looking very close in the scope directly below us when off went the male leaving her flashing here bright yellow eyes around. Great!
17/01/2006
Trip at last tomorrow but sometimes I wonder whether the wildlife is watching us in here because a male hen harrier virtually brushed our big lounge window the other day as it drifted ghostly by.
13/01/2006
Quiet on the trips at the moment and unfortunately two keen people could not get off their own island south of Oban to get the ferry to Mull because of windy weather today.
But the light has been amazing all day today with dark grey sky above the islands and a beam of silver light blazing onto the island of Inch Kenneth which is about a mile offshore
09/01/2006
I have been waiting for my website designer to put me 2006 on the diary site and so here goes with what I hope is another super year.
Had a a large family group with me the other day and we saw numerous eagles and otters and so that means a lot! In fact we had a I think 8 sea eagles together at one time. Its been very dry here but colder now.
Sightings from previous years
2008
2006
David Woodhouse
Isle of Mull Wildlife Expeditions
Ulva Ferry, Isle of Mull
Argyll, Scotland
Tel/Fax: 01688 500121
Mull Eco-Charter
