Saturday, 27 June 2015

Another Mull Trip

With the weather forecast 'iffy' for the rest of the week, we travelled up to Oban by bus first thing on Monday (22nd) morning, boarded the 10am ferry and arrived on Mull at c10.45am.

We walked to the Lochdon area and spent a good few hours there before returning via the woodland and paths around Torosay Castle. We caught the 5pm ferry and were back in our house by c9.30pm having seen just over 50 birds.

The highlights included White-tailed Eagle; a stunning male Hen Harrier (seen twice); Short-eared Owl (a year tick); and most surprisingly a dark phase Pomarine Skua (from the ferry).

I got rather 'close' to a Red Deer and five Spotted Flycatchers were a pleasing sight as were the Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. All-in-all a great way to spend a Monday!


Red Deer - Mull - 22 June 2015
 
Short-eared owl - Mull - 22 June 2015
 

Torosay Castle Woodland - Mull - 22 June 2015
 
 On Tuesday night I was speaking at the West End Festival and am pleased to report at least 52 people attended. The talk appears to have gone down well, with the audience making a generous donation to the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves - see https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves/posts/460753637434110

Since then I have popped into Bingham's Pond a few times to keep an eye on the breeding birds - only 3 cygnets, a few broods of Mallard (one duckling succumbing to a Lesser Black-backed Gull) and 2 young Coot and one young Moorhen.




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