Mull day 3 or the best of grey days

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Saturday turned out to be a bit overcast but that doesn't stop the two intrepid birders. Once again we headed off along our patch south of Salen but this time we were on a mission further a field. This didn't stop us taking a few of the locals along the way.

The ever present White Tailed Eagle

White tailed Eagle and Buzzard

White Tailed Eagle and two Buzzards

Kestrel and Buzzard

Shelduck

Arctic Tern

Thrush

One of the birds on my list for a good shot was the humble Hooded Crow. I do like them but they were strangely difficult to get. This is as good as I got.

Raven on the prowl

Our mission for the day? It was a Corncrake (or two). Lee was keen and I was all for it. We headed to Fionnphort for the ferry to Iona. The hunt was on.

A plaintive Hooded Crow waiting for us at the port on Iona

Lee had done a bit of research as to the best spots. To the back of the church was recommended so we headed that way. It's a bit odd because in my mind I was seeing windswept moors with not a sole in sight. You know, where elusive rare wildlife is usually situated. I wasn't expecting to be rubbing shoulders with your average Japanese tourist while scanning a small patch of grass in a field fifty feet away. No sign of a small brown bird wandering through the blades. Lee suggested another spot. Behind the fire station. Well as you can imagine a fire station on an island the size of your average small village is not going to be too obvious. Eventually we found a red landrover next to a house. We scanned again but still no look. What to do! Well what better than to have a bit of a walk out of town. So we did. All the way along passed most houses and the fields with sheep in and the little red boat called the.... 

Lee had stopped for some other little non Corncrake brown birds but I soldiered on around the bend and up the hill a little to a small rocky mound. There was a small patch of long grass in the field which looked promising. The only problem I saw was the horses, sheep and chickens also in the field. Logic told me that a Corncrake wouldn't want to mix with that lot of potential flattening, pecking, nibbling foes. Then I heard it. I'd never heard one before but had read tales of birders with combs calling to each other. I was surprised at how loud they were. There were two in the field. I scanned and scanned and scanned with eagle eyes. This resulted in grass, grass, chickens arse, grass, sheets arse, grass, grass, chickens arse, horses knee, grass, grass, chickens arse etc etc. The rain was coming down and the light getting dark I was getting desperate. Then I saw it. Brown and moving through the grass. It was a long way away. Undetered and with rain obscuring the vision I raised the glass and shot away. Was it? Was the trip worth it for a real time lifer? Had we started at 3am driven 500+ miles got two ferries and risked the wind and rain for this??

Erm nope. A Thrush looking for worms.

The tea was nice in the little cafe as we peared out through the grey rain waiting for the ferry.

Your average high street on Mull

But this was Mull and it never failed to deliver. On the way back we passed the SEO spot and the guys in the smashed van had given up, left it empty and found some digs. Lee was determined to get a Hen Harrier and I was all for it. As we drove back he spotted one. We stopped and got the gear out. The great thing about a small island is you know there is little chance of crime. We actually wandered off out of sight of the car for a while with it un locked with the boot open! I wasn't worried in the least. Anyway we crouched and looked. A female was going back and forth hunting by a small lake. Up on the raised roadside bank we managed to get some half decent shots

Female ringtail hunting

Finally we got him! A beautiful male Hen Harrier, probably the mate was doing the same. He to was hunting and came passed with a kill. Yes they are crap pics but I don't care. It's a big tick for me and a lifer. Brilliant.

Male Hen Harrier with prey

The EFRS often get grey days but they often turn out the best and this was no exception. No we didn't see a Corncrake but boy did the Male Hen Harrier make up for it! An absolutely stunning bird. A ghostly grey white vision passing low across the hills. Amazing. What a shame those that purport to care about the country side see fit to kill anything they don't agree with that passes 'their' countryside!

Final part in a few days and what a finale that is. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss a thing.

Mull day 2 or Shut that door!

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It was day two. Our first full day on the island. We had a hearty breakfast provided by a burly ex geologist from Stoke! Funny but there seems to be rather a lot of English people on the island. Most of the people in the shops, pubs even petrol stations are from down south, a long way down south. But we digress and you want to hear about the day. We set off south again in search of some more big birds. But first heres one you weren't expecting....

Grey Heron in a tree

Common Gull (I became rather fond of these.)

We drove passed the three Lochs car park and the poor guys in the bashed transit had spent the night there. It was Friday so they should be able to sort out a pick up today...... surely!

We stopped for a mo at the junction for the B8035 along the A849. Or at the head of Loch Beg. A nice little spot where Highland Cattle and Snipe and Whinchats mixed quit merely

Whinchat on a rock behind a bush

Highland Cow

We carried along around the Lochs stopping occasionally as either Lee spotted an interesting bird or I spotted a potential landscape shot. If you want to see the results pop over to HERE at manualfocusuk.com for my first efforts. One of the tick lists for me was an Eider. The EFRS have a soft spot for these. Very attractive and large duck as they are they have a very odd call. For those of a certain age they are the Larry Grasson of the bird world with a very camp sounding 'Oooohh' for a call. For those not familial imagine your aunty or granny doing it. We love em! I was well chuffed to get a pair in the actual wild.

But first another Grey Heron.

Female Eider Duck

Male Eider Duck

Male showing off his green. Very nice green it is to.

Ah the ever present Oyster Catcher

Then Lee spotted a really cool bird. A Great Northern Diver. Never seen one before and what a very nice bird it is to. I like that almost pixilated pattern on its wings. Very nice.

While we were by the Loch this female Mallard flew round and promptly landed in a puddle in the rocks the size of your kitchen sink! I managed to get an excellent shot. Why the hell can't this have been a Golden Eagle or something!!

Further along we stopped in a small lay-bye. This is a common thing to see. A couple of people with bins/scopes/cameras standing next to a car in a lay-bye looking at something in the distance. It's usually the cue for someone driving along to stop and have a chat. Just that happened. A guy we had met previously pulled up and told us a good spot to see Hen Harriers. While chatting he asked with a smile if we had met 'Captain Gobshyte' yet. We laughed as we knew exactly who he meant. If you don't have a read of THIS.

After he left a small fast bird flew passed chasing an even smaller little brown thing. We both guessed as to what it was. A Merlin. I've only seen one briefly before on Start but they are so distinctive in flight there is little mistaking them. By the time I managed a shot it was well away so this is as good as it got. 

It was at another lay-bye when we had a bit of a disagreement. You see I was watching a Buzzard and Kestrel while Lee was watching a Golden eagle. Well I think I was watching a Buzzard. 

I've tried to convince myself this is a Golden eagle but I don't think it is.

Greater Black backed Gull

This is definitely a Buzzard

Both Lee and I were keen to spot the one bird we had really come for. A Hen Harrier. Lee was constantly reassuring me that we will see dozens of them everywhere and get really good pics. I waited in eager anticipation. I didn't have to wait too long. Lee as always spotted our target. A female Ringtail wandering along up high. Typically this day saw the weather break a bit with plenty of clouds to darken things. We even had a few brief showers. We stopped and wandered up and down the road. My car was not only unlocked but the boot was wide open as we walked out of sight. I couldn't care less. We were on Mull after all. I managed a few record shots but the thrill of seeing my first was amazing. Thanks Lee

Ring tail over head

The classic silhouette

Lee eagerly spotting the Hen harriers

We were only half way through the day and ticked a few nice ones off already. We drove back along the coastline. Ever since we'd been there we were waiting for our first Otters. They came all at once. 

Probably a family of three making their way along the coast. Annoyingly they never had all their heads out at any one time.

Another Oyster catcher

Young Common Gull

Rock Pipet on a rock

Can't leave out a nice Pied Wagtail

A splendid Common Gull. Nice wind tip pattern

How :Lee managed to spot these I don't know but spot them he did. An adult and Juvenile White Tailed Eagles sitting on a small island in the straights. They stayed for quite a while calling and moving around. There was an Otter on the other side which may have spooked them. 

Another Great Northern Diver showing it's wings well

We moved on a little to the head of the water and stopped by a group of other birders yep you guested it, standing by cars with binoculars and cameras looking at something distant.

Lee having a scout about

And as we stood wondering what was about guess who flew passed. The pair of Eagles from the island. 

First probably Mother

Then Junior

How cool is that! Brilliant day with loads of stuff. We agreed that you don't have to go anywhere special just stop for five mins and something will come along.

Like this Common Sandpiper for example

Or yet another Common Gull

Getting boring is it?

Common Sandpiper again

I mean Wow! Mull is great. When we shut that door to the day we were well buzzing with hits on the list. Day three will be in a few days so watch this space and thanks for reading.