Saturday 30 July 2016

Recent visit to Mull 24th July.

July is not the best time of year to visit Mull but can still find all you want to see but may have to try a little harder.
We always manage to find something of interest down by the bay at the airstrip.  This visit was the daily sightings of a Short Eared Owl.  Whilst scanning the bay one morning we found about 12 Dunlin with what we can only assume was some type of Phalarope but the weather was not good and too distant to know exactly what. 
Not our best pictures but just enjoyed mooching around this holiday.
Great day around by Gribun Rocks watching an otter in the sea, Golden Eagles, WTSE, Peregrines and Ravens.  Then a flock of Twite down by the farm and views of the islands to die for.
 
 Scarisdale Rocks, always otters.


 Watch out for WTSE along Duart Road
 

 So many Hen Harriers and an Osprey whilst watching moors out of Loch Don.
 


 

It would be interesting to know how long this Pink Foot had been along the shore of Loch Na Keal.
 

Scotch Argus just starting to appear.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

22/7/16 A Trip to Cumbria

Had a quick trip over to Cumbria today - First stop was Warton Crag to see the Peregrine which was very distant and only sat grooming itself. Then on to Gatebarrows Reserve where the butterflies were in short supply , could only manage Purple Hairstreak, Gatekeeper and Grayling none of the rarer butterflies were to be found!!
 
Peregrine
 Gatekeeper
 Grayling

Purple Hairstreak
 Warton Crag
 

Tuesday 26 July 2016

21/7/16 Marbled White and other bits.

Had a trip around the local area and located Marbled White to add to this years list.
Med Gull in Hartlepool and Little Owl in County Durham
 


 
Sanderling
Med Gull
 Little Owl

 
 

16/7/16 White letter and Dark Green

Went to our White-letter Hairstreak area close to home and after a little bit of searching found several around the tree tops and one at floor level feeding. Went over the moors and located several Dark Green Fritillaries near Hawnby.
 



 



 
Hawnby
Black Swan at Thirsk