The Good and The Bad.

The Good - 5 Golden Eagle sightings with two together flying fairly close overhead.  the Bad - Ventured to Iona again as we knew the sun was shining and we love it there and also decided that today would be a good day for a Corncrake to turn up.  However we didn't manage to see or hear one but read when we got back to the cottage that one had been heard today!!

Also great to watch a male Hen Harrier dipping and diving high in the blue sky and also 2 Gannets diving into the sea off Iona with a couple of Razorbill and a Guillemot to keep them company.

The Harrier photos are not too clear as the bird was so high in the sky but the contrast with the blue sky was remarkable.

Good to see a flock of 14 Turnstone at Pennyghael village.

A wren was shouting at us on Iona, presumably we were somewhere near it's nest.

Another stunning day on Mull.

Greenshank and Common Sandpiper

Another good day on Mull, wish the temperature outside of the car was as hot as inside the car was showing even though it was a very pleasant day out of the slight breeze.

Watched Sea Eagle and Golden Eagles soaring high in the sky today.  Lots of Slavs around too, more than we have seen before at this time of the year.  There seemed to be lots of Swallows around from the word go today even at the cottage and we got our first Common Sandpiper today together with a Greenshank which is always good to see.  Red Throated Divers also today along with lots more Great Northern but none to match the bird we saw yesterday.

Crossbills high in the confiers feeding on the cones and Twite again with lots of Willow Warbler which seemed to turn up over night. Tree Pipit also seen and heard at Loch Ba together with Redpoll and Siskin.
Finished the day off with two Short Eared Owl and a female Hen Harrier but too distant for any decent photos.

Temperature inside the car.

Loch Scridain

Crossbill

Wheatear

Shag

Slavonian Grebe

White Tailed Sea Eagle

Common Lizard

Wondermull

What a wonderful time we are having on Mull, the weather was great yesterday and the views stunning. The wildlife has been brilliant with plenty of goodies seen and still plenty more to search out. Fantastic views of Golden Eagle, summer plumage Great Northern Diver, Twite, Buzzard and a family of 3 Otter. The sunset finished off the day in style. 

(Also watched the ISS overhead last night).........................Brilliant!

Great Northern Diver

Twite

Otter

Buzzard

20 Whooper Swan

Loch Na Keal Sunset

Wet and wonderful

The weather showed its mean side today with plenty of torrential rain and wind. This gave us the opportunity to visit Tobermory for an hour during the morning. The afternoon came and we decided to have a drive through the wilderness to Pennygael. This gave us Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, GN Diver, Stonechat and plenty of Red Deer. 

Mull doesn't dissapoint. 

 A cracking male Hen Harrier

 Sparrowhawk

 Red Deer

Curlew

The Road to Mull

Set off on our road trip to Mull on Saturday morning, an excellent drive up. 

Quickly unpacked our gear on arrival and a visit to the local Spar shop for provisions ............then off we go.

 Glen Coe ......on our way!

After 25 years of travelling to Mull the beauty of Scotland never ceases to amaze me.

The Fallow Deer were very obliging at Knock and stopped to pose for us.

A Great Northern Diver at Loch Na Keal

The WTSE was sat near to the nest site.

A distant Slavonian Grebe.

Good to see the Hare also

Back on the Moors.

Good to see the birds returning to the moors as the weather starts to improve. Have attached pictures of some of the birds we have seen over the last few days. Looking forward to the next wave of summer migrants to arrive back on the North Yorkshire Moors.

 Ring Ouzel 

 Wheatear

Snipe 

Curlew

 Red Grouse

 Lapwing

 Brambling

 Lesser Redpoll

 Chaffinch

 Siskin

Blue Tit