The Isle of Mull, PART 2

The next day we took a narrow road (they all are) following a river and across moorland to a village called Delvaig seeing a few stonechats, curlews, lapwings, cuckoos, lots of swallows (heaps of them across the island) and one dipper flying down the river. Delvaig is by one of the sea lochs but has a reedbed just inland which held a couple of sedge warblers. Met one chap who said he heard a reed warbler, not much else but on the 'creek' 8 goosanders, a couple of mergansers, curlews and common gulls nesting, no black-headed's seen during the week.

DELVAIG REEDBED, ONLY SAW A COUPLE OF SEDGE WARBLERS

Drove the eight miles to Tobermory for a look around and lunch, busy with tourists but plenty of room, no parking charges!  Just a few shops that seemed to sell everything.

Later we went back to the eagle site at Loch Na Keal, this time on the other side where the sea eagles are, several people there at the viewing spot. Also saw 6 arctic terns, great northern divers and a few shags.

     BLUEBELLS IN FLOWER EVERYWHERE - THE SOUND BETWEEN MULL & SCOTLAND

A DISTANT SHOT OF ONE OF THE SEA EAGLES BEING MOBBED BY THE HOODED CROWS

Went out most evenings after dinner looking for otters but never found them although 1 wigeon was a surprise at Aros Bay, other birds were a couple of eider and mergansers plus the usual greylags that were everywhere.

PIED WAGTAILS VERY COMMON 

EIDER

The next day was my day on the boat to get close to the sea eagles. There was a half hour drive to the Ulva port where I boarded the 'Lady Jayne' operated by Martin of 'Mull Charters' for a three hour cruise into Loch Na Keal.  There were twelve people on board, not all photographers and the sea was calm and lots of sunshine. First some bread was thrown out to attract the gulls which no doubt wakened the eagle in the trees about a mile away. He then flew in, putting up the gulls, after which a fish was thrown out and duly seized after a bit of circling during which was time to do some photography.  This was done only three times, regulated by the RSPB. 

THE PORT AT ULVA

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER

So many sea eagle shots taken, I've not looked at most yet. NB. In the morning we had a quick look around a woody area finding a beautiful demoiselle damselfly, the only member of the odonata family. Lots of white butterflies and a couple of peacocks not much else.

NOT TOO HAPPY AT THE QUALITY BLOGGER IS DISPLAYING MY PHOTOS.