Wildlife Summary:
24th evening - Day 1
We all met on Western Isles hotel balcony and headed for an early dinner before setting out
to the moors of NW Mull with Red Deer, a vocal Red-Throated Diver, at least 2 Hen Harriers
and a Short Eared Owl being the highlights.
25th - Day 2
Day 2 we headed out with Sea Life Mull from 0930-1345 - we encountered c6 Storm Petrels,
3 Great Skuas, Puffins, Gannet, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Ravens, Fulmar,
Common + Arctic Terns and hundreds of Manx Shearwaters on the way out.
After a while searching we eventually found c80 Common Dolphins, At least 4 Minke Whales
and the highlight a breaching Basking Shark!
On the way in we had an adult White-tailed Eagle and a Golden Eagle and a few Seals.
After lunch we headed out for a successful Adder hunt finding 5 individuals!
We then headed to central Mull for a scenic wildlife walk finding 2 Male and 1 Female Hen
Harrier and a friendly group of Highland Cows before heading back to Tobermory.
26th - Day 3
We headed straight to Loch Na Keal and to the north side quickly finding a very
accommodating adult White-Tailed Eagle, when an Otter appeared behind us eventually
bringing in a flatfish in front of us!
Moving onto the south side of the loch we started at Loch Ba for a walk, which was quickly
interrupted by 3 Golden Eagles and shortly after a 4th appeared further down the loch and a
distant White-tailed Eagle. Golden-ringed Dragonflies, Keeled Skimmers and Common
Darter dragonflies were around the path also.
Lunchtime at Scarsdale rocks yielded a few Harbour Seals.
Moving round to the mouth of Loch Na Keal we had great overhead views of 3 Peregrine
Falcons and 4 Ravens with a hurry of seabirds out in the loch and 1 Harbour Porpoise briefly
appearing.
Up and over the Ardmeanach peninsula we had 2 Adult and 1 3cy White-Tailed Eagles
before wandering down to the nest site for great views of the sizeable chick!
Working our way back to Loch Na Keal we observed an Otter feeding out in the loch for a
short time before heading back to the hotel.
Orca Alert! - a message from a few friends meant we headed straight out to Glengorm and
eventually John Coe and Aquarius appeared from around Ardnamurchan headland and gave
distant views heading SW on the edge of the murk - a first for our NS Mull package tours!
27th - Day 4
We awoke to a slightly more rainy day so headed to the SE of the island. A
fruitful walk to Portfield beach produced 1 Adult and 1 2cy White-tailed Eagle, 2 Turnstone,
Harbour Porpoises and a playful group of Common Dolphins.
Heading Back round to lunch we had a great Otter sighting and a surprise Adder (large
pregnant female) before heading back north via Salen Bay for a few more Harbour Seals
and wildflowers and then up to Tobermory.
28th - Day 5
Final day to the NE of the island and first to the Mishnish lochs for 3 Red-throated Divers
before moving onto Calgary Bay and the Calgary Machair for photos, scenery and a
wildflower walk.
Continuing round to the moors of NW Mull we had a distant Hen Harrier and a few Red Deer
before moving to the impressive Ears Fors Waterfall where a Common Lizard was basking,
enjoying the views!
Continuing round to lunch we had a very freshly fledged juvenile White-tailed Eagle and a
few Butterflies whizzing around whilst having lunch before saying our goodbyes...
Theo