The Mull Summer Wildlife Expedition with Iolo Williams - Group 1
- Ewan Miles
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
Team: Iolo Williams, Megan Hamill, Klay Blake, Theo de Clermont and Ewan Miles
Day 1
We all met in Tobermory after lunch and headed straight out to some coastal habitats in the west of the island. It ended up being a 'raptor fest' with views of golden and white-tailed eagles over the mountainous scenery. Great to see fledged juvenile wt eagles flying stronger by the day as they continue to stay in their natal areas before they will slowly disperese as young nomads.
Red-breasted mergansers with two young chicks was a welcome sight along with harbour seals hauled out and a sneaky redshank and greenshank.
Day 2
We headed to some southerly parts of the island with a big focus on water-based species. A golden eagle was showing very well roadside and as we stopped to admire it, Megan spotted six common dolphins in the bay! After lunch we had a coastal walk to stretch the legs and managed a lovely view of an otter feeding before coming ashore. A huge highlight followed as we spotted kinky the young WTE!...the first sighting of him in over a year...
"Kinky is a "miracle" white-tailed eagle on the Isle of Mull that survived a severe wing break as a chick in July 2023, thanks to unprecedented extended parenting. After being spotted soaring over Loch na Keal and Eorsa, the resilient bird proved experts wrong by surviving on its own."
Day 3
The north of Mull was the focus for today as we left Tobermory and travelled westerly to local moors. Another major highlight was Theo spotting an Irish Lady's-Tresses, orchid growing in a roadside area that we had covered very well over the years! A nationally scarce species requiring damp acid grassland subject to winter flooding. Flowering varies greatly from year to year...
In a similar spot Iolo spotted a female adder which most of the group managed to get eyes onto. Further west we had a stunning view of an osprey hunting over a sea loch and a juvenile wt eagle was seen, this years fledgling from a nearby site. Sadly a dead adder on the road, very recently ran over.
We enjoyed one of Europe's rarest habitats, the Calgary machair, admiring the plant diversity and we also spotted two red-throated divers in the bay and another young WTE over the beach!
Day 4
After a great few days exploring the terrestrial habitats, it was time for some marine magic as we boarded the Sea Life Mull vessel. On our jounrey west we enjoyed common dolphins and manx shearwaters before a stunning sighting to connect with the humpback whale feeding off Coll! The animal has been sight faithful here for nearly 2 weeks now, feeding hard in the area and joined by c dolphins gannets, auks, kittiwakes and minke whales. Other species included fulmars, storm petrels, great skua, arctic skuas and a puffin!
After lunch in Tobermory we undertook a walk on local moors and managed to see common darter and common hawker dragonflies along with a stunning overhead view of a juv WTE and an adult golden eagle!!
Day 5
The final day! We covered the east of the island with a strong emphasis on hen harriers. After some perserverence we got rewarded with views of a distant HH on the skyline interacting with buzzards. A nearby coastal walk was enjoyed by all and especially the views of harbour porpoise just off shore along with black guillemots.
Back at the van to have our final lunch by Jane we got great views of a juv/female hen harrier getting mobbed by a buzzard before an osprey flyby!
Finishing back in Tobermory and saying goodbye to the group, thanks very much for everyone for your company during the five days!
PS - It was Megans last tour with us this summer! Another blog post hopefully coming soon about her time on the island!
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