The Mull Summer Wildlife Expedition with Iolo Williams- Group 2

Team: Iolo Williams, Jack Waldie, 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. First spot produced a brilliant view of a Golden Eagle over the near hillside, before an adult WTE gave a fantastic close flyby. Another adult WTE flew over the distant hillside. Seals and a WTE were sat out on an offshore skerry. Further down the coast an Otter was out fishing before bringing its catch ashore. Buzzards and Ravens were flying around nearby.

Heading back round a guest had a great spot of an Adult female WTE sat really close in in plain view on the near shoreline with her partner flying by. The final spot yielded 2 recently fledged juvenile WTE's with Fallow Deer also seen enroute, a cracking start to the trip!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Day 2:

It was the turn of a marine adventure as we boarded the Sea Life Mull vessel. On our journey out of the Sound of Mull we enjoyed Harbour Porpoises and Manx Shearwaters before heading out west of Coll, finding a Humpback Whale out there, eventually tail fluking and disappearing off. The animal has been sight faithful here for 2 weeks now, feeding hard in the area and joined by common dolphins, a Minke Whale, Gannets, Auks, Kittiwakes and minke whales. Other species included Fulmar, Storm Petrels, Sooty Shearwater, Great skua, Arctic skuas and a Puffin! a Juvenile WTE was sat in a tree on our way back past Mull.

After lunch we headed for a walk to a waterfall seeing a Goldcrest and Treecreeper there.

On a search for a Dipper, we found a juvenile Moorhen, a scarcity on Mull!

We saw a few waders including Greenshank and a family of Red-breasted Mergansers before a mum and cub Otter appeared, lovely way to finish the day.

Day 3:

A day in the SE of the island starting the day with a great show from an adult female Hen Harrier and a more distant Juvenile. Red Deer were on the hillside.

We then headed for more coastal habitats as the weather came in. A dog Otter was out fishing for his lunch while we had ours before he wandered off down the coastline. On a walk we had a perched up 3cy White-tailed Eagle and another Otter. Back at the van we headed off seeing another 2 Otters before leaving coastal habitats 1 carrying a large Eel as prey!

Over a tea and cake in the rain we saw a final Juvenile WTE before heading for home.

Day 4:

We headed for habitats in central Mull in search of Eagles. First stop yielded a distant Hen Harrier and a Little Egret, a Mull scarcity. Into more mountainous areas we had a distant perched up Golden Eagle which flew towards us and right overhead. Further down we enjoyed a flyover WTE and 2 more Golden Eagles over the skyline, 1 displaying briefly. Over lunch we watched a sizable WTE on its nest, eating its own lunch. Further down we had superb views of a Juvenile WTE right close to the van. Onto the last stretch we had an Adult WTE overhead which eventually flew out to join its mate on an offshore skerry. A golden Eagle and another WTE were over the skylines whilst Goosander, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones and Linnets were nearby. A juvenile Dipper in Tobermory saw the day out well!

Day 5:

The final day! As forecast it was a touch damp!! We covered some more sheltered parts of the island on the east side. We checked a coastal bay and spotted RB Mergansers, Eider and Common Terns.

Moving on further south and the rain picked up another level so we decided to call the trip an hour early with some of the team getting an earlier ferry.

Finishing back in Tobermory and saying goodbye to the rest of the group, thanks very much for everyone for your company during the five days!