Mull

I last visited Mull some 40 odd years ago as part of a family caravan holiday to Oban. I remember my Mum pranging her, a black vw beetle, on that particular visit and that probably put me off going back. However, now some 40 years on I returned with my family with coincidentally a somewhat newer black Volkswagen.

We traveled north to Oban on a rather wet Saturday morning. By the time we reached Oban however, it was much drier and by the time we got on the ferry it was dry. Once on Mull, we drove north from Craignure and soon had splendid views of an adult Sea Eagle just north of Salen. We had a B&B for 3 nights in Dervaig just west of Tobermory.

Tobermory with its famous coloured houses

The B&B overlooked Loch A Chumhainn and within a short distance I was seeing Whinchats and Common Sandpipers appeared to be everywhere.

Day 2 was dull and windy and we drove south to Loch Na Keal. Here we eventually had good views of 1 Sea Eagle but otherwise the weather was a bit of a limiting factor.

Sea Eagle

Day 3 was glorious and we did the touristy thing and headed for Iona. The drive takes about 2 hours and there was much stopping in the various passing places on Mull's narrow roads. The ferry to Iona goes from Fionnphort :

View from Fionnphort Harbour

Once on Iona I quickly found Corncrake. There was no shortage of birds calling but seeing any proved impossible.

View from Iona Harbour

View to the North

Iona Abbey

Returning view Loch Na Keal I staked out a known Golden Eagle site and had 2 birds in the sky over the ridge. Back at Darvaig, a ringtail Hen Harrier was quartering the marsh and then proceeded to fly past the bedroom window.

The last morning was spent at Grass Point where I failed to see any Sea Eagles but 2 Whinchats and a singing Grasshopper Warbler were notable.

All in all a really good trip.

Lack of Chat

Whinchat have been becoming scarce and more & more difficult to find with each passing year. Loch Ardinning, just north of Glasgow has always been a good spot although even here they have become scarce. Despite an extensive search this morning I could not find any at all. It is always sad to witness the decline in a species but this is what we are faced with here. Hopefully, they can recover.

On a more positive note Cuckoos still appear to be plentiful with several calling. Willow Warblers that I think have been comparatively scarce this year were in abundance:

Willow Warbler - Endrick Mouth

Another Chat that has been in steep decline, possible due to hard winters, is the Stonechat. I managed to find 1 today for the yearlist.

Roe Deer- Loch Ardinning

Mute Swan with 4 Cygnets - Loch Ardinning

Moving on to Endrick Mouth, I walked right out to the end of Ring Point. Best here were 2 Osprey, Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher.

The downside was 2 aggressive dogs, the same two as last year. Is it too much to ask to have a day in the countryside without being bothered by bloody dogs. The best of it is they were with an owner who the dogs simply ignore. "Oh she'll not bite" I don't bloody care I simply want to be left in peace. If you can't control the bloody thing, KEEP IT ON A LEAD!!!!!!

Sun Room Completion

Louise's High School Prom.... Where did the years go?

Cairngorm & Boat of Garten

Out of the house at 5am this morning to take advantage of weather ideally suited to going to the top of Cairngorm.

I parked at the funicular and struggled up the mountain towards Ben Macdui & on to the plateau. On the way up I certainly heard Ptarmigan croaking but frustratingly could not get on any. Indeed I saw few birds of note aside from Wheatear and calling Red Grouse and Raven.

My lack of fitness meant many stops to admire the scenery.

Once on the plateau birds became easier and I got good views of 1 Ptarmigan as it slinked away behind some rocks. There were 2 showy Dotterel that flew infront of the camera allowing some opportunistic shots:

Several Snow Bunting were singing and I saw one distantly but a much better one showed on the way down:

A flyover Golden Plover was the first I had seen this year.

With time short I headed to the woods just outside Boat of Garten and had Crested Tit, Crossbill sp and 2 Redstart.

Farne Islands

Some images from  a fantastic day on the Farne Islands:

East Anglia Via Hartlepool.

With a B&B pre booked for 4 nights in Cromer my intention was to leave about 9pm and go to Lakenheath for first light. However, a Thrush Nightingale was on show at Hartlepool and so I left at lunchtime to twitch it.

Thrush Nightingale - a showy bird

After a substandard fish supper in Hartlepool I stopped briefly at Saltholme and had 2 Garganey, and a very distant Pec Sand and 2 Wood Sand. I then headed south and reached Lakenheath about 4am. Very windy and cold and after a bit of a kip I headed out along the river. I heard a Green Woodpecker and had Egyptian Goose but conditions were poor and I huddled in the New Fen shelter watching a common tern:

Joist Fen provided several flight views of Bittern and several Marsh Harrier. After breakfast I went to Weeting Heath and had decent views of 2 Stone Curlew and eventually managed Woodlark:

Stone Curlew

Returning to Lakenheath conditions were better and I had splendid views of the adult male Red Footed Falcon and several Hobby. I tried to get a decent shot of the former but it was always too far away.

Day 2 started at Kelling Heath where I had good views of several singing Woodlark as well as Dartford Warbler and Turtle Dove. Down at Cley, the best bird was a female type Red Backed Shrike. Spent a bit of time with the camera:

Cley Beach

View towards the East Bank from North Scrape

Whispering Reeds

Cley Windmill

Cley Windmill

Lapwing

Lapwing

Shelduck

Red Legged Partridge

A showy Wood Sandpiper was on Arnold's Marsh but was still a bit far for the camera.

Did Holkham in the early evening and it was quiet however I did see 2 Grey Partridges, my first since 2006.

After another substandard fish supper in Wells the light was perfect for attempting the harbour:

I finished the day with a distant Barn Owl at Cley.

Forecast for the next day was for squally showers and strong winds so I thought it better to move inland and the reported Montague's Harrier at Buckenham Marshes seemed like a good idea. I picked it up across the river, only my 2nd ever! I went back for the scope and it obliged again and a bit closer this time. A day hunting Barn Owl was also of note.

At Strumpshaw Fen I had a Marsh Tit for the year list. A single Hobby was perched up despite the wind.

Drake Wigeon from Tower Hide

Moved on to Horsey for the Cranes and had 10 birds. One of the closer ones:

Record Shot

Spent some time at the Waterpump:

Horsey Water Pump

My final full day started at Titchwell in the pouring rain. As the morning wore on the rain stopped but the wind increased making birding a bit of a lottery. Best at Titchwell was Spoonbill and 2 Red Crested Pochard. The saltmarsh held several summer plumage Grey Plover:

Digiscoped Grey Plover

I tried Chosely for Corn Bunting but the conditions were against me. The drive back to Cromer along the coast road provided 2 cracking views of Barn Owl in broad daylight.

Saturday had come too quickly and it was time to head home. However, I stopped for a couple of hours at Frampton Marsh and had several LRP's and 2 Little Gulls. Again failed to connect with Corn Bunting. Still hundreds of Brent Geese.

Avocet

Saw lots during the trip but this was the 1st in sunshine