September 2012  September 2011  Sept 27th Weather cloudy, breezy with some rain in places - Today we had a great tour with lots of banter and laughs just the way I like it. Wildlife wise we saw 12 Mistle Thrushes, 11 Oystercatchers, 10 Grey Herons, 9 sitting Shags , 8 Kittiwakes, 7 Brent Geese a flying, 6 Otters a swimming, 5 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES, 4 Mull Hen Harriers, 3 Red Deer stags, 2 Twite on a fence and a single Rook nowhere near a Pear Tree. Sept 26th Weather sunny but breezy - As I keep saying dull days are best for wildlife watching but it is more pleasant to be out in sunshine. At our first stop we saw lots of birds and Common Seals but due to the reflected sunlight some of them were difficult to see properly. Great Otter day today with 3 separate Otters 2 giving very good views despite the sun, a white-tailed Eagle flew so close over the van as we were watching his mate that one of my guests took a photo and could not get all the bird in the frame, we nearly had a total eclipse of the sun, definite Wow Factor here. Red Deer stag on the hills and a brilliant Golden Eagle ended a day where  notable other birds were winter plumaged Guillemot and a Sparrowhawk. Sept 25th Weather light showers in the morning followed by very heavy rain in the afternoon - The day started with 3 female Goosander and lots of Herons. White-tail and Golden Eagles plus all the other raptors were all taking the opportunity to fly between the showers in the morning - I think they knew as well as us what we were going to get in the afternoon, so we had good views of all of them. We searched all morning for an Otter but it was not until after lunch when We spotted one playing on some seaweed below us we watched it for 15 minutes, feeding and rolling around when suddenly 2 small cubs came to join their mum, they were still tiny as when they swam they stayed on the top of the water with out putting their heads under. They all played together for another 10 minutes before swimming off out of sight, wonderful. By this time we suddenly realized that it was starting to rain heavily so it was decided that we should come back to our warm kitchen for afternoon tea. Sept 24th Weather a nice day after heavy early morning showers - A day off so I just checked water supply, moved sheep, and watched sport on the T.V. it was a good day England won at Rugby, my team won at football and we can still win the Soldheim Cup in ladies golf. It is not very often I take a complete day off from wildlife watching but today I did. Sept 23rd Weather better - I went to Calgary early this morning, it was a bit of a dead loss as all I found there were a dead young Common Seal on the beach and a young dead Gannet on the Machair, nature can be cruel sometimes. Later in the day I went down the Ross with Alan Spellman and saw very little except for a small flock of Twite and some Mistle Thrushes and a few Golden Plover. Sept 22nd Weather early showers, then brighter with lighter winds - Avery good tour today with basking Shark seen at Calgary being the surprise sighting of the day. we had a great sighting today of a male Hen Harrier always a nice bird to see as was the Red Throated Diver and Whimbrel. we had both types of Eagle fly right over our heads and a wonderful view of an enormous red deer stag sure to be heavily involved in the rut. Sept 21st Weather strong winds gusting and heavy showers - Not a pleasant day to be wildlife watching in glasses but we did manage very good White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles during longer breaks in the showers, we also saw a very close large bull Grey Seal and some Common Seals and Red Deer. The waterfall at Eas Force was terrific today as was the light, even on tricky days Mull has more than enough to please our guests and visitors to the Island. Sept 20th Weather the same as yesterday with a more windy afternoon  - Another good day for Mulls target species With Red Deer Stags,  Otters two of them and a brilliant Golden Eagle Sitting with prey, then flying around with it taunting the Ravens and Crows as if to say look what I've got. The Eagle eventually found a quiet table and began to devour the Rabbit with great gusto, eventually it flew off with what remained of the Rabbit, called out his equally hungry daughter and left her to finish the meal. All in all a spectacular treat for our guests, me and also the young Golden Eagle. Sept 19th Weather low cloud and drizzle in morning but improved in the afternoon - The day began with 5 Sandwich Terns and a Whimbrel and finished with a tremendous Otter which we watched for nearly an hour. In between White- tailed Eagles, Golden Eagles, Seals and this Red Deer stag with hinds at the top of a hill, the best red deer of the day which all our guests enjoyed. Tonight I heard my first roaring stag of the Autumn, this years rut is underway. Sept 18th Weather another beautiful day - Golden Eagles put on a show for our guests today with 4 at two separate locations flying very close and even I who see them most days was very impressed. A good Hen Harrier sighting and White-tailed Eagles were the other main highlights on a good bird of prey day, with Otter and Red Deer and both types of Seal being seen well.  Congratulations to Mike Gibson who after a visit to Mull and a tour with Arthur was inspired to enter the Daily Telegraph writing competition   he won this week  and was printed in Saturdays edition. Sept 17th Weather sunshine with frequent short showers - No tour today so as it had rained heavily through the night and I could not mow the lawns I went for a drive round looking for waders but the good weather of the last couple of days meant they had taken their window of opportunity and moved on. Treshnish Farm won the RSPB farming for wildlife and bio diversity competition so many thanks for those who took the trouble to vote, this is another feather in the cap for this wonderful island and congratulations to Somerset, Caroline, Prassad et al. Sept 16th Weather another nice day - Bird of the day were Sandwich Terns at Laggan Bay where 2 were flying round until one landed and guests wanting to see one close up got to see it through the telescope. Another good Eagle and Otter day and we also had a brief view of a distant Skua chasing Kittiwakes but it was too brief and far out for a positive identification, so I am now 2 short of my 150 Mull birds seen target for the year. Sept 15th Weather SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY best weather of the year even the midges were out - A great day for all the Mull specialities, 5 White-tailed Eagles all flying some very close, 3 Golden Eagles sitting and flying not so close but still good views, Hen Harrier we watched her for 10 minutes the little show off. We saw 3 Otters, well 2 and a half really as one was out in the middle of a Loch and appeared to be travelling, the others were great and finally Red Deer in humungous numbers including stags. Other Mammals seen well Common Seal, Fallow Deer and Rabbit. Bird of the day Goosander. Sept 14th Weather sunny at last with light breeze - No tour today so I went sea watching today and saw lots of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters, a few Fulmars and Guillemots and a Great Skua. Later in the day we met up with Alan Spellman and did some more birding seeing some waders including 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshank and Ringed Plovers. Mammal of the day a Hare seen at Cailaich Point in the early morning. Sept 13th Weather More wind and rain all day but brightened a bit in the afternoon - Knot and Ruff at Calgary to add to my Mull year list, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Greenshank were also seen on a very good wader day. Desperation I think brought out Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle as the birds of prey were getting hungry. Otter again a highlight with one running up a river across the beach then catching and eating a fish in front of us. Afternoon tea was had in our Kitchen where we all dried out after another soaking wet day. Sept 12th Weather HEAVIER RAIN AND STRONGER WINDS - White-tailed Eagles and a brilliant Otter with another also seen don't ask me how or why. Birds of the day for me Kittiwakes and 2 Purple Sandpipers at Calgary Bay. On getting home another very hot relaxing bath was required, my waterproofs are getting a real testing at the moment, I have just seen the forecast for tomorrow, more of the same, BLISS. Sept 11th Weather RAIN and WIND - Into everyone's life a little rain must fall, well today it fell on me and my guests big time, my sincere thanks for the way guests took the foul weather in their stride with such good humour. Trying to see an Otter in a large swell is difficult but I think all my guests got a short glimpse of it. We had great views of 3 White-tailed Eagles, 1 right over our heads, amazing given the conditions,  Red Deer including a young stag were seen. My highlights were a Grey Plover at Calgary another one for my Mull year list, 3 Rooks at Lagganulva as they are not common in North Mull a Greenshank at Dervaig and a Hot Bath when I got home. Sept 10th Weather showery all day - A spot of sea watching this morning brought me lots of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Manx Shearwaters and also my first Basking Shark of the year as I had missed the one on Thursday. During the rest of the day I finished pulling Ragwort which was getting to be a real problem in my woodland. Sept 9th Weather sunny with showers in some places - A birding group of guests today so we were not just looking for Eagles and Otters although we did see all of them. Birds of the day for me were Black tailed Godwit and Sanderling at Killiechronan As I had not seen either species before on Mull this year and it took my Mull yearly total to 144 getting nearer my 150 species target. Sept 8th Weather sunny, calm and a bit warmer - All Mulls major species seen well again today with a great Otter to end a very successful day. Basking Shark the first seen on a Discover Mull tour this year surrounded by diving Gannets thrilled the guests. For any of my blog readers with small children or grand children here is a picture of a real live MY LITTLE PONY photographed at the Killiechronan pony trekking centre. Sept 7th Weather heavy showers with short sunny breaks, very windy - We started the day with lots of ducks and waders, very suitable given the weather conditions. We saw Curlews, Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover and Turnstone ducks seen were Eider, Red Breasted Merganser, Teal, Mallard and Wigeon. At coffee break during the longest sunny break we saw Buzzards, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin and White-tailed Eagle. A pair of Stonechats were seen as were both types of Seal and Red Deer including a stag. No Otter today but the day ended with a Golden Eagle so all the guests went home happy. Sept 6th Weather awful wind and rain for most of the day with a small break of about an hour and a half - Many thanks to my guests today for their patience. The day started alright with 7 Goosanders, a Whimbrel, A white-tailed Eagle in a tree and some Common Seals, then it poured. I went in search of Otter but even they were hiding from the awful conditions but my guests never complained and just accepted that this is what the weather can be like in Scotland sometimes. I got us to an area where we might see some good wildlife if weather conditions improved and we stopped for lunch as the rain eased. A quick lunch and we set off and no sooner had we started off when we spotted a Buzzard and then a Kestrel and then a White-tailed Eagle all up because it had stopped raining, the Eagle flew very close to us giving us great views. Wow the day had not been a complete washout and so we moved on. We stopped to check out a Seal when a guest saw an Otter in some scrub, out we leapt and sure enough there it was not 50 feet away and sloping into the water, we had really close views of the Otter before it disappeared up a burn, things were looking up. A short while later and we picked up a male Hen Harrier not a close but very good sighting and very unexpected. It was still not raining so we raced to a Golden Eagle site and after carefully looking I managed to pick up a pair sitting on a hill some distance away, after we had all seen them through the scope they flew off giving us good but distant views. A guest wanted to see some red Deer stags so we quickly drove off to a place I know where you can sometimes see them and when we got there 2 more Golden Eagles were flying, much closer this time and yes there were also 7 stags on the hill. The weather was again fast closing in so off for afternoon tea and another Golden Eagle and then the monsoon set in for the rest of the afternoon. The only reason we saw all the Mull specialities in little over an hour was that guests did not complain as I just drove through the morning rain and accepted I might have a reason, we were lucky that the rain stopped however briefly but we were in the right areas to take advantage of the situation so they were well rewarded for their perseverance on what was otherwise a very trying day. Sept 5th Weather the same as yesterday - If it could be possible we had better Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles and Hen Harriers than yesterday, as well as Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, Kestrels and a Peregrine falcon. There has to be a down side the Otter we saw today was not as good as yesterday but we compensated with Red Throated Diver and a Greenshank to finish another super day of wildlife watching on Mull. Sept 4th Weather sunny and calm - Red Deer stags at the start of the day so we were all in a good mood by the time we reached our first stop by water of the day and lo and behold a single Wigeon my first since the spring and then an Otter. The Otter was great and we watched it for some time and then went to see some Common Seals. We were now running late and in need of coffee but as we pulled into the coffee stop a Golden Eagle appeared and gave us a wonderful display, now off for coffee I thought but no there were now White-tailed Eagles flying and Buzzards a Sparrowhawk. Phew time for a break, 'any chance of Fallow Deer?' asked one guest, so after the break we went in search and yes there were 2 a mother and fawn, a pretty good spot for me and so on to find Grey Seals and also some diving Gannets. We then rushed to get to the lunch stop catching up on time a little and came across a lovely Northern Wheatear check out the photo below. The afternoon was not so hectic but Hen Harrier were seen and to end a terrific day another brilliant Otter. Guests today were fantastic and I have not had so many laughs on a tour in a long time so many thanks to you all particularly Jayne Moorland who made me laugh all day. Sept 3rd Weather low cloud and drizzle in the morning sunny afternoon - I went out this morning and spent half an hour watching an Otter just after sunrise, as we keep telling our guests early mornings are the best times to see Otters. A drive out in the afternoon and I saw Fallow Deer and my first Golden Plovers since the spring, now is the time to see returning breeding migrants as some are still in breeding plumage, fabulous. Sept 2nd Weather similar to yesterday - This evening was the seafood extravaganza at Dervaig, this is when local cooks get together with local fishermen to produce a meal which if you like fish should not be missed. The food is excellent the price is more than reasonable and I defy anyone to eat it all. The proceeds from this event go to the village hall and the Lifeboat association and as 2 people were recently pulled out of the water by the Tobermory crew it could not go to a better cause. Sept 1st Weather sunshine but mostly showers - A day of very good Eagles and many other birds of prey with Golden Eagles again carrying prey, they are certainly keeping the Rabbit population in check in one particular area. The Slavonian Grebe is still around and returning waders are starting to be seen, so look out you never know what might be passing through in the coming weeks. September 2010 Sept 23rd Weather high cloud but bright windy - We saw a Dipper thanks to Fran who spotted it as we were driving past, it was the first Dipper I have seen since the spring and I even managed to get a photo of it before it flew down off down the river. We had a fantastic encounter with a Golden Eagle today although we had to wait for so long I had nearly given up hope of seeing one today, it just goes to show that wildlife watching requires patience, but the rewards like todays sighting can be breathtakingly spectacular.  Sept 22nd Weather low cloud and rain but the rain stopped at coffee break and it was ok for the rest of the day, as usual nothing like as bad as was forecast, we really suffer on the west coast and islands with these really naff forecasts the weather here apart from being windy is really quite good - The day turned out very well in spite of misgivings from some of todays guests with all the specialities being seen including good sightings of 3 Otters, White-tailed Eagles and Porpoise. Sept 21st Weather cloudy warm with light showers becoming heavy rain overnight - No tour today as MAN FLU worsens, staggered out for a walk with the dogs in the morning, it was a pleasant walk but very little wildlife seen. In the afternoon I put some of my BTO Atlas work on the computer  which should have been done much earlier. I am now being Nagged by Shaun the Atlas co-ordinator as well as Pam. Sept 20th Weather low cloud and drizzle but quite calm - The day started very unpromisingly in awful wildlife watching conditions and MAN FLU but great guests and performing wildlife soon put an end to that. We saw an Otter, Gannets, Razorbills, Great Skua, Kittiwakes, Greylag Geese in great quantities, even a Golden Eagle flew in rain, then 4 White-tailed Eagles and a couple of Red Deer stags posturing, if you called it a fight you would want your money back. the day finished on a high with my (for one year only) Barn Owl. Thanks to my guests and the wildlife I feel much better. Sept 19th Weather mixed - Having mowed the lawns yesterday I did very little today as I feel MAN FLU coming on, you ladies don't know how lucky you are. Spent the day feeling sorry for myself but did hear my first roaring Stag of the year, HO, HO, HO not in my woodland as they can no longer get in. Sept 18th Weather lovely - What a shame no tour today, where are you people when I need you, yes you guessed it good weather, day off, no excuses I had to mow the lawns. We did manage a walk on an empty Calgary beach in the morning and although there was not any rarities there it was very pleasant communing with the resident Oystercatchers and Common Gulls, Oh and Pam, all in all it was a very pleasant hour. Sept 16th Weather a bit of everything but windy - A good tour again today even if we had to wait some time for the White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles to appear. We were lucky with the Otter which we picked up almost as soon as we stopped to look for it and followed it down the Loch for some time unfortunately it did not come out where we could see it. A lot of Red Deer about now as rutting season is almost upon us. Sept 15th Weather sunny, sunny, sunny and a lot less wind - fantastic group today particularly the Rev George and Bev now firm friends who we would miss if they stopped coming to Mull and on our tours. All Mull's specialities performed  brilliantly today especially the 2 juvinile White-tailed Eagles and the Golden Eagles including the one pictured below. Otter seen today out on a rock where all guests got to see it really well. Sept 14th Weather not as awful as yesterday but it tried - After not getting any Eagles in the awful rain yesterday we went all out for them today and got really lucky picking up 2 flying not the greatest views but guests were delighted as they had not expected to see any. As we were watching the Golden Eagles we noticed a big herd of Red Deer trying to keep out of the wind and in the group there was a couple of big stags, the rut is almost upon us. 2 White-tailed Eagles were seen trying to keep out of the wind and rain but my birds of the day were the 4 Bar-tail Godwits seen as the day drew to a close. Sept 13th Weather unimaginably awful, heavy rain and wind all day - Many thanks must go to our guests today for putting up with such awful conditions without a single complaint, it does make our job so much easier if guests are so understanding. The reward they got was fantastic Otter for over an hour which delighted them all as most of them wanted to see Otter more than anything else. Other highlights Greenshank, over 60 Redshanks, Dunlin and my birds of the day 5 delightful Sanderling on Calgary Beach. Sept 12th Weather sunny but breezy - Great day for the Barn Owl after overnight rain we had not long stopped and the bird came out of his box and sat in the tree giving guests superb views it then proceeded to fly off. Lots of Eagle sightings today with a single Red Knot also seen. Nice views of Red Deer with stags seen on the top of a hill as the weather started to turn nasty.  Sept 11th Weather showers all day - I got up early and went to Calgary Bay and was fortunate to see 2 Red Knot and a flock of over 70 Oystercatchers. Pam had an easy time cleaning the self-catering  today as we only had one with guests arriving today so we decided to go to Glen Ghorm for lunch and to look at Nic Davies photographic exhibition - bad news we spent money. On the food theme we also went out for supper at the Dervaig Seafood Extravaganza, congratulations to all involved the food was fantastic as was the whole evening, we will certainly be going again next year. Sept 10th Weather drizzle or rain with a few small breaks better in the late afternoon, windy again - Picking where to go today was tricky but for once it all came together. We stopped to look in the estuary not the one from yesterday and saw 2 Mute Swans, Red Breasted Mergansers, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Common and Herring Gulls. I decided not to stick to our normal route due to the weather and low and behold we saw a juvenile White-Tailed Eagle and as it flew off up got an  Osprey to help it on its way. At a comfort break we managed to see a very good dog Otter, no not at the loos but close by surprising what turns up when you least expect it. We went to look for Hen Harrier and Alleluia one flew with 2 Buzzards as the drizzle abated. The next stop brought 2 White-Tails a brilliant Otter and best of all for me a Sandwich Tern. Golden Eagle next we were told by our guests and sure enough one turned up on cue to give brilliant views landing on a hill close by us. "I suppose there will be Red Deer around the corner" said one guest, yes there was to end an incredible day in poor weather. Sept 9th Weather great hardly any wind and sunny - Barn Owl kicked off the day and the we went to an estuary and saw a Greenshank with 2 Curlews and our first Heron of the day. White-tailed Eagle next and Ravens and Buzzards. After coffee we saw an Otter and then onto some Red Deer. Golden Eagle at lunchtime more White-Tails in the afternoon, the day ended with some Red Deer Stags high in the hills.                        A conspiracy of ravens or an unkindness of ravens? Sept 8th Weather sunny with just high wind today decreasing somewhat in the afternoon - Back to normal today with 5 White-tailed Eagles seen in total some of them giving great views. 2 Golden Eagles also hanging about literally holding against the wind for quite some time as guests watched after they had given up on the Otter which we had been watching before the Goldie turned up. Red Deer and Seals in good numbers today as well. Sept 7th Weather sunny but still gale force south easterlies - Another struggle to stand up day but we saw 2 notable birds, firstly a single Lapwing, the first I have seen in ages and later 2 Swifts trying valiantly to fly straight into the teeth of the gale without much success. We saw a juvenile Golden Eagle today and it too was having a steep learning curve with the ever increasing winds, before giving up and landing again out of sight of course. Sept 6th Weather cloudy but dry with gale force south easterly winds - A very difficult day due to the wind so I would like to thank all our guests for their company, good humour and above all else their forbearance in very trying conditions, you all made what could have been a really hard day for us a  very pleasant one. We did see an Otter but trying to find it in the waves was very difficult but it did climb out on a rock a couple of times and most guests saw it. A Golden Eagle gave us a good view as did the Red Deer and both types of Seal but for me the sighting of the day were 4 beautiful Goosander seen towards the end of the day. I shall remember the day mostly for the company and the fact that Pam could come out on a tour for the first time in ages. Sept 5th Weather warm, dry but very windy - We had very good sightings of Golden Eagles, 3 very early in the day flying and sitting it was a family of 2 adults and this years young, our guests were ecstatic with the views they were getting. A nice Red Throated Diver was seen as were the usual Buzzards and Herons and before lunch on an otherwise quiet morning a White-Tailed Eagle, we saw another in the afternoon very close overhead this one was a really good sighting. We stopped for photographs and as I always say we see more wildlife when we are stopped and an Otter was seen in an area I had not seen one in before this year, lucky or what. A good day for Mulls specialities was completed with views of the Barn Owls asleep, bless.  Sept 4th Weather the same as yesterday but much windier so felt cooler - Very good early Otter and this after seeing my Barn Owls and a really nice Red Throated Diver. Little action to report on the sea with only 1 or 2 Gannets and no Basking Sharks. We managed some very close  Red Deer at our next stop and then onto a very good Golden Eagle, so the morning was really quite good but it went very quiet in the afternoon although we did see distant Red Deer stags on our way home. We missed seeing White-Tailed Eagles on the tour for the first time in ages, so long in fact that I cannot remember when it was. Sept 3rd Weather hazy sunshine, light wind , warm - Today was one of those days, we had to work very hard for nearly every sighting and that included the views in the haze. Eventually we did get very good Golden Eagle and a White-tail but raptor of the day was Kestrels, where did they spring from, they were everywhere. We also had a good but distant Hen Harrier. Red throated Diver and Black Guillemots were seen but overall on the wildlife front today was a struggle, that's wildlife for you unpredictable. Sept 2nd Weather sunny, warm and calm again - No tour today as I am working on saturday this week so Pam and I went out together for a couple of hours to one of my favorite spots, regular guests will know where I mean. We saw lots of Basking Sharks, a Minke Whale, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Fulmar, Manx Shearwaters, Cormorants and Shags, Gannets and Kittiwakes and as we were leaving 2 Mink came trotting up the road. As we arrived home a Sparrowhawk flew through the garden. A lot of action in just 2 hours, more action in the afternoon, I mowed all the lawns. Sept 1st Weather another great day slightly cloudier than yesterday - Brilliant Golden Eagles today but we had to wait until nearly home time to see White-Tails. We had lots of Red Deer today with plenty of stags seen and Fallow Deer for the first time in weeks. Basking Sharks again in good numbers, as were both Grey and Common seals, 2 Otters today not the greatest views but all guests were able to see them through the scopes. My Barn Owl still provides guests with good views as do the Gannets Kittiwakes and Shags. This is the web site of Pam & Arthur Brown, Ardrioch Farm, Dervaig, Isle of Mull. PA75  6QR