October - season's summery.
White-tailed Eagles ( Sea Eagles ) a record number of 10 chicks were fledged this year on the island so we were very pleased, three pairs fledged 2 chicks which was also very good and one chick died when the nest collapsed causing it to hit the ground just before it was just about to follow its sister in flying the nest, the only black spot on a very good year. We were lucky enough to have very good White-tailed Eagle sightings on most of our tours with views of 2 adults taking Gulls and Eider Ducks being the most exciting. Some guests were able to get some very good photographs of this magnificent bird of prey flying low right above our heads, a fantastic memento of their stay on Mull.
Golden Eagles did not have such a good breeding season as the White-tailed Eagles due to wet and cold weather in May this year. We have more breeding pairs of Golden Eagles than White-tailed Eagles on the island but they fledged less young which meant that it was harder to see Golden Eagles on the tours as less birds were feeding young. We were very lucky to see them on most tours as our favourite pair did manage to rear a youngster despite having to build a new nest this year as their chosen nest sight of the last few years blew out in a gale the previous winter.
Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls had a very poor year due to the very poor May weather this year, in fact most Short-eared Owls left the island early as they had failed to breed so we did not see many on the tours. Hen Harriers did remain in small numbers and we saw them on some tours particularly in the late summer and early autumn.
Otters were seen on most tours and provide hours of entertainment and delight to all that see them. Fewer cubs were seen in the summer this year but as autumn approached more were being seen with their mothers as they got stronger and disturbance was less from visitors playing around the coasts, sailing and kayaking.
Red Deer were seen on every tour this year with the obvious highlights being calving in June and a spectacular rut in the late autumn. Fallow deer were also seen in the early summer and autumn before and after the bracken appeared and disappeared.
The other main highlights of a great Mull year were Mountain Hare seen in very good numbers this year. Common and Grey Seals were seen on nearly every tour, one particular highlight was when we witnessed a Common Seal giving birth. Sea birds had a very good breeding year with Gannets providing the most spectacular sightings of the sea birds plunge diving to catch fish.
Another great wildlife summer on Mull, a working island and not a reserve, that shows what nature can achieve if we work harmoniously with it and not try to change it for our own ends. 

Oct 2nd
Weather low cloud, pro longed showers and breezy - It wasn't long before we were ignoring the bedraggled juvenile White tailed Eagle sitting at the waters edge to look at the array of wildlife stretched out over the expanse of beach left by the low tide. Common & Herring Gulls along with Greylag Geese bathed in the fresh water of the river running into the loch, a handful of tiny Ringed Plovers scurried about the beach in the same telescope view as the young Eagle, Oystercatchers & Curlews were busy feeding whilst Mallards dabbled in a stream with a handsome female Goosander amongst them and of course a Grey Heron. Feeding on the higher shore line were Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Our small group was huddled beneath the raised boot of the mini-bus like Emperor Penguins in the Arctic, the one's in the middle staying warm and dry whilst those on the outside were cold and wet, warming out hands on hot cups of coffee. During the rest of the day we were rewarded with Golden Eagles flying during small breaks in the weather, Red Deer, Otter and Arctic Hare.

Oct. 1st
Weather sunny and calm - I took the opportunity to do some local birding today and saw a Lapwing, 3 Curlews, 2 Teal, 2 Greenshanks and a Little Grebe as well as over 200 Rock Doves on the Loch at Dervaig. Later when walking the dogs to Langamull beach Pam and I saw Coal Tits, Great Tits, Robins & Wrens, during our walk we saw several Buzzards and 2 very nice Mistle Thrushes which flew onto telegraph wires. On the beach were Meadow and Rock Pipits with Pied Wagtails. Out at sea were 3 Great Northern Divers, Shags and Kittiwakes. Even at the furthest point of our walk out on the rocks was a Grey Heron, it doesn't matter where we go on Mull we can not get away from this beautiful bird. As we walked across the sand we spied tracks that were neither cattle, sheep or dog and on investigation they turned out to be the tracks of an Otter making it's way to the sea.