Scotland Day 14 (Friday 7th June)

Hi

Friday was our last full day on Mull.  We spent the initial part of the morning checking out a plantation near to where we were staying and relocating some Dippers that Eleanor had discovered the morning before.  The spruce plantation held several Crossbills and the usual woodland birds and the Dippers were seemingly collecting food for young in the nest so we didn't linger.

We decided next to visit a couple of eagle nest sites and were rewarded with both White-tailed and Golden. The birds were rather inactive due to the still and very warm conditions, but a little breeze persuaded the male White-tailed to complete a little successful fishing and the female Golden Eagle to fly around her nest a couple of times. Other standard fare included Great Northern and Red-throated Divers.  We finally found an Otter; it would have been rather embarrassing to have stayed a week on Mull and not seen one!

An impromptu decision mid afternoon saw us climbing up Ben More, the highest mountain on Mull (just short of a 1000 metres).  The dogs didn't think it was such a good idea, but the lovely warm conditions and excellent visibility compelled us upwards!  The bird-life was unremarkable, although there were still singing Wheatear, Meadow Pipit and Skylark at about 800m.  The only birds at the summit were a few Ravens.  The views were just stunning - Ben Nevis et al to the east, Jura and Islay to the south, the faint outline of the Outer Hebrides to the west and the Ardamurchan, Rum and Skye to the north.  A very fitting end to our very enjoyable stay on Mull.

Regards

Neil M

Dipper