Mull trip - episode 2; Hares & Harriers

Today was another rather damp & dank day here on Mull, with steady rain from dawn until early evening. A few brief forays out around Loch Scridain in the afternoon suggested that the wildlife was almost as reluctant as me to go about it's business in the wet - with little showing other than various gulls, waterfowl and waders, including Lapwings, numerous Oystercatchers, Sanderling, Pink-footed Geese, Red-breasted Merganser & a handful of distant Gannets. Also showing a few rather soggy small birds - mainly Wheatears &  Rock Pippits, but also some colourful Stonechats and a Siskin.

Lapwing

Driving back along the head of the Loch, we noticed a number of very agitated gulls, Lapwings and Oystercatchers dive-bombing a spot within the reed-beds. Speculating that there must be a predator present, we loitered waiting to see what was causing all the fuss. It turned out to be a Buzzard, which flew out carrying a well-grown Oystercatcher chick back to it's own nest. The irate parents & mixed-species neighbours mobbed  & harassed it even after it was back on it's nest.

Buzzard predating Oystercatcher nest site (chick in talons)

The clouds finally lifted & a few scraps of blue sky emerged this evening, so we headed off down to the South of the Island to see what was stirring after a day of rain-stops-play. My main target species was Mountain Hares; although it's always a bit surreal to see them down at sea-level. They seem to enjoy the close-cropped grass that the ever-present sheep leave behind! The Island's raptor population had obviously been waiting out the weather too, as we saw several Buzzards on the way down, and had a fairly close view of a juvenile White-tailed Eagle on a mission to somewhere or other! 

I was also delighted to spot a male Hen-Harrier quartering off to the side of the road - and even more excited when a second male launched itself up off it's perch on a boulder to chase off the intruder. A dramatic ariel pursuit ensued, with the intruding male eventually heading off at speed. However, it didn't stay away for very long - we observed the two males clashing twice more over the course of the next hour; presumably their territories slightly overlap. I feel quite privileged to have witnessed a duell between two of Britain's rarest birds! The light was going a bit, so excuse the picture quality!

Male Hen Harrier

Checking out my usual reliable spots for the Hares proved fruitless, although I did get some great close views of a family of Wheatears, with the fledglings still looking very fuzzy & cute.

Fledgling Wheatear

Male adult Wheatear

I'd pretty much given up for the evening and we were just heading home, when Lou spotted a well-hidden pair of ears protruding from a clump of reeds. Sure enough, it was the elusive Mountain Hare beastie! With patience, I was able to get some decent shots of it - and a second one, which peeked shyly over a grassy tussock at us. While the light was going, I'm actually quite pleased with how the colours have come out in these. No doubt I'll be back again for another look before we come home!

Mountain Hare