Mull trip episode 6 - alien invaders, owls and an absence of adders

After the scorching, Mediterranean-style sunshine of our trip to the Treshnish Isles, the weather here on Mull has taken quite a turn for the worse, with grey cloud, wind & some rain. However, it hasn't stopped us getting out & about - one of the great things about Mull is that you can often see showers coming from miles away over hills and take some evasive action! 

We've seen quite a bit more of the local Red Deer over the last few days than in our first week. Presumably, the freshening winds have kept the midges down enough to tempt them down from the heights for a bit of loch-side grazing. We've mainly seen bachelor groups of stags up close, although we have had a few distant views of groups of does with one or two very young fawns. It's interesting to note that most of the stags antlers have still got a fair amount of re-growth to do; normally we'd expect to see the majority with fully-formed antlers by the end of June, albeit velvet-covered. Talking to Paul, the Estate Manager here at Pennyghael, we learned that many things are a bit behind in their seasonal routines this year - probably down to very hard conditions earlier in the year. Paul also sadly debunked our putative feral goats sighting from last week; apparently he's got a new small herd of Soay Sheep, which have gone a little bit more free-range than anticipated! 

In previous years, I've had good luck in finding adders basking, however this time I've failed to find any at all. During the last week or so, it's really been too hot for them to be out sunning themselves during the day, but even very early morning visits to some of their usual basking sites has failed to produce a sighting. Speaking to one of the local wildlife guides, he confirmed that they have been harder to find this year, again the hard winter & bad spring weather may have had some impact? However, one bonus of being up so early was that I got some amazing views of Loch Scridain, looking as calm as a mirror in the soft morning sunlight.

Ben More in the background

Iona in the middle distance

Yesterday afternoon, we spent a couple of hours around Fidden, particularly the small tidal inlets, which host a good range of breeding waders, such as Lapwings, Oystercatcher, Spotted Redshanks, Redshanks, Greenshanks, Sandpiper and Sanderlings - as well as Eider Ducks, Shell Duck and Greylag Geese. As the tide was right out during our visit, we got some good views of chicks of several species, out feeding on the rich mud with their parents. We also had a large flock of Linnets, Pied Wagtails, Skylark and Meadow Pippits.

Artic Turn

Ringed Plover

I was particularly pleased when Louise spotted a stunning male Golden Plover on the far side of the inlet. While we've seen these birds before in good numbers on migration during some of trips to Spain, they've always been in eclipse, so this is the first decent look we've had at one in it's striking full breeding plumage. 

Golden Plover

I was also chuffed to finally get some decent views of Snipe, including a couple posting nicely. There seem to be good numbers of them in the iris beds on the marsh ground around the inlet, judging by the calls we've heard, but this year they have been reluctant to show in the open until yesterday. Not sure if they prefer the overcast weather, or if it's just chance., but there were certainly a good few of them out and about yesterday.

The surprise sighting of the day was an American Mink, which I spotted bringing down a large adult rabbit buck in the field across the road from the bay. We then watched it drag it's prey (which was considerably bulkier than it) over 100 metres into a culvert under the road.  Until this year, I hadn't realized that Mink are present and a real problem on Mull. So, while they are an impressive animal in their own right, it's not good to encounter one right next to a breeding site for a number of ground-nesting waders, which are already under pressure from many other factors. I've reported the sighting to the locals, so hopefully they'll be able to take action to curb the problem.

Finally, I also had a closer encounter with one of the local Tawny Owls - probably not the same one that sits outside our window at night though! 

Mull Trip Episode 5; Treshnish Isles - Puffin paradise

Despite having made an annual pilgrimage to Mull since 2009, we've somehow managed to miss visiting the nearby Treshnish Isles; an important breeding colony for thousands of seabirds, particularly puffins. Yesterday, we finally rectified that omission, and with blazing sunshine & barely a breeze stirring, we could hardly have picked a nicer day to be out on a boat. The sea was as flat as a proverbial mill-pond, making the ride out to the rocky, uninhabited small isles very pleasant indeed. Although an overcast day might have been easier for photography than the strong sunlight, I'm certainly not going to complain, as it made for a fantastic day out. The waters were so blue & crystal clear, you;d have thought we were in the Mediterranean, rather than the West Coast of Scotland!

We sailed out from Ulva Ferry with Turus Maras on the Island Lass - which calls first at Staffa, for a look at Fingal's Cave & the famous columnar basalt geological formations; before sailing on to Lunga, the main bird sanctuary. As we drew closer to the Treshnish Isles, we passed large numbers of birds out on the water, including Puffins, Guillemots and even a Little Awk. 

Disembarking at Staffa, we made our way over to the far end of the island,for a little introductory Puffin action in preparation for the main event. There are a few Puffins nesting there, but mainly on overhanging cliffs, so although it was lovely to see them, it was tricky to get much in the way of decent shots - particularly as the surrounding vegetation was quite high!

However, this proved not to be reason to be despondent, since it became very clear that obliging & accessible Puffins were not in short supply almost from our first moments on Lunga! After a bit of a scramble up the boulder beach and a short, steep climb up to the main ledge, you are met by hundreds of very confiding Puffins, with the added bonus of neatly nibbled-short grasses sward, courtesy of their rabbit neighbours. 

Baby Rabbits - The Puffins also make their home in unused Rabbit burrows

An aside here on equipment; I get quite a few comments about why I use a 500mm lens in situations like this, when it's possible to get so close to the birds that a much smaller lens will do - and in fact, on Lunga, it's perfectly possible to get decent snaps of Puffins on your phone! There are a few reasons; firstly, for many shots, I prefer the blurred-out background that a large fixed prime lens gives. Secondly, it gives me the flexibility to go for shots of the more distant birds - especially the Guillemots & Razorbills on the main stacks, as well as flight shots. Finally and most importantly, it also means that, as I don't have to get so close, I'm not directly on top of the Puffins and their burrows, like so many people with their wide-angle lenses getting right over the entrances to get their shots. I did have a smaller lens with me, but it didn't come out of the bag!

Puffin calling

Razorbill

After a few warm-up Puffin shots, we hiked round to the main Guillemot colony on a craggy stack further back from the landing site. It was a bit of a puff up & down steep & narrow paths on such a hot day, but well worth it. The site, sounds - and smell!- of so many Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes all packed onto the ledges was quite unforgettable. I was pleased to spot a number of Bridled Guillemots (my secret target species) amongst the standard colour- morphs. The path also passed with about 15ft of a Shag nest, wedged in the shelter of a crevice between two boulders. Again, with the advantage of a larger lens, I was able to take a few shots without disturbing the adult bird. 

Bridled & Normal Guillemots

Shag Chick - Adult in forground

After spending a little while with the Guillemots, I headed back round to the main Puffin burrows, in search of the elusive, iconic 'beakful of sand-eels' shots. Despite the number of Puffins present, it was more challenging than you'd expect! I suspect this is largely down to the marauding Fulmars, which were patrolling along just a foot or so above the cliff top, ready to ambush returning Puffin parents & pirate their cargo. This meant that incoming Puffins first did a reconnaissance circuit of the cliff edge, before usually flying straight into the mouth of their burrow; with very few birds actually pausing on the open while carrying food. So, to be in with a chance of a sand eel shot, you do have to be observant, react fast - and have a bit of luck, too! Two hours on the island is just about enough, depending on what shots you have in mind, but 4 or more would be even better, I'm sure! I didn't quite get the pictures I had in mind, but then, that's wildlife photography for you.

Fulmar

After leaving Lunga, the skipper took us round some of the skerries, and Large & Small Carnaburgh - passing a number of Atlantic Grey Seals hauled out on the rocks - mainly juveniles. We also saw Shags, both Artic and Great Skuas - colloquially know locally as 'Bonxies'. It was really pleasant being out at sea on such a calm, clear day - we could see all the way to Skye in the North, and Jura & Coll were both clearly visible to the south. Coming back towards the North end of Gometra & Ulva, I even had a very distant view a pair of Dolphins, bow-surfing a small rib. All in all, a great way to spend a day, and well worth a visit.

Artic Skua

Great Skua

Atlantic Grey Seals

I mentioned in my last blog that we'd been visited by the local Tawny Owl. She seems to be a regular caller at the farmhouse, preferring to perch (and making slightly disturbing screeching noises) on the porch directly below our bedroom window in the small hours. I managed to get a rather blurred record shot of her last night - will try and get something a bit better before the end of our stay if I can! A barn owl was also spotted floating over the field next to the house last night, although I'm not holding out any hope of getting pictures of it, since neither species seem to be active until full dark up here, which at this time of year means 11.30pm onwards!

Tawny Owl