The other evening as I was leaving the reserve, I saw something that you don’t see everyday – a hare sitting on the roof of the Gallie Craig cafe. Actually it wasn’t a silly as it sounds since the roof is turfed and covered in grass and plants so clearly the hare fancied a meal at the cafe (and who wouldn’t?) Just for once I wished that I’d had a camera handy but I tend not to bother with cameras as a) I start looking for photo opportunities rather than simply enjoying the moment and b) there are plenty of much better photographers out there who will kindly share their photos with me.
Commonest view of a hare! Copyright: Sue Wolfe
Gallie Craig coffee house - minus the hare on the roof
Here we are in June and the consensus of opinion is that nature is running about a month late. You can see this at the Mull wherever you look. The bluebells are just in their prime, the seabirds are not very far on with their breeding season, the cows and calves have only recently been able to go out to grass such was the poor quality of the pasture after all that foul weather.
Happily though we have had a few decent, even (whisper it) warm, days during the holiday week. So, this has enticed a few more visitors to the Mull and a few more participants on our guided walks around the reserve (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm, no need to book, just turn up). Here’s a roll call of the sort of things we’ve been seeing:
On the heath:
Many smaller birds flitting around or perched warily, keeping guard over their territory and nest: Meadow pipits (almost wherever you look on the reserve you’ll come across a meadow pipit. Or a rock pipit. Quick diagnostic: meadow pipits have pink legs, rock pipits have dark legs.
Wheatears – frequent sightings, you’ll see a medium sized bird hopping around and bobbing its tail a little like a wagtail. When it flies off and shows you a flash of white rear end, you’ll know that you have seen a wheatear.
Stonechats – listen out for the tell-tale sound like two pebbles being tapped together. Then look out for the small bird perching conspicuously on top of a bush or fence post. There are probably two pairs nesting on the reserve.
Swallows, house-martins and swifts are all present on the reserve, if you are not sure how to tell them apart then come and ask in the visitor centre and we’ll give you a few hints and tips.
Many of the birds mentioned above either are ground nesters or have low level nests and for this reason it is especially important for us to keep our dogs under close control and on a short lead when walking around the reserve. Thank you kindly.
As mentioned earlier, the bluebells are out and looking absolutely beautiful. There are many other plants in flower just now. Some that have caught my eye are the spring squill, lousewort, thrift, kidney vetch, white campion and tormentil. A riot of colour, guaranteed to lift your spirits.
And of course, the seabirds. All of the usual suspects are here and getting on with breeding, thank goodness. Better late than never. We have occasional views of the black guillemots, bobbing around on the sea between the foghorn and Lag Vag point. Guillemots gargling, fulmars gliding, kittiwakes squealing, gannets diving, razorbills... ,um, shaving? We’ve even had several good sightings of porpoise. It’s all going on and it’s a fine spectacle.
Copyright: Sue Wolfe
I have saved the best news until last. On Tuesday visitors reported two puffins indulging in bill clashing, a classic courtship ritual. This is the first time we have witnessed such behaviour in many years, hopefully they will stay and breed here!