Fool if you think its over!

(courtesy Chris Rea)

I always seem to start my blogs by commenting on the weather, so here we go!  It has certainly been a right old mix with days of blue sky and sunshine, followed by grey, wet days that make it feel like November.  It is really odd when you hear about the really warm dry weather other parts of the UK have been experiencing and yet, on a couple of evenings we have had to light the fire.  The schools on Mull break up on Thursday for their long summer vacation - I just hope the children get some days of sunshine to enjoy - unlike last year when the day after they broke up, it started raining and didn't stop until they went back to school when the sun promptly came out.

Of course we are lucky in other ways - we have a huge variety of wildlife literally on our doorstep.  In my own garden, we had been hearing a strange "squeak" for some time and couldn't work out what it was.  By method of elimination and a bit of logical thinking, we have discovered it is a snipe!  That will be a good one for the Big Garden Birdwatch.

You may have read in the national press about a very exciting visitor to Loch Frisa - a European Roller!  It had been spotted early one morning by a visitor to the Island and luckily for us, it flew across to Loch Frisa.  A truly stunning bird, about jackdaw sized but the most incredible electric blue colour.  It had probably got blown in on a weather front and should be down in the Mediterranean or Africa.  I bet it noticed the change in temperature.

At Loch Frisa, we are able to enjoy a huge range of wildlife.  This year we are able, for the first time, to drive the whole length of the Loch, stopping along the way to marvel at a whole variety of sights.  Incredibly, it was a wet day last week when I met the group at the meeting point of Loch Frisa.  We hadn't gone far when something caught my eye flying along the ridge - it was a short eared owl.  We watched it hunting for sometime and many of our visitors were amazed at just how big they are.  Shortly after, we were treated to a male hen harrier "quartering", or hunting for small mammals such as voles.  It wasn't long before it pounced on something and then we were treated to a view of the female rising up to meet the male and the amazing mid air food pass.  The female doesn't let the male near the nest if there are chicks so he delivers it to her talons mid air before flying off, so that the female can then feed the chicks. 

It looks like our young buzzard has now fledged - on Friday both parents and the youngster were creating a right old din next to the hide as they were following each other around as the youngster tried to keep his balance and learning to fly at the same time - very entertaining to watch.  Apart from birds, we are lucky enough to enjoy a wide variety of butterflies and flowers.  Where the Forestry Commission have cleared areas of matured pines, large swathes of foxglove have popped up creating a beautiful purple carpet.

Foxgloves at Loch Frisa - photo Debby Thorne

Golden Ringed Dragonfly - photo Debby Thorne

Everywhere you look at the moment, there are signs of new life - so many baby birds - along the track young willow warblers, the common sandpiper, chaffinches, and siskins.  Also evidence of  young with the great spotted woodpeckers flitting back and forth with beaks full of food for their young.

Our most exciting news at the moment is that barn owls have taken up residence in the barn owl box and the female, as of last night, was incubating 2 eggs.  Its great that we can watch this fabulous bird from the comfort of the hide thanks to the hidden camera in the box.  Of course we will keep you posted on how they progress.

Female Barn Owl - photo Debby Thorne

So although the weather may be unpredictable, the wildlife is always there - sometimes you dont have to look very far.  But the icing on the cake for our visitors on a dull wet day, was to see Skye and Frisa sat in their old favourite tree, calling to each other and preening.  Always such a delight to see.  Some of you have been asking about the tests that were carried out on the egg retrieved from the nest.  The tests showed that the egg was fertile but had stopped developing early on.  At least this confirms that both our birds are fertile so we will be crossing everything for them next year.

If you would like to come and experience the incredible drive through at Loch Frisa, (come rain or shine)  you can book on a trip by calling the Craignure Visitor Centre on 01680 812556.  More details can be found at Mull Eagle Watch.  You never know what you might see.

Male House Sparrow, Loch Frisa - photo Debby Thorne

Our other white tailed eagle family, Green T and Blue 9, continue to do well.  I was watching the chicks today who are nearly 8 weeks old.  One of the chicks was doing a lot of wing flapping - getting ready for the big day when they leave the nest.

Dont forget you can follow us on Twitter at @skyeandfrisa and also on Facebook at Mull Sea Eagles.

Until next time .....

Debby Thorne

White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Mull