If you gotta go, go now!

(courtesy the Moody Blues I think!)

Well, I normally start with the weather and so delighted to report its been sun, sun and more sun.  We have been thoroughly spoilt on Mull for the last few weeks.  Beautiful clear blue skies and warm sunshine - almost a heatwave with the garden thermometer reaching 30.9°C - Dave wont believe it when he returns.

As usual, this is a really busy time on Mull - the English schools have now broken up for their summer break so the Island is bustling and trips to Loch Frisa are filling up.  Skye and Frisa have returned to thir regular lochside tree and occasionally sitting in one of the trees close to the hide.  Just sad that at this time, their chicks would have just about fledged and we would see Skye and Frisa teaching them flying and hunting techniques.

Our newly fledged buzzard has certainly given us plenty of entertainment.  Yesterday he was running up and down a newly mown field in front of the hide - looked so comical as Mum watched from a fence post.  Eventually she called to him, took off with him in hot pursuit and showed him how to hunt from above the ground, almost hovering and was rewarded pretty quickly with a rabbit for lunch. 

We also have a newly fledged grey heron - its great watching the adults showing them what to do - the adult heron was trying to encourage the youngster to fly but he kept landng as if to say, "I've had a enough, I need a rest". 

Our exciting news is at the time of writing our barn owl has had her first hatch!  She eventually laid 7 eggs and I expect a 2nd hatching this morning.  Its lovely watching her from the hide checking on the eggs, and the odd glimpse of the chick.  We have put up another box in the trees nearby for Dad as a roost which will also be useful once the chicks fledge.  I will keep you posted of progress and try to grab some photos from the camera. (Just a reminder that the barn owl is on Schedule 1 of both the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and The Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985; therefore the birds, their nests, eggs and young are fully protected at all times throughout the UK).

The sand martins have fledged their second broods and the sky is full of them, as well as swallows and their young - always a delight to see.

In between trips to Loch Frisa, I have been checking on our other nest sites as we hit fledging time.  Delighted to report that about half our chicks have now left the nest with the rest following shortly.  Green T and her family are doing well.  I really thought one of the chicks would have gone by now - but checked yesterday and they are both still there.  Its a time of great excitement as the youngsters prepare to go but also tinged with a hint of sadness - having watched a family from tiny fluffy chicks, then mature into fully grown, handsome eagles is a real priviledge - once they have left the nest they are on their own in the big wide world.  We hope and pray and cross everything possible that they remain safe and make it to adulthood themselves.

I was over on the Treshnish Isles last week and was delighted to see good numbers of puffins, razorbills and kittiwakes - but they are not safe - 3 out of 4 kittiwake nests will fail because of lack of food - our seas our changing and we must do something and do something NOW.  We are asking everyone to take a step, just one small step - to help our wildlife - you can start by signing our pledge to help protect our marine life and join the campaign in Stepping up to Nature

Puffin on Lunga - photo Debby Thorne

 Razorbills on Lunga - Photo Debby Thorne

The other exciting piece of news is that a farm on Mull has reached the final of the Nature of Farming Award Awards.  Somerset and Carolyne Charrington run a 750ha upland livestock farm at Treshnish on Mull.  They have created and restored key habitats including native woodland, wetland, peat bog and moorland.  Please vote for them on the link above and you could have the chance to win a luxury weekend break for two!  They are certainly a great example for farmers and wildlife living and working together.

And finally, just to let visitors know that the logging operations have started at the north end of Loch Frisa, which means the meeting point is now at the south end ie on the Tobermory to Salen Road..  If you wish to book a trip to Loch Frisa, just call our friends at the Craignure Visitor Centre on 01680 812556.  Further details here Mull Eagle Watch

Until next time

Debby Thorne

White Tailed Eagle Information Officer, Mull