Well I really can't believe it! As it sit here typing, I am looking at a clear blue sky, the sun is shining and the Sound of Mull is flat calm - the bracken has turned a beautiful rusty colour, leaves are varying shades of yellow, orange and gold. There are two adult sea eagle sat on the rocks and close by a stag and 4 hinds are grazing. Autumn has truly arrived and the deer rut has started.
At the hide yesterday, we were treated to the the wonderful sound of the stags bellowing - at one point a handsome stag dashed across the track in front of the hide and as I drove in yesterday morning, I came face to face with one on the track, not sure who was more surprised him or me!
We have had some lovely views of Skye and Frisa and yesterday afternoon, a real treat - Skye, Frisa and Heather flying up the Loch - it was a fantastic sight - as they reached the head of the loch, they all went in different directions - Skye landed in his favourite tree, Frisa did a flyround over the loch and Heather landed on the other side of the loch next to a huge patch of bracken. That was shortly followed by a beautiful fly past of a pair of golden eagles. We are still getting great views of our hen harrier family too who enjoy hunting next to the hide. We are also being treated to views of our otter who trots across the track as he makes his way down the burn to the loch.
And another species to add to our board this week ..... pipistrelle bat! We had our suspicions that they had been roosting in the roof of the hide but on Tuesday whilst most of us were admiring Frisa sat in the larches, one of the visitors came running in and said "there's a bat out here if anyone's interested" - well of course, we all ran out to see a bat flying around the car park. It was a particulary still day and the rain had stopped - which in turn brought out our friends, the midges. The bat was having a grand old time feeding and of course a delight for us to see him in the middle of the afternoon.
Dont forget, the hide is staying open with trips on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10.00 and 1.00pm. Full details at http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/mull/index.asp
You may remember we were following the Estonian webcam this year - just to say that the webcam is still running and the chicks do appear from time to time so worth keeping an eye on! Here is the link - just click on "direct stream"
http://www.looduskalender.ee/en/node/2909
Stag and hind - Photo Debby Thorne
Norway hot line suggests Half Pint re-christened Pitch or Putt,wonder which or even if hot line accurate.
A special request for you lovely eagles to fly nice and close when i come up in a couple of weeks!! I went to the optician yesterday , i thought my prescription was wrong, but its not, my medication is affecting my focus, which i am gutted about, as hard to focus on birds, i was hoping I would have new specs for Mull, but no its my stupid focus. So a request for all eagles on Mull to come nice and close, infact you can land if you want :-)
Keep welll eagles!!!!
See you soon!!!
Sooty - for Assynt crofting and ownership, see The John Muir Trust: www.jmt.org/cuineag-quinag-estate.asp The Assynt area is brilliant - not only the mountains, the lochans, the wonderful beaches and the cliffs, sea arches and stack on the Stoer headland, but also the historical and archaeological sites, plus Lochinver, its environmentally friendly tourist centre, Highland Stoneware and the pie shop!! [Do you get the impression that I love the place??] Breagha was in Assynt for a few days before or after Kylesku, at the lochans by Suilven/Canisp (I think - Dave?). The last sea eagles seen around there a few years ago were said to be in the Drumbeg area at Eddrachillis Bay. Perhaps Lochinver itself is too populous for sea eagles? We once saw an eagle gliding over us on the Inverkirkaig 'road' behind Stac Pollaidh, but we presumed it was a golden eagle from the mountains, rather than a sea eagle visiting the fish farm on the coastal side of the road there... But - ask Dave about any sightings. (Dave - ??)
Well Mex you never cease to amaze me.Do you know much about the Assynt area other than that the crofters had a campaign and managed to buy their Estate or whatever.Don't think the Sea Eagles have colonised that area much if at all.I don't think the RSPB have any reserves or presence in a massive area of what I would call the northern west Highlands.
The islets that Breagha has been visiting are the Crowlin islands, east of Raasay and Scalpay and offshore from Toscaig on the Applecross peninsula. They are only 2-3 miles across. Not much there but a lighthouse, a cave - and a sea eagle visiting the wildlife...