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
If you look at www.rspb.org.uk/.../mulleagles and look for Breagha on the satellite tracking view, she has flown south west to an islet between Raasay/Scalpay and Loch Carron on Sept 22-23. But if you look at the mapping view only, she would appear to have spent the night out at sea!!! Disconcerting if you look at the map view first? Thanks for the great pictures, everyone. The one of Oran on the nest was just brilliant - reminded me of your 'New Kids on the Block.' (And so Bracken lives on forever, in the mind's eye...)
Just another day in Paradise (again) Debby? Such a lovely evocation of Mull and the wildlife.Super photos of the ringing too and I love the little red hood on Oran. Very chic!! What magnificent birds they are.
Debby - you are getting as fluent at painting pictures as Dave is - maybe the pair of you should consider going into print with "A Year of Mull Wildlife" or some such title. Dave made an entry on the previous blog - 29.09 - referring to photos of Orun by you, Nick Purdy and Roy Dennis on the tracking page, but I can't seem to find the tracking page now since the new setup was started. Any clues would be appreciated.
Reply: Hi Liz - if you follow this link http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/mulleagles/
then scroll down the page, past the Google Earth map of Mull, you will see Photo Gallery - you can then scroll through the photos - good luck!
That sounds idylic Debby..... how wonderful, to have all these wild creatures to look at, as you do!!
The stag was probably more surprised than you by the sound of it:)
As for the little Pipistrelle bat.....what a super way to rid yourselves of the dreaded midges and give him or her a treat too!
What a marvellous sight, to see a White tailed Sea Eagle mum and dad with their youngster all together like that, as well as all the other birds and wildlife that you have on Mull. wow.... so many people would love to swop places just for a couple of hours even :)
Debby yet another magical picure created by your words. You certainly have a lot going on there and I am jsut so pleased that you have seen Skye, Frisa and Heather in full flight, must have been a wonderful sight and of course the golden eagles. Photo of the stag just magnificent as well. Hope the weather stays fine for you although I heard on the weather forecast at lunchtime today that It is expected to get a lot cooler tomorrow. Looking foward to hearing about Venus and Oran too.
Margobird