As I type this blog, the rain is falling hard and fast - our house sits on a slight incline, and the rain is running down the front path forming a small river, then turning into a mini waterfall at the front door step! It has rained everyday since last Tuesday - not just drizzle but heavy, persistent rain while a lot of the UK has been basking in sunshine and hot temperatures. To test the power of positive thought, please can our readers send some dry weather our way. Just relieved we dont have any chicks on nests.
As you can imagine, our birds have been hunkered down for most of the week. Heather came out and gave a spectacular flying display in between one of the showers - she has gained so much confidence in her flying - not so many wobbles as she glides and turns. Skye and Frisa are still staying close to her, keeping an eye on their youngster. Half Pint and his sister have being practising short flights too, with Mum and Dad not very far away.
Our young buzzards have been keeping us entertained at the hide this week - we have two families who have fledged and we are getting some great views of them practising hunting, diving and how to land in a tree.
As I returned from a short visit to Oban yesterday afternoon, I had some great views of diving gannets - they are really amazing to watch. As we were pulling into Craignure and I was pointing them out to my daughter, she said "never mind the gannets - what's that?" Two dark fins were protruding from the water "That my dear is a basking shark" I replied. We are very lucky to witness such wildlife on our shopping trips!
Gannet - Photo Debby Thorne
We will keep you updated on news but in the meantime, I am off to build an ark!
Debby Thorne
White Tailed Sea Eagle Information Officer, Isle of Mull
Hello Debby and fellow bloggers-I keep trying to send the hot/muggy weather to Scotland for you as I don't like it hot.
Mixed few days for me as I had a fantastic time at Bournemouths 4 day airshow and went on saturday, the Red arrows were their normal fantastic selves, had a lovely paddle in the sea before returning up to cliff tops to hide in some shade to watch the days events.
Very sad tonight as one of my 4 guinea pigs Snowy (one of triplets) had had a badder stone removed last week after being ill for 6 weeks and many trips to the vets before being dianosed, he came through the operation well but was not picking up well over last few days and I had to rush him to the vets as he developed respitory problems today, unfortunatly he died half and hour after the vet kept him to give him antibiotics. It has been very upsetting as he had got so thin and lost all his hair undreneath. We still have his brother (hope he will not pine alone now in hos cage) Coco and his mum and dad. Unfortunatly his sister died last year of kidney problems. The vet said he had developed breathing problems from the stresss of the operation and there was nothing we could do, although it is not a comfort at the moment.
Thanks for blog Debby, is half-pint definatly a boy and does Dave know how many male/female chicks there are this year on Mull?
JILLIAN