The Magic of Mull.
~ Sunday, 12th June 2011 
The week before half term, we took off for a family holiday to the Isle of Mull. I was really excited, mainly due to the wildlife viewing opportunities that Mull presents, but also because we were off for another 
week long camping adventure with some very good freinds, Ade and Becky. Mull was being properly dealt to by the weather when we arrived, this really pleased Helen, my wife, so we sought accomodation at the Sheilings camp site at Craignure. Not where we wanted to be, but it 
allowed us safe shelter during the week. It became pretty obvious early on that all of our adventurous plans weren't going to happen. The mountains were no go, the sea was wild and sitting around to watch Otter, Eagles or Owls was going to have to be in fairly short bursts. Tobermory produced a dead pigeon, spotted after catching glimpse of a Peregrine being chased by Gulls. The Peregrine sat on the church tower for a while, but we didn't see it come down to the road to retrieve its catch. The Ross of Mull produced the wildest weather we experience all week. Amazing!!! The RSPB Sea Eagle watch came up with the goods allowing us access to a viewing location where young 
eagles had hatched. This was actually topped by a cloudy trip on Loch na Keal, where an adult Sea Eagle came to our boat three times. It was thrown a fish as part of an accepted "help" that these birds are given once their young have hatched. Close to Craignure we found a good Short Eared Owl hunting 
patch and down at Loch Buie and over in Glenmore we came across Golden Eagles. Other highlights were Otters at Craignure and Loch Spelve, Great Northern Divers, Siskins, a Whimbrel, Gannets, the odd very colourful sunset, waterfalls being blown uphill, delightful cafes and of course for Helen the ferry home!! Thanks for joining me for this long overdue blog, hopefully not so long before the next one. Take care, Andy.
