Mull - Hen Harrier

What better way to bid farewell to Mull? Another brief Hen Harrier image opportunity - a hunting female.....

Amazing birds......It's not the best image of a distant male but I'll finish with a sight we should be enjoying over upland moors throughout the UK!

Speyside here I come!

Mull - White tailed Eagle

A washout Thursday was followed by a gloomy Friday, the White-tailed Eagle in action again.....

A pair of Great Northern Divers......

Then the these seemed to be flight - firstly Shag.

Then a Red-throated Diver overhead - you could call this monochrome conditions!

Yet another Otter!

And the nearest thing I could find to Bambi for Gemma?

That 'clump' is a Golden Eagle very very distant!

And todays female Hen Harrier!

That's it then - ferry to Oban tomorrow and next stop Speyside - might fit in a last Hen Harrier session?!

Mull - Hen Harrier

Hen Harriers seem to be doing very well on Mull and a 'fly by' is virtually a daily event ....

Here's a female from today....

Plus a male carrying prey......

The forecast is looking grim for Thursday :-(

Iona - Corncrake

There's something special about Corncrake and I couldn't imagine not devoting one day to them when they are within reach (Iona)? Question was, would it remain dry??

 You always hear them at this time of year, sometimes you see glimpses. I sometimes think where these characters are concerned, 'less can mean more' image wise? The Iris, seen here in the field behind the fire station, were barely getting into full growth which augured well!

Utopia is capturing an image or two and less is more where these characters are concerned. This image was taken within a couple of minutes of walking off the ferry! I sensed better was to come?

One individual briefly in the open near the crossroads....

But it was the beach area which held the star performer of the day! Not exactly on the beach but in the shoreline vegetation. I joined a group of birders near the scene, sat down and waited....

Hmmm, now I'm thinking more is more!!

As it began to call, showing amazingly well....

Normality resumed shortly afterwards and with that nice clean background behind I decided to settle for less being more :-)

Rasping away for all it was worth!

You know, I'd got quite used to the peekaboo show by now and this is probably up there as my favourite?

And I didn't get wet!! Quite a day with some breathtaking scenery on the drive back through the South of Mull.

Hmmm some classic Hen Harrier habitat along here........

Mull - White tailed Eagle

My annual fix of trying to get decent White-tailed Eagle images aboard 'Lady Jane' with Martin of Mull Charters resulted in a motley assortment. A mixture of cloud and blue sky with the male Eagle coming out of the sun is never easy to work with but here goes....

The approach.....

Banking into descent......

zooming in....

For such a large bird, the ease of that dramatic sideways 'flip' takes some believing!

The pick up.....

And then  the moment when you realise even 300mm is too much reach!

My favourite images from the same bird circling the boat ......

If you've not done this before and you're on Mull,  it's a 'must do' and if you've done it before why not try it again!