Finishing as it began

Today was my last day on the boat, from my two weeks volunteering with Sea Life Surveys. I've had a brilliant time and would like to say a big thank you to Ewan, Jimbo, Popz and the SLS staff for giving me the opportunity, but for also making me one of the team.


It was a 7 hour trip today, headed out in fair weather with a bit of a breeze. Harbour Porpoise, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Common Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Shag and Great Black Backed Gull were seen as we left the sound and headed for the 'middle ground'. Towards the Cairns I picked up a distant immature Minke, proving to be extremely difficult to see. After a few distant views the whale deep dived, and reappeared right on the stern of the boat! Associating with the boat this young whale provide absolutely stunning views four or five times. The best I've seen in my two weeks here.


Approaching the Cairns I picked up a single Storm Petrel feeding, then a Basking Shark was spotted, then another, then another, then another, on first arrival we counted 13 in the vicinity of the boat although travelling through and around the Cairns there was at least 25 in the area. Something unbelievable to see, one of the best wildlife spectacles I've seen to date.


A quick lunch and we were off South as Killer Whales had been reported off Staffa, that would of been the cherry on top of the cake, but unfortunately visibility turned poor and we weren't successful in picking them up, although we did have another extremely good view of an adult Minke Whale, and a great show from a Great Skua and some Kittiwakes.


A brilliant trip to end my time with SLF. I'll definitely be back.


After clearing up, myself and Ewan headed for the chippy, fed ourselves and the Herring Gulls then headed off. For some reason Ewan thought that I hadn't seen enough in my two week stay, so we were soon heading to South Mull in search of Short-Eared Owl and Hen Harrier, I wasn't complaining. We found both, 5 Short-Eared Owls, 2 of which were interacting and a pair of Hen Harrier, just missing a distant food pass by seconds.

Tomorrow I head back to the mainland, spending a day at Loch Garten, before driving over to the Loch of Strathbeg to begin my two week RSPB residential, should be another brilliant two weeks. But before I head off myself and Ewan are booked on the Loch Na Keal White-Tailed Eagle trip, hopefully it will produce some good images, it will be a brilliant experience either way.

Hello Beautiful

Good trip again today, Minke Whale, Basking Shark (another breaching, although I only got the splash), Harbour Porpoise (4+ at one point  feeding with some diving Gannets), and Great Skua being the highlights, still no Dolphins.


Th Basking shark today was a bigger animal, pushing 6 metres, it was also very showy, feeding on the large amounts of plankton off the Cairns of Coll.


Double click image to get a better view.

Horizontal rain and wrinkled fingers

Monday saw me back on the boat for a 7 hour whale watch, my first proper day volunteering. It was warm and sunny, a bit breezy but Pops decided the Cairns of Coll were the place to be today. Highlights of the trip were 1 young Minke Whale just off the Cairns, Great Skua flying low over the boat, a lone Barnacle Goose on the Cairns, and Black Guillemot.


Tuesday another 7 hour trip, although wet and windy so the Sula Beag just hugged the coastline, heading towards the Trishnish Isles, with the highlight being Harbour Porpoise in the Sound. Tuesday evening Ewan and I went down to Tobermory for fish and chips and to scan for the Peregrine, no sign, although this bold individual kept us entertained.

 Next we headed on to a site in search of Hen Harrier, we sat at a viewpoint for a good while, picking up Meadow Pipits, Skylark, and Mistle Thrush, just as we were heading back a male Hen Harrier was picked up hunting over a coniferous belt, showing well for a couple of minutes before moving around and up a valley.


Today a shorter 4 hour trip, heading out towards Ardnamurchan Point,  the sea was flat and calm, although it was still breezy and wet, horizontal at some points. Harbour Porpoise and 2 Great Skua were the highlights out of the Sound. No whales around the point although there was large rafts of Manx Shearwater, Puffin, Common, Bridled and Black Guillemot, as well as Gannets and a distant Diver sp. The journey back produced another Harbour Porpoise, Common Seals, and an elusive Otter.


Tonight I headed down to Ardmore Point, it was still drizzling but it was calm. Some Goldcrests were showing well as I got out the car, and a male Peregrine flew over head as I walked down to the hide. On arrival in the hide 2 Red Throated Diver were feeding in the bay, 8 Common Sandpiper were roosting on the shoreline, and a lone Grey Heron was standing on the rocks. Highlights on the walk back to the car were Crossbill, and a female Sparrowhawk over head.


On the way back to Tobermory I had a quick stop off at the water treatment/tip, 1 Common Sandpiper stood boldly on the machinery, counted 25+ Raven and 2 Buzzards in the area of the tip, and a single Grasshopper Warbler was reeling.

The Stuff of Dreams

For the next two weeks I'm volunteering with Sea Life Surveys, based on the Isle of Mull, thanks to Ewan. 


I arrived at Tobermory on Friday evening, only venturing a far as the harbour, the weather was pleasant, and the Peregrine on the church kept me company for a good hour or so. That night I couldn't have dreamt of what was to follow.

Saturday morning Ewan took me to one of his favourite local patches, Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Siskin could be heard as we left the car and headed down the track. After a short while we picked up the bird Ewan had intended on showing me, a Golden Eagle, the male was up, although relatively low, being mobbed by a Hooded Crow. We stood and watched for a good 10 minutes as the male circled over head, soon to be joined by the female. A breath-taking experience. We continued on towards the forest, not far down the track I spotted a Tawny Owl sitting out in the open, providing excellent views and a good opportunity to take some photographs.

We left the Owl and continued around to the Bay, where after seconds a dog Otter appeared along the shoreline, showing for 5-10 minutes before both it and us headed off. A sign of good things to come?


It was Ewan's bosses birthday and a boat trip and BBQ had been planned, we met on the Sula Beag at lunchtime and headed off towards the Cairns of Coll. Gannets, Great black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Manx Shearwater, Guillemot, and a Harbour Porpoise with a small calf were seen on the journey out of the sound. An adult Minke Whale broke the surface off Ardnamurchan point, providing some great views.


On Arrival to the Cairns of Coll we were hit by wildlife, a Great Skua came to inspect the boat within seconds, and a Basking Shark was picked up not far away, as well as another adult Minke Whale close to the boat! A few of us climbed into the rib to try and join the Basking Shark in the water, unfortunately it moved off after a short while and I missed out, although being so close to it in the rib was an experience in itself. Instead I got the chance to swim with the Seals, an amazing experience, even though I was confused by the snorkel. Great Black Backed Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Turnstone, 2 Great Skua, Raven, and Eider were all seen in the area. The Sula Beg stayed out in the Atlantic until the early hours of the morning.

 Look at that water !

from the Cairns of Coll, looking towards the Isle of Rum

Today we headed for Burg, a Scottish National Trust site, with the plan to follow the fossil tree trail. This area has some dramatic scenery and great habitat, the highlights of the day being, Whinchat, Dark Green Fritillary, Scotch Argus, Slender Scotch Burnet Moth and Golden Ringed Dragonfly. There was also a large number of young Wheatear in the area.

Oh and these characters…

An amazing experience already, I can't wait to see what the coming days hold.