     
     
 
December
2018
Dec 24th to
Jan 2nd 2019
We have been away for Christmas and the
New Year
Dec 17th to Dec 23rd
After the gales and ferry disruptions
things
quietened down
this week not
only the
weather but
wildlife wise
as well so
there is
little new to
report and we
now have
Christmas to
enjoy, so this
will be my
last blog post
of 2018, I
will start up
again with the
blog at the
start of next
year. After a
very promising
start to the
year my bird
list somewhat
stalled and I
ended up with
142 species
seen in 2018.
The highlights
were Glossy
Ibis seen in
January and
Cattle and
Little Egrets
seen in
November
although the
Snow Buntings
in early
spring and of
course the
Kingfisher at
Dervaig were
also amongst
my personal
favourites. It
has been
noticeable
that although
species
numbers were
around the
same on Mull
this year the
numbers of
birds for some
migrant
species were
well down, let
us hope this
is a blip due
to the very
cold Spring
and not a
trend. On that
cautious note
may Pam and I
take this
opportunity to
wish all
guests and
blog readers a
very Happy
Christmas and
a wonderfull
New Year of
wildlife
watching.
Dec 9th to Dec 16th
A mixed bag of weather
this week and I have discovered
that if I feed the birds later
in the mornings I get more
species in the garden and I
think this is down to the
Chaffinches. We have between 150
and 200 chaffinches in our
garden at one time but only
after I have filled up the seed
feeders, before then we only
have a few and so this
encourages the other species to
come and try their luck. After I
have filled the seed feeders and
the Chaffinches turn up in
Sqadrens, the sheer weight of
numbers of Chaffinches puts off
a lot of the other species which
is a shame no matter how much I
like Chaffinches. Pam cut my
hair with the machine this week
but forgot to put the guard on
for the first run up the back of
my head so it now looks like I
have a Mohican in reverse and I
have to constantly wear a hat or
look a complete numpty much to
Pam's delight. We had a lovely
time visiting friends with
Christmas Cards this week, it is
the time of year to make time
for friends and family and those
less fortunate than ourselves.
Three Ardrioch facts lately, the
Woodcocks are back in our
woodland, we have several
calling Tawny Owls around the
property and the Jays are
visiting the garden at first
light but don't hang around for
long.
Dec 3rd to Dec 9th
We have had a busy
week with Cristmas coming up and
Pam's birthday, although we did
manage a couple of days birding
during our off time. We went to
the Salmon Hatchery outfalls and
saw a Carrion Crow mixed in with
numerous Hooded Crows. There
were Redshanks and Turnstone on
the shoreline and lots of Black
Headed Gulls with the Common
Gulls and Herring Gulls but no
white winged gulls yet this
winter. Ducks seen were
Mallards, Teal, Wigeon and
Goldeneye. The White-tailed
Eagles are setting up their
nests for next year and we have
seen a pair of young Golden
Eagles which look as if they are
setting up home on a new
territory, we will keep
monitoring their situation. As
always at the end of the tourist
season and shortening days
Otters are more easily seen with
3 seen on both days out. In the
garden there are zillions of
Chaffinches, lots of
Greenfinches and Goldfinches
with the occasional Siskin but
our Brambling have disappeared,
we hope the resident Sparrowhawk
isn't to blame. The Jays and
Treecreepers our now daily
visitors although you have to be
lucky to see them. I have been
doing some work in the burn
above my dam and touch wood the
water supply is in full swing. A
thank you to Hannah and Tom and
the staff at the Bellachroy for
such a good meal for Pam's
birthday, she had a lovely time
with our friends and a great day
all in all as she spent large
quantities of the day on the
phone to family and friends.
Dec 2nd
Pam had a busy day
making chutney which if it
tastes as good as it smells will
be delicious. I spent most of
the day watching football on the
tv much to Pams disgust, I don't
think Lucy was too impressed
either.
Pam... I'm home from my
wonderful holiday to California
and Tampa in Florida, I have
been watching dolphins with my
grandchildren, swam with manatee
and body boarded with my son and
was turned truly Indian for
Rajiv (daughter-in-laws brother)
and Naha's Wedding. I've worn a
sari, had Henna hand painting,
danced Bollywood style and took
part in a Hindu wedding
ceromony. On the Wedding day the
bridegroom, Rajiv, goes to meet
the brides family on horse back
surrounded by loud music and
dancing in the street. Here I am
with our family going to one of
the many parties that was held
during the week.
Dec
1st
A lovely day so we
decided
to go out birding this
morning and saw over 50
species of birds and 5 mammals.
Birds of prey seen were 2 Golden
Eagles, a White-tailed Sea
Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and
of course Buzzards. Pam and I
were particularly pleased to see
some Long Tailed Tits, 2 Reed
Buntings and a Dipper sitting on
a tree root out of reach of the
swollen river water. Two Otters
were seen as were both types of
Seal, Red Deer and a Rabbit.
Lucy enjoyed the outing with us
until she got car sick which was
a shame but otherwise it was
nice to be out and about with
Pam now she has returned home.
Whilst she has been away I
busied myself clearing up the
leaves and putting the garden to
bed for the winter and for once
I had a decent bonfire.
December 2017
Dec 31st
We
arrived home
yesterday
afternoon and I
was out and about
birding again
today and thanks
to my mate Mike
Murphy managed to
see the long
staying Glossy
Ibis bringing my
2017 Mull Bird
List total to 143.
In the area where
the Ibis is
staying on Mull we
also saw a Hare a
mammal we don't
often see on Mull
so not a bad way
to end the year.
We are going New
Years day birding
tomorrow so look
out for the first
day of my 2018
blog and in the
meantime Happy New
Year to all my
readers.
Dec 14th to 31st
Dec 11th to 13th
It
is still very cold so I decided
to just take photo's of the
birds we see every day in our
garden for you to look at if you
stumble on our web site during
the holiday period. As the
weather is forcast to remain
cold we have decided this will
be our last post before
Christmas. So we would both like
to take this opportunity to wish
all our friends, guests and blog
readers a very Happy Christmas
and New Year and look forward to
blogging for you in the new year
with my Mull birding news.
Dec
10th
We risked life and
limb going down to the Loch
opposite Ardrioch today as it
was so icy and enjoyed watching
a very large dog Otter which was
200 yards away when we first
spotted it but because we
remained very quiet and
camouflaged against a Gorse Bush
it came within 20 feet of us on
its way up the burn.
Dec
7th to 9th
The weather on Mull
for the last few days has been
more akin to Ice Age with snow
and freezing temperatures so we
have not been out birding but on
the Ice Age theme a photo of
some of Pam's cuddly toys to
make you smile. I got her the
Mammoth for her birthday a few
days ago.
Dec 4th to 6th
Not a lot happening on
Mull at the moment except in our
garden where we have had a visit
from a family of Long Tailed
Tits. We are bracing ourselves
for some wintry weather this
weekend although as I write it
is just wet and blustery. Pam is
iceing the Christmas Cake and
will be celebrating, if you can
use that term, her birthday
soon, no its not Chrismas day as
I am not Santa. We were planning
a day out to the South of the
Island this week but the weather
has put a stop to that so it
will be just what's around the
Dervaig area for the next few
days. If we do have anything
wildlife wise to report you will
find it here or on Alan
Spellman's Mullbirds site.
Dec 3rd
A morning out with Pam
and we saw Red Deer and Fallow
Deer including the one in the
photograph below which took off
as we stopped the car and I was
just able to get this photo of a
yearling stag. We saw 2
White-tailed Sea Eagles one of
them having a real scrap with a
Heron, not the one in the
picture, believe me you would
not look that chilled if you had
just escaped White-tailed Eagle
talons. 2 Golden Eagles were
seen as they appeared off a
hillside in their territory to
see off a transgressing
White-tail, this was the one
that tangled with the Heron. On
our way home we spotted an Otter
and over the hill road back home
a beautiful male Hen Harrier.
Dec 2nd
Today after trying to find
one all year Pam and I saw
3 Common Crossbills in the
forestry plantation along
the Glen Road between
Dervaig and Salen.
Dec 1st
We had a dinner party
tonight so no birding
although while I was doing
some work in the garden I
did manage to see a
Treecreeper climbing the
tree by our garden gate. Nov
30th
A major home
refurbishment has started near
Dervaig and it is still only
November, yes our pair of
White-tailed Sea Eagles have
started to rebuild their nest in
preparation for the 2018
breeding season, they are either
being very pro-active or have an
early 2018 holiday planned,
either way it will be good for
our self-caterers to have the
Eagles so close. We went to
Calgary yesterday and were very
fortunate to see both Great
Northern and Black Throated
Divers in the bay. I counted 15
Greenfinches in the garden this
morning and 10 Collared Doves,
this is a record for Collared
Doves a beautiful bird often
given a hard time by garden
birders but Pam and I are very
pleased to have them.Dec 3rd
A morning out
with Pam and we saw Red
Deer and Fallow Deer
including the one in the
photograph below which
took off as we stopped
the car and I was just
able to get this photo
of a yearling stag. We
saw 2 White-tailed Sea
Eagles one of them
having a real scrap with
a Heron, not the one in
the picture, believe me
you would not look that
chilled if you had just
escaped White-tailed
Eagle talons. 2 Golden
Eagles were seen as they
appeared off a hillside
in their territory to
see off a transgressing
White-tail, this was the
one that tangled with
the Heron. On our way
home we spotted an Otter
and over the hill road
back home a beautiful
male Hen Harrier.
December 2016
Dec 18th
Today we had one of those low
cloud and drizzly rain, you know
the sort 'wetting rain', every
time I tried to look through my
binoculars they just got covered
in water. As this is my last blog
of the year I would like to wish
all my readers and guests a very
Happy Christmas and look out for
my renewing my blog page early in
the new year. The picture of the
this Robin was taken in our
garden.
Dec 17th
The day
after the night before when we
had a party for friends on
Mull, a good time was had by
all but now-a-days it takes me
a full day to get over a night
of partying so I spent today
recovering.
Dec 16th
At last we saw an Otter at
Dervaig, the Kingfisher was
seen here recently as well
but not by us
Dec 15th
It rained
again, all morning but as we
had to go to Salen we decided
to go and look for Otters as
we have yet to see one since
returning from our last visit
to friends and family.
Although we did not see an
Otter we did see 4
White-tailed Sea Eagles, a
male Hen Harrier, Red Deer,
Kestrel, Common Seal and a
Golden Eagle as we were
returning home and the rain
had stopped. At Lagganulva Bay
with all the Gulls and
Oystercatchers was a large
flock of Lapwings always a
great bird to see and for us a
nice surprise.
Dec 14th
It rained
and we saw a White-tailed Sea
Eagle sitting in a tree
looking disconsulate not far
from our back garden. Talking
of our garden we had a
Treecreeper climbing up one of
our trees this morning, always
a nice sighting. Pam has spent
a lot of time cleaning this
week as we are having a party
on Friday, I have been making
myself scarce, don't you think
it strange that if you are
about ladies seem to find jobs
for you to do. oh, oh here she
comes again.
Dec
13th
Another
fabulous sighting of a Female
Hen Harrier this morning, it
was hunting very close to my
car along a ridge with
fabulous views of the
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and
the Small Isles and Skye as a
backdrop, unforgetable. This
afternoon Pam and I went out
in fading light and had some
spectacular Golden Eagle
action. There were two birds
just holding on the wind
looking for prey, it was
wonderful to see and shortly
afterwards we had a young
Goldie chasing a Kestrel, both
were travelling at speed when
the Eagle pulled its wings in,
banked and dropped after the
Kestrel, it missed, then flew
off in another direction.
Shortly afterwards the Kestrel
came back flying right past us
and I swear there was a grin
on its face or maybe just
relief.
Dec 12th
Me and my
mate the Mull dentist Mr Price
met up again this morning, it
was really nice with me lying
back in an easy chair whilst
he practised with his new
drill and talked to me about
canal roots, it was so
enjoyable we plan at least to
more get togethers in January
next year. The funny thing was
after we had parted company I
could not feel a thing in my
mouth and I swear I had not
touched a drop although Pam
drove home to be on the safe
side. Another Hen Harrier seen
today and I took a photo of
some of Dervaig's Snipe, later
in the afternnoon a Kestrel
flew across our garden.
Dec 11th
Another
dull but dry day and warm out
of the wind, well I was warm
as I had that many layers on I
looked like Michelin Man. Out
and about again today and here
are the highlights, Twenty
Two Snipe at Dervaig
this is a Mull record for me
anywhere on Mull for this
species. Red Deer through Glen
Bellart with Mistle Thrushes
and Redwings seen as well. At
Aros Bay there were lots of
Wigeon and Black Headed Gulls
were with the usual Gulls we
have on Mull. At Killiechronan
in the fields with Starlings
were a couple of Fieldfares
with 2 Buzzards pestering
them, they in turn were
suddenly disturbed as a young
White-tailed Sea Eagle went
through. Great Northern Divers
and Slavonian Grebes were on
Loch Na Keal and along the
hill on the right were 2
interacting Kestrels.
Returning home late as I was
held up by a farmer moving
some yearling cattle I had
another fabulous sighting of a
female (ringtail) Hen Harrier
a lovely trip out and about
with plenty to see.
Dec 10th
A trip
round the block, over the hill
road and back via Calgary Bay.
We had only just set off when
Pam spotted a female Hen
Harrier hunting over tusset
grass between the road and
Loch Cuin, Hen Harriers are
always great birds to see
particularly as they are
amongst Britains most
persecuted. A Heron at Dervaig
mentioned as it was the first
I have seen since returning
home. It was at Lainne Sguier
and Calgary Bay that the main
bird action was seen with 2
Purple Sandpipers, 2 Ringed
Plovers, 4 Great Northern
Divers, and single Black
Throated and Red Throated
Divers present as well. Lots
of Gulls, Oystercatchers and
Curlews were seen and a couple
of Kestrels one of them being
harassed by a Raven giving
great views as they floated in
a sky dancing spectacle in a
very cool breeze. Red Deer
were seen but to far away to
get a decent photo so I took
this picture of cattle in
Torloisk wood relaxing out of
the wind. We were out for just
over an hour and got all this
wildlife and possibly
pneumonia, guess what I will
dress properly before I go out
tomorrow.
Dec 9th
A dull
unseasonally warm day with a
strong breeze and bird wise
little to get too excited
about. At Dervaig there were
at least 4 Redshank, 2
Greenshank, Snipe galour and 3
Little Grebes. On to Calgary
and although all Mulls main
winter Gulls were present
along with Oystercatchers and
a single Shag, there was
little else to set the pulses
racing. I watched a Buzzard
across the bay dive bombing
something behind the hill for
several minutes but nothing
was disturbed, I will leave
you to make up your minds what
it might have been,
White-tailed Eagle on a
carcase would be my guess but
then I would have expected to
have seen some corvids.
Dec 8th
We got our
internet connection back,
hence the blog catch up. We
went to Tobermory this morning
for more shopping and for Pam
to spend time at the hair
dressers, did I say time it
seemed like days, there only a
certain amount of time a bloke
can Christmas shop without
losing the will to live
although we eventually got
most of what we were looking
for. On our way home at
Dervaig we saw 3 Whooper Swans
(taken on full zoom), 3
Goldeneye Ducks, a Snipe and 2
White-tailed Sea Eagles flew
over, RESULT, thats more like
it.
Dec 7th
Driving up
the Glen road from Salen to
Dervaig on our way home a male
Hen Harrier flew alongside the
car as if to say welcome home
and a Buzzard sitting on a
telegraph pole nodded as if we
were returning grandees, it
just goes to show what we miss
when we are away.
Dec 1st to 6th
Back down
to Cheshire for the 70th
birthday party of Jerry
Sullivan, one of our best
friends, which was great by
the way, the only problem was
that a lot of the invited
guests had flu like symptoms
including my Dad and Sister so
now back home we hope we have
not returned with it. Whilst
down in Cheshire we caught up
with good school friends John
and Roy with their wives Irene
and Kay, it was just for lunch
which lasted nearly 4 hours
and was brilliant, thanks to
John for arranging the day. We
managed a little Christmas
shopping between feeding and
looking after Dad for my
sister, who is a star, and
deserved the break short
though it was. Our new
Grandson is growing like a
weed and we have lots of fun
with Nia who is still coming
to terms with having to share
her Mum with him. The only
downside to the trip was going
to see Manchester City lose
3-1 at home to Chelsea, they
should bar me from the ground
as I never see them win.
December
2015
Christmas
and New Year 2015.
Pam and
I would like to wish
all guests and readers
of this blog a very
Happy Christmas and a
New Year when all you
wish for comes true.
Don't over indulge, Ho
Ho Ho, that's a case
of do as I say and not
as I do??? Hope to see
some of you again in
the New Year.
Arthur & Pam
December 2015
This is
just to update readers
on our progress, it
has been quite
traumatic for a few
weeks as our youngest
grand daughter was
rushed into hospital
with a flu virus and
was really ill for
several days. Pam went
down to help out and
fortunately Nia and
her Mum have now fully
recovered and Pam has
returned home,
unfortunately she now
has a virus and is on
medication, up to now
both me and Richard
our son have managed
not to get MAN FLU. I
went to Glasgow this
week and have been
given the all clear
after my cateract
operation and so now I
can go to the optician
to get new glasses
which should enable me
to see properly for
the first time since
my retinal bleed in
October last year, I
can't wait. When I
have my new specs I
will get out birding
again and keep you
updated about wildlife
on Mull, because of my
sight problems I only
managed 136 birds on
Mull this year, I hope
to pass 150 next year.
Whooper Swans
on the Mishnish during Nov &
Dec
 
What a difference a day
makes - no - 10 minutes on
Mull!
December
2014
Dec 20th
Happy Christmas and a
fabulous New Year to all
our guests and readers of
this blog. The blog will
return again early in the
new year.
Dec 18th & 19th
No time for birding as at long
last our new solar panels have
been fitted, they were due to
be fitted in June when we had
the best summer weather for
years but it took the council
ages to grant the the planning
permission and so they were
fitted the week before
Christmas during some of the
worst winter weather on Mull
in years. When we told the
council that we were putting
in solar panels and might need
planning pemission we sent
them pictures of the proposed
site and map references and
they told us they could see no
problems and would fast track
the application for which I am
very grateful as if fast
tracking takes 6 months it
must take years normally. In
the event I must say the guys
did a good job fixing the
panels in very poor conditions
and even though we had little
sun in the first 2 days we are
producing a reasonable amount
of our own power already. Discover
Mull and our Self-catering
are getting greener.
Dec
17th
A trip to the dentist
today as a large
filling had fallen out
and although it was
damp and windy I did
manage a little
wildlife watching. The
highlights were Red
Deer - yes I do know
what they look like
even if I can't see
ours, a White-tailed
Sea Eagle and an Otter
going acoss a bay at
high tide, I think it
was going home for the
evening after a hard
days fishing. The low
point of the day was
the filling and the
fact that it was
several hours before I
could eat anything.
Dec 16th
A day at home looking
at the birds seen in
the garden and across
the Loch from our
kitchen. A total of 16
species were seen in
the garden including
Great sotted
Woodpecker and
Treecreeper. We have
our own regular
Buzzard at the moment
but unfortunately it
is extremely camera
shy. Birds seen on the
Loch from the kitchen
were a beautiful male
Goosander, a small
party of Red Breasted
mergansers, a Grey
Heron and a Common
Gull. In all we saw 20
species of birds
without leaving the
kitchen, not bad for a
dull winters day. On
the Mammal front we
had 4 Rabbits in the
garden and evidence of
the ellusive Deer
which had visited
during the night.
Dec 13th-15th
The reason we are not
doing daily blogs is
that we have no phone
connection and it has
been the same since
11th the day of the
big storm. We informed
BT about the the
problem, they say they
will fix the problem
as it is on their line
but ZZZZzzzzz still
nothing happening, Pam
is having to go around
to our neighbours to
up load onto the
internet. Anyway back
to our happenings, we
went Christmas
shopping in Tobermory
on Saturday and on our
way in we spotted 6
Whooper Swans on Loch
Torr, 2 parents and 4
Cygnets, didn't they
do well, there was a
female Goldeneye on
the Loch also. We had
a day of rest on
Sunday, well I did,
Pam never seems to
rest and spent most of
the day wrapping
Chrismas presents,
ironing, cooking and
speculating who would
get kicked out of
Strictly come Dancing.
Monday morning and it
was a reasonably calm
day for once so I went
out birding, Pam went
on working. I had a
great time with Snipe,
White-tailed Eagle,
Peregrine Falcon,
Buzzard and Great
Northern Diver at
Cailaich. Black
Throated Diver and 2
Purple Sandpipers at
Lainne Sgeir, Redwings
at Torloisk and
Kingfisher, Goosander,
Redshanks and
Greenshanks at
Dervaig. In the garden
in the afternoon a
Yellowhammer and Great
Spotted Woodpecker put
in an appearance
joining the zillions
of Chaffinches we have
every day, still no
Brambling but I am
still looking.
Dec 12th
Today Pam, I and Sally
the Sheltie went to
serch for the Red Deer
that we have seen
evidence of in the
garden:
We're going on a Deer
hunt, we're looking
for a big one, Coats
and Wellies on - we're
not cold!
Uh-oh Boggy Ground, a
serious bog... We
can't go over it... We
can't go under it...
We'll have to go
through it
Squelch, squelch...........
Squelch, squelch...........
Squelch, squelch..........
We're going on a Deer hunt, we're
looking for a
big one, Coats
and Wellies on
- we're not
cold!
Uh-oh bracken
covered
ground, very
tall
bracken... We can't go over it... We can't
go under it...
We'll have to
go through it
Stumble,
trip......
Stumble, trip......
Stumble, trip......
We're going on a Deer hunt, we're
looking for a
big one, Coats
and Wellies on
- we're not
cold!
Uh-oh a Wood,
a small but
dark wood... We can't go over it... We can't
go under it...
We'll have to
go through it
Bash,
crash......
Bash, crash......
Bash, crash......
Hours later,
still no
Deer... we'll
have to go on
a Deer hunt
another day!
St umble, trip......
Dec
10th and 11th
Twere the days of the
big storm and for most
of the time we
battened down the
hatches stayed indoors
hoping that the roof
stayed on and making
space under the bed in
case it didn't. In the
late afternoon of the
11th we ventured forth
as the wind had
dropped to just a gale
and took some moody
pictures of the sea
between Calgary and
Treshnish. It was hard
to focus the camera as
standing up was
something of a problem
but intrepid as we are
we sustained a right
good buffeting to
bring you these
photographs.
A
computer malfunction
has prevented me from
blogging for the last
few days but back on
air now so I can
review the happenings
at Ardrioch over the
last few days. Over
the last few days I
have been clearing out
my shed with help from
Nic Davies and cleared
out the trenches for
the solar panel system
which was due to be
installed on the 10th
but due to the
impendinding
disasterous weather
forecast it has been
postponed again. There
has not been much time
for birding but we are
seeing a pair of
White-tailed Eagles
which have been
circling over the
house and woods for
the last few days,
they could be looking
for a new nest site or
just chilling out
before the next
breeding season - I
will keep you updated.
Ferries are being
cancelled as we
prepare for the
predicted gales and
high waves and as I
write this blog it is
hailing, we have had
thunder and lightening
and it is only just
getting started it
will be a testing few
days for Mull's
wildlife.
Dec
4th
A dull drizzly day and a trip
to the dentist for Pam and a
walk round Aros Park for me.
The highlight of the walk was
a party of Long-tailed Tits
and there was also a mixed
flock of birds which included
Siskins. On our way home we
stopped off at Loch Cuin and
saw several species of Waders,
Redshanks, Greenshank,
Curlews, Snipe, Ringed Plovers
and a single winter plumaged
Dunlin. Back at Ardrioch we
had visits from both the
Yellowhammer and Great Spotted
Woodpecker again this
afternoon.
Dec 3rd
A dull
driech day and a trip to
the hospital for
physiotherapy on my knee
and of course birding on
the way. Buzzards,
Kestrels, Golden and
White-tailed Eagles were
seen but bird of prey of
the day was the beautiful
male Hen Harrier seen
hunting between Grasspoint
and Gorten. This is the
most persecuted bird in
Britain with hardly any
breeding in England or the
east side of Scotland, so
Orkney, Mull and Islay are
the last strongholds of
this iconic bird and we
are lucky to still have
them. Waders were again
prominent today and as
they are a particular
favorite of mine I am
delighted to see them.
Dec 2nd
A lovely, cool, dry day after
yesterdays rain. After working
in the shed until coffee break
I decided to go and look for
wildlife. It was a funny old
day as shortly after starting
out a local farmer stopped me
and kept me talking for 45
minutes. Rushing to make up
the time I was again held up
as a carrier van had gone off
the road between Salen and
Knock, another 20 minute wait.
In the time that I did have
looking for wildlife it was
waders that were most in
evidence with Snipe, Redshank
and Ringed Plover at Dervaig,
Curlew's at Salen and
Oystercatchers and a single
Bar-tailed Godwit at
Killiechronan. The only birds
of prey I saw today were
several Buzzards and a Kestrel
which I was watching when
stopped by the local farmer.
Dec
1st
A very wet day and also very
dark so we were restricted to
what we could see in the
garden and on the property. I
decided a trip up to our water
supply was warranted as it has
been several days since I
checked it out and was I glad
I did because just in the
field at the back of the house
I disturbed a Woodcock which
gave me lovely views as it
flew off into our wood. We
went to Tobermory to fill up
the car this afternoon and was
pleasantly surprised as the
fuel was 5 pence a litre
cheaper than it was last time
I filled up in Tobermory.
December
2013
Pam
and I would like to wish all
our guests and blog readers
best wishes and a very happy
Christmas and a fabulous new
year of wildlife watching in
2014. We hope to see lots of
you again on Mull next year
when I shall be doing our
wildlife tours in a brand
new vehicle.
Dec 14th
This will be my
last blog of the year as we now
have a new computer and men have
appeared out of the woodwork to
play with them. Apparently they
are going to update our web site
and put on more up to date
software that the new computer can
recognize, experience counts for
little in the world of technology
as our old computer is finding
out. When we took our first
computer to the re-cycling centre
recently we nearly had to hire a
skip to put it in but when it had
gone we had loads more space in
the office. With luck the blog
will be back on air at the start
of the new year.
Dec 13th
A special
Christmas thank you to the
carriers who went out of their way
to deliver the new computer this
morning, it certainly saved me
from a weekend of ear ache. It was
a good day for me bird wise as at
last I have another bird for my
year list on Mull, Long Tailed
Tits, everyone else had seen them,
they have been in the garden, but
not when I was around but today on
a trip to Calgary there they were
in the trees by Bulldog cottage.
Other good sightings today were 6
Snipe and some Wigeons at Dervaig
and a pair of Yellowhammers in our
garden.
Dec 12th
A morning spent
Christmas shopping in Tobermory
and whilst we were there a carrier
brought our much anticipated new
computer but as we were both out
took it away again. As Pam needs
the computer very badly I set off
to the Fishnish Ferry to find that
one of the two carriers had
already left the Island. Still I
always live in hope and after
waiting for two hours the other
carrier turned up and drove strait
on to the waiting ferry. I was not
deterred and ran down the slipway
and onto the boat, hurrah, well
done I can hear you say. Well not
quite our computer was on the
carrier that had left the island
earlier and I had wasted two hours
waiting for nothing. I thought I
would pick up a prescription we
had ordered earlier in the day on
my way home so that my afternoon
would not be completely wasted
only to be told when I got to the
surgery it would not be available
till tomorrow. AAAHHH!!!.
Dec 11th
A lovely day and
this morning Pam and I went and
sorted a potential problem with
our water system which was running
very slowly, it isn't any more,
now it is running as fast as river
ready for a canoe slalom. You will
be pleased to know that the
results of a water test taken
recently was very good and despite
the recent very wet weather even
passed the colour test.
Dec 10th
A good day for
travelling and we returned to Mull
after celebrating 'you know
whose' 60th birthday with
family and friends. We stopped as
we always do at the antiques
centre just outside Doune where we
have a terrific breakfast and then
on to Oban. We got really lucky as
the ferry was running late and we
managed to catch the noon ferry,
although it was 12-25pm as we
boarded.
Dec 9th
A nice day spent
with my mum and dad who are
both nearly 90 and are quite
amazing. A visit to the NFU
insurance office in Nantwich who
do all my insurance and give us
extremely good personal service
which is why we don't change.
Dec 8th
A beautiful warm
day and a trip to the supermarket
in the morning where a very nice
lady kindly washed and waxed our
car. I cannot remember the last
time we gave our car a treat like
this but it is coming up to
Christmas, I don't think the car
wash lady thought her Christmas
had come early when she saw the
state of the car but she made a
great job of cleaning it and we
were very grateful to her. This
evening we celebrated part two of
'she who must not be named'
birthday, many
thanks to the great chef and the
trainee waiter.
Dec 7th
The day after the
night before.
Dec 6th
A pleasant
day and a trip to Chester
Christmas shopping, the first time
since we left to live on Mull we
have Christmas shopped in Chester
and the first time I had used a
park and ride. As the bus filled
up I was faced with a dilemma
whether to offer my seat as a
gentleman or to risk a slap on the
face for being presumptuous, I
opted for the former and was
mightily relieved as the lady
gratefully accepted as she had
recently had a Knee operation and
was dreading having to stand all
the way into Chester. I think it
is a shame in this day and age
that men have to consider if being
a gentleman could be not PC.
Tonight was part one of of 'she
who cannot be named' celebrations
and the water flowed like wine,
probably because it was wine and
of the fizzy variety.
Dec 5th
This was the day
of the big storm and were we glad
we travelled down yesterday as
with lorries overturning, trees
falling across roads, ferries
cancelled and no trains running we
would never have completed the
journey. When the phone lines had
been re-connected we found out all
was OK at Ardrioch and Chrissie
had taken good care of Misty and
Sally our dogs as always.
Dec 4th
We left Mull a day
early to avoid the big storm, it
is always a little sad leaving as
there is always wildlife some
where on our journey to the ferry
waiting to be seen but we never
seem to have time to stop. The
journey down was pretty uneventful
with the motorways running well
and we arrived at our sons house
at 6-30pm. We went out to a local
pub this evening for a meal and
some real ale and the birthday
girl was able to have her favorite
cider, Aspalls on draught, yeah.l
Dec 3rd
Dull and driech
and a day spent getting ready to
go down to Cheshire to celebrate a
big 60 and it is not mine. The
birds in the garden are increasing
daily and the Chaffinches are
taking over our garden, they are
like locusts, all I can say is
that they must have had a great
breeding season. We do have a
gorgeous Yellowhammer every day
now brightening up our dark winter
days with a splash of colour.
Dec 2nd
Dull and damp
again and a trip up to the burn,
no not to my water supply but to
wash my clothes that were
absolutely filthy after their
visit to the bog, I now know what
life was like before they invented
washing machines. On a lighter
note we do have a washing machine
but I had to do the pre wash
before Pam would allow my clothes
anywhere near it. On the bird
front another bird has found out
that I have birds back in the
garden as a Sparrowhawk flew
through this afternoon.
Dec 1st
A lovely morning
and so Pam and I went on a drive
round locally and saw at least 12
Great Northern Divers, a male Hen
Harrier always a nice bird to see,
2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles,
close together but not close
enough to get in the same
photograph, a kestrel and 2
Buzzards. We ended up at Cailaich
Point where I donned my
wellingtons and went looking for
Jack Snipe in the bog, Pam was
positive that one flew out but I
missed it as the bog gave way and
I was up to my waist in in water
and mud with wellies full of
water. I had to go home in
the boot of the car as I was
really filthy, at least I now know
how the dogs feel when Pam takes
them for a walk at Calgary Bay.
December - 2012
Dec 14th- 31st
We went away for
Christmas today to beat the the
bad weather. We spent a lovely
Christmas with our daughter and
son-in-law and Grandchildren in
Devon and our son Richard got
engaged to Sheetal on Christmas
day, cue the champagne.
Dec 13th
Weather sunny,
frosty and cold - We took the dogs
for a walk to Loch Frisa this
morning, it was simply glorious,
the views down the Loch towards
Ben Talaidh were just stunning,
Pam still far from well managed a
mile before stopping at a bench to
sit and take in the views and
enjoy the tranquillity, I power
walked the dogs for another mile
before returning to the car park.
After so much time just coughing
and spluttering it is nice to be
out in the fresh air again and
enjoying seeing Mull in its
magical winter wonderland setting.
Dec 12th
Weather
cloudy, less cold but
started to freeze again in the
afternoon - I am well on the mend
now but Pam still has a bad dose
of girl flu. We actually got out
for a couple of hours today and it
was quite a treat as we are
starting to get cabin fever. We
had not gone far when Pam spotted
2 Golden Eagles hunting, nothing
wrong with her eyesight at least.
2 Otters followed and I spotted 1
of them, nothing wrong with my
eyesight either and a single
White-tailed Eagle was also seen
courtesy of Pam, drat. A walk down
Calgary Beach finished us off but
the dogs really enjoyed it, then
back to the cabin for another
rest.
Dec 4th to 11th
Weather still
mainly cold but thawed during the
last couple of days - Pam and I
have both had bad coughs during
the last couple of weeks and so
have not been out birding but
occasionally we managed to take
the dogs for some local walks. We
have been looking at the birds in
the garden and taking some
photographs of Arctic Mull so
rather than bore you with similar
prose we have decided to give you
a photographic blog for the week,
we hope you like it.
 
 
 
Frosty scenes
around home
Arthur has
been feeding the garden birds
well during the cold spell
with fat balls,
nuts and seeds
in the trees, seeds on the
ground and apples for the
Thrushes
The views from
Ardrioch have been stunning
 
and also the
views of the small isles, note
the snow line on Rhum.
 
 
We managed to
get out with the dogs
and saw some
lovely colourful Blackface
Rams and Ewes
 
and finally a
'Sheltie under a Pear Tree'
Dec 3rd
Weather a slight
thaw has set in and it is raining
and sleeting and although it is
warmer it feels cold in the wind -
our yard is like an ice rink this
morning as the rain on top of the
frost has made it very
treacherous. We saw one of our
White-tailed Eagles flying over
the wood today and the Chaffinches
which had noticeably disappeared
during the very cold weather of
recent days have returned in good
numbers again today.
Dec 2nd
Weather very, very
cold - we took the dogs for a walk
to Calgary beach today and it was
-3 degrees C when we left home but
at Calgary it was plus 2 degrees C
only 4 miles down the road but on
the coast. Returning home it was
back down to minus 3 degrees, it
goes to show how being by the
coast keeps temperatures higher.
In the garden we are now putting
out fruit for the thrushes which
has attracted 11 Blackbirds and a
single Song Thrush daily, Pam was
very amused watching as a version
of 'musical chairs' but with
apples took place with the
Blackbirds replacing the Song
Thrush on the spread out apples at
regular intervals throughout the
afternoon.
Dec 1st
Weather Another
cold, sunny day - I went with a
friend to do a BTO square for the
Bird Atlas today but was not able
to do it as they were shooting
Woodcock on the estate. So we
decided to do a bit of bird
watching on the way home and saw a
Merlin chasing Meadow Pipits along
the shore of Loch na Keal. In the
river Ba as we crossed the bridge
we noticed a Goosander swimming up
the river. 3 Bar-tail Godwits, a
single Ringed Plover and a
Greenshank were also seen. Finally
as we returned home over the hill
we saw a fantastic hunting Golden
Eagle.
|
This
is the web site of Pam
& Arthur Brown,
Ardrioch Farm,
Dervaig, Isle of Mull.
PA75 6QR
|
|
|
|
