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BIRDS OF ISLE OF MULL, MAY 2016 and MAY 2018
PLEASE NOTE: The file name of each of the photos taken on the 2018 trip, and appearing in this gallery, bear an ‘x’ at the end of the file name. For example: ‘Eagle, White-tailed 67x’ or ‘Siskin 08x’. All the 2016 photos remain unaltered in the new gallery.
All the photographs were taken during one of two holidays to the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Both were in May, one in 2016 and the latest in 2018. To simplify the exercise, the photos from the latter have been merged with those from our earlier trip. Mostly, we got better than the typical West of Scotland weather - making Mull not only a stunning island but also one for birders and photographers. Several of the photos received the dreaded ‘z’ and are included only for ‘record’ purposes. If there is another is trip to Mull, I should hope to improve some of them as well as getting some new species.
Visitors may have seen the 2016 gallery. For those who haven’t, this is a list of some of the more interesting namely: White-tailed Eagle; Great Northern Diver; Fulmar; Guillemot including Black and Bridled; Kittiwake; Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser; Oystercatcher; Puffin (but wait for the show in 2018); Razorbill; Song Thrush (also await 2018); Willow Warbler; and Wheatear (ditto wait).
The combined gallery has filled the odd gap but plenty remain. The out and out winning species in May 2018 was, however, the Puffin. We took a boat trip to the rocky Staffa Island and watched these colourful birds come ashore to their breeding grounds. Books on Puffins are aplenty. But seeing some of their activities is marvellous. My photos don’t portray many of the Puffins’ activities. But “billing” (two birds rubbing bills together to help get a mate that, regularly, will last a lifetime) is an exception and a joy to watch. I think a single species gallery could be on the way.
Other birds in 2018 include: Common Buzzard; Greylag Geese with youngsters; Black Guillemot; Rock Pipit; Siskin; Song Thrush; Twite; Willow Warbler; and Wheatear.