Our decision to spend the day on a Pam and Arthur Brown tour turned out splendidly. We both had a lovely day with nice people and good wildlife. And........good weather. Sun all day apart from a short sharp shower, hurled by a stiff south westerly, during lunch.
Due to start at 9.15, we arrived at the Brown's farm at 9.10 to find the other six participants already there. One married couple and their 20+ son, another couple and a single older woman who was staying in the Brown's self catering. Oh dear, all had cameras, only one wore binoculars. A false impression. All were keen birders of differing experience, the bins appeared from somewhere. Pam Brown was pleased by this as sometimes they get people who are not interested in Natural History at all, or, only want to see Otters and Eagles.
Pam B sorted us into our seats for the day - they usually change round - Pam T in the front, Maggie and I in the centre with our own exit, the family in the back. Good plan. I never did get everyone's name.
Visiting the adjacent White-tailed Eagle nest got the day off to a good start, followed by a male Hen Harrier along the Loch Frisa entry track. Pam B then found a female Hen Harrier along the Glen Aros road.
No sooner had we reached the southern shore of Loch na Keal than there was a call of 'Otter' from Stephen in the back seat. A smooth, sleek, bundle of muscle, dog Otter running through the seaweed on the loch's near shore, before dropping back into the water and disappearing out of sight. I managed three iffy shots through the tinted window. I'm not happy with any but......
Two more White-tailed Eagles sitting on an island, same two as on Tuesday we think, and another flew across the loch very determinedly before returning low and fast with food. By the end of the day we'd seen six WhEagles, one Golden Eagle and four Hen Harriers. A highlight for me was watching a pair of Hen Harriers in display flight, the legendary Sky Dancing. Awesome. We had twenty more Whimbrels in three groups, many Great Northern Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers. This GN Diver at Ulva Ferry was in full summer plumage. The water really was this colour.
Our first views of Greenshank at Loch Cuin - all but two of the Dunlin had moved on - and a couple of Kestrels. Buzzards are a regular sighting as are Ravens and Hooded Crows.
Pam B's historical and geographical knowledge is impressive. I once said that all roads out o the sea in Scotland are dead ends - cemeteries. Pam explained that any land it was possible to cultivate was not used for burial, rocky barren areas were chosen and then soil imported from elsewhere to help cover the bodies. Railings around graves were there to deter body snatchers. She evn managed to add more detail to Arthur's Inch Kenneth, Mitford sisters story.
The island is 55 hectares in area and is Geologically different from the rest of Mull. Inch Kenneth is one of the most historically important islands in Scotland. Along with Iona, this island has a significant number of important burials of the kings of Scotland. The island (Innis Choinnich) was named after St Kenneth, who founded a monastery on the island.
Composed of sedimentary conglomerates and limestones, Inch Kenneth is a fertile oasis amidst the volcanic lava flows that predominate much of Mull’s landscapes. The island’s fine, sandy soil promotes flower-rich grassland in Spring and Summer, while providing nourishment for a 200-strong herd of Barnacle Geese that arrive each Autumn from breeding grounds in Greenland.
Inch Kenneth was the home of the song writer and philanthropist, Sir Harold Bolton. Bolton wrote the lyrics to the ‘Skye Boat Song’. The island became infamous during the Second World War due to its connection with the Mitford family, who bought the island in 1938.
One of six sisters, Unity Mitford was a staunch supporter of the Fascist movement and an admirer of Adolf Hitler, with whom she became a friend. Held back in her early life by her prettier and more clever sisters, Unity craved attention and developed a desire to shock. An exhibitionist, with a coarse sense of humour, Unity discovered that her love of Nazism allowed her to stand out from the crowd. Having attempted suicide, with a pistol given to her by the Fuhrer, when the Second World War was declared, Unity returned to Britain and spent her last years on Inch Kenneth. There she spent her time improvising religious services in the medieval chapel and planning her own funeral.
Following the death of their mother, Lady Redesdale in 1963, the island was inherited by the surviving Mitford sisters. Diana, Nancy, Deborah and Pamela sold their shares in the island to their sister and fellow beneficiary Jessica. Jessica had previously let it be known that she would donate her part of the island to the Communist Party, and Lord Redesdale cut her out of his will.
The island was sold by Jessica Mitford in the late 1960s and it remains under private ownership. The house belongs now to Charles Darwin’s grand-daughter and is still accessed by a small rowing boat, depending on weather.
A lovely and most enjoyable day to end our all too short stay on Mull.
Drive to Skye to-morrow, for a night's B and B before travelling to Lochmaddy, North Uist, by Caledonian McBrayne ferry from Uig on Saturday afternoon.
Due to start at 9.15, we arrived at the Brown's farm at 9.10 to find the other six participants already there. One married couple and their 20+ son, another couple and a single older woman who was staying in the Brown's self catering. Oh dear, all had cameras, only one wore binoculars. A false impression. All were keen birders of differing experience, the bins appeared from somewhere. Pam Brown was pleased by this as sometimes they get people who are not interested in Natural History at all, or, only want to see Otters and Eagles.
Pam B sorted us into our seats for the day - they usually change round - Pam T in the front, Maggie and I in the centre with our own exit, the family in the back. Good plan. I never did get everyone's name.
Visiting the adjacent White-tailed Eagle nest got the day off to a good start, followed by a male Hen Harrier along the Loch Frisa entry track. Pam B then found a female Hen Harrier along the Glen Aros road.
No sooner had we reached the southern shore of Loch na Keal than there was a call of 'Otter' from Stephen in the back seat. A smooth, sleek, bundle of muscle, dog Otter running through the seaweed on the loch's near shore, before dropping back into the water and disappearing out of sight. I managed three iffy shots through the tinted window. I'm not happy with any but......
 |
| Disappearing into the water - headless male Otter |
Two more White-tailed Eagles sitting on an island, same two as on Tuesday we think, and another flew across the loch very determinedly before returning low and fast with food. By the end of the day we'd seen six WhEagles, one Golden Eagle and four Hen Harriers. A highlight for me was watching a pair of Hen Harriers in display flight, the legendary Sky Dancing. Awesome. We had twenty more Whimbrels in three groups, many Great Northern Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers. This GN Diver at Ulva Ferry was in full summer plumage. The water really was this colour.
Our first views of Greenshank at Loch Cuin - all but two of the Dunlin had moved on - and a couple of Kestrels. Buzzards are a regular sighting as are Ravens and Hooded Crows.
Pam B's historical and geographical knowledge is impressive. I once said that all roads out o the sea in Scotland are dead ends - cemeteries. Pam explained that any land it was possible to cultivate was not used for burial, rocky barren areas were chosen and then soil imported from elsewhere to help cover the bodies. Railings around graves were there to deter body snatchers. She evn managed to add more detail to Arthur's Inch Kenneth, Mitford sisters story.
The island is 55 hectares in area and is Geologically different from the rest of Mull. Inch Kenneth is one of the most historically important islands in Scotland. Along with Iona, this island has a significant number of important burials of the kings of Scotland. The island (Innis Choinnich) was named after St Kenneth, who founded a monastery on the island.
Composed of sedimentary conglomerates and limestones, Inch Kenneth is a fertile oasis amidst the volcanic lava flows that predominate much of Mull’s landscapes. The island’s fine, sandy soil promotes flower-rich grassland in Spring and Summer, while providing nourishment for a 200-strong herd of Barnacle Geese that arrive each Autumn from breeding grounds in Greenland.
Inch Kenneth was the home of the song writer and philanthropist, Sir Harold Bolton. Bolton wrote the lyrics to the ‘Skye Boat Song’. The island became infamous during the Second World War due to its connection with the Mitford family, who bought the island in 1938.
One of six sisters, Unity Mitford was a staunch supporter of the Fascist movement and an admirer of Adolf Hitler, with whom she became a friend. Held back in her early life by her prettier and more clever sisters, Unity craved attention and developed a desire to shock. An exhibitionist, with a coarse sense of humour, Unity discovered that her love of Nazism allowed her to stand out from the crowd. Having attempted suicide, with a pistol given to her by the Fuhrer, when the Second World War was declared, Unity returned to Britain and spent her last years on Inch Kenneth. There she spent her time improvising religious services in the medieval chapel and planning her own funeral.
Following the death of their mother, Lady Redesdale in 1963, the island was inherited by the surviving Mitford sisters. Diana, Nancy, Deborah and Pamela sold their shares in the island to their sister and fellow beneficiary Jessica. Jessica had previously let it be known that she would donate her part of the island to the Communist Party, and Lord Redesdale cut her out of his will.
The island was sold by Jessica Mitford in the late 1960s and it remains under private ownership. The house belongs now to Charles Darwin’s grand-daughter and is still accessed by a small rowing boat, depending on weather.
A lovely and most enjoyable day to end our all too short stay on Mull.
Drive to Skye to-morrow, for a night's B and B before travelling to Lochmaddy, North Uist, by Caledonian McBrayne ferry from Uig on Saturday afternoon.
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