Wild Scotland is never more wild as in Mull. Even in the coldest March on record for the UK (since 1962) the rugged island has been a beautiful picture of russet-brown and bracken-clad valley. The towering mountain ridges with babbling streams and still lochs are home to an abundance of amazing wildlife. And we were lucky enough to catch a few glimpses of some very special wildlife treats…
In just five days touring the island, exploring each day from 0ur cabin lodge, we saw: White-tailed Eagles (what locals call “flying barn doors” because of their sheer size – given their 8ft wingspan) soaring above the ridges and nesting in (“only the tallest”) trees; red deer everywhere you looked – including grazing in our garden and right in front of the car before leaping up a cliff-side; majestic circling Golden Eagles cutting through the skies; buzzards galore – often being harassed by unusual-looking “hooded” crows; a graceful Hen Harrier flying low over the grassland; not to mention the odd playful otter, swimming and diving in the shallows, bobbing in and out of sight.
What a trip!
Here are a few of my pics:
Our cabin –
The local loch –
Some picturesque boat wrecks –
My attempt at a long exposure down by the river (- shame about the splash mark!) –
Local wildlife –
Hooded crow
Highland cattle
Tobermory –
And here are some even better ones of our photo story from Mull, March 2013, where we even managed to get a quick snap of an otter!