Photos from Mull

                                      White Tailed Eagle

                                     Golden Eagle

                                     Short Eared Owl

                                      Raven

                                      Puffin

                                      Great Northern Diver

                                     Whimbrel

                                      Black Guillemot

                                       Corncrake

                                     Corncrake

Rest of The Mull Trip

1^st May

Had a boat trip booked for today to visit the Treshnish Isles took the bus from  Craignure to Tobermory then onto the boat we were told we would be picking up on the main land then off we set to the Island of Lunga on route I had Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill,  Great Backed Gull, After we landed on Lunga we made our way to the top of the cliffs here we had Puffin, Fulmar, Shag, more guillemots and Razorbill, Great Skua, Raven, Herring Gull, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, We had 2 hours on the island and the time just flew by so it was back on the boat then we headed for Staffa and a look at fingal’s cave where we had ½ hour then back on the boat for the return to Tobermory but has we had to drop off on the main land first we did not get back till five past four meaning which means I had missed the last bus back after miss reading the time table I had a walk in a small wood by the car park where I found Redstart, Chaffinch, Great Tit Blue Tit, and at the top of the burn I had a Dipper so After realising my mistake I then got a taxi back to Craignure so ending a long day but a very good one
2^nd May

Today I had booked another of the wild life trips the route was much the same as Mondays trip but just as good we did look but no otter today, As I was walking to the meet point some shouted Eagle which I found it was a White Tailed Sea Eagle and had very good views and managed to get a picture of it at the meet point they had been watching 2 WT Eagles so we started of our first stop was for WT Eagles but has we had already had good views we moved on birds on the loch included Red Breasted Merganser, Eider, Common Gull, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, and along the shore where Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit, Starling, We then stopped at Salern for a toilet break but the toilets where closed so after a short stop at the pub for the toilets we then set off for Knock where we stopped for lunch just as we started lunch the call went up Golden Eagle which we watched and had good in flight views it then landed and started plucking at something it had on the ground and stayed there for the rest of our lunch break we then continued on round the loch birds seen included Lapwing, Raven, Linnet, Meadow pipit, Wheatear, Eider, Great Northern Diver, and a Whimbrel (hopefully some good pictures) we did stop at a spot for more White Tailed Eagles and had the pair, We then moved on to Glen More here we had Short Eared Owl we did stop when the call went up maybe a Harrier but we could not relocate it so it was then back to Craignure to end a very pleasant and enjoyable day

3^rd May

Today decided I would try for the Corncrake on Iona so caught the bus at 08-35 to Fionnphort then the ferry to Iona walked towards the abby and stopped at the organic gardens at the Columbia Hotel I had been told this was where to look I heard 2 Corncrakes calling but no sign so decided that I would take the walk to the north shore birds seen along the walk included Rook, Hooded Crow, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Starling on the return route much the same so now decided to have a look at the organic garden again this time the gardener said we could come in set our self up he told us where a Corncrake had been showing well all morning and after half a hour it put in a appearance and what an appearance (got some good pictures) did not expect them thought I would be lucky just to see one in the end I heard five of which I saw two, I then decided to have my lunch in the hotel very nice it was Corncrake calling outside the window, After lunch which was very nice I then returned to the garden and took some more pictures as it was still showing well the gardener said another 4 days and you will not see it as the grass and reeds will be to high so well pleased then back on the ferry to Mull and a hour wait for the bus where I took the time to update what I had been doing over the past few days made sure I did not miss this bus as it was the last for the day then back to Craignure for 5 o’clock a nice beer shower then off for a meal then went for a walk hoping for Otter but no luck

4^th May

Decided to leave the Island on the ¼ to 11 boat today the weather was not as good as the week had been so thought might do a seal trip from Oban not a lot from the boat and when I arrived in Oban the tide was out so no boat trips for today as i was booked on the 18-15 coach to Glasgow what to do with the day, as I could see some Black Guillemots out in the harbour decided on a walk along the shore north of Oban did manage to get some picture of the guillemots but a bit distance I walked for just over a hour then started on the return as I came back the Guillemots where a lot nearer so got some more pictures these where a lot better, Then lunch in Oban after I had a look north of Oban took a walk up to Pulpit Hill some good views from here as it was quite steep decided to come down via the road not as bad as the footpath up, Then time for a coffee and some  time for shopping, I had decided to have my evening meal before I got on the coach this done I then had a short time to wait for the coach to Glasgow and then another short break before the coach to London arriving back at 07-00 Monday morning so ending a great trip to Scotland

Mull part Two

30^th April

Today I had  booked one of the wildlife day trips that are available on Mull was picked up at 10-30 and what a day it was where to start first we had a look at grass point  no Eagles but we did have Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Hooded Crow, Chaffinch as there is some building going on at the end not much chance of Otter so we moved on to a area for Hen Harrier and Short Earded Owl with no luck  we then moved on retracing our steps on route we had a White Tailed Sea Eagle we then headed for a site for White Tailed Sea Eagle but did not see any the call went up Otter but this turned out to be a Mink after a brief look in this area we then headed to knock where we had lunch just has we where preparing to leave the call went up Golden Eagle we Watched It come of the face and disappear out of sight we then continued on having more pipits and Wheatears, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, on route to our next stop we stopped at a area for Peregrine which we had plus Kestrel a little further along the road we found Raven as we were driving along I had a twite fly across in front of us  Then onto a site for White Tailed Eagle where we had one of the birds sitting on the nest  while here we had another Golden Eagle with more Buzzards and Raven, We then continued on where we had Great Northern Diver, Red Throated Diver and a Otter asleep on the far bank (too far for a picture) we now continued on our way back after passing a good spot for Short Eared Owl no luck we spotted a bird of prey ahead of us this turned out to be a nice Male Hen Harrier which gave a good show but distance, Then we retraced out route to see if we could locate any Short Eared Owls where we had 3+ birds some good views we then moved onto a another Golden Eagle area where we had 2 birds in the air, Then back to where I had been picked up and the end to a great days birding` some of the other birds seen included Wren, Robin, Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Eider, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Mallard, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Shag, Siskin, Wi8llow Warbler, Stonechat, After my evening meal I took a walk along the shore from my B&B looking for Otter with no luck and no new birds for the day lets see what tomorrow brings

Will put together a list of what I have seen this week later not sure of total so far but must be 50+ species

Mull Trip

28^th / 29^th April

Decided to take the coach to Scotland the reason was to keep the cost of travelling down left London at 22-30 (on the 28^th) arrived Glasgow  07-00 (on 29^th) had a hour and half wait for connection to Oban arrived 11-25 the trip from London was not that bad had worst on some flights, The trip to Oban is one I have done many times in a car but from a coach you see it from a different angle not a lot bird wise but a very enjoyable trip, On arriving at Oban I had a short walk around waiting for the pubs to start serving food at 12-00 found a nice quite one tucked away in a back street, After a snack and a pint i had a look in the harbour to see if I could see Black Guillemot that breed here but with no luck I then had a walk along the road towards the camping and caravan site looked good for Otter but again no luck so it was back to the Ferry Terminal for a short nap then the ferry to Mull on the crossing I had Guillemot and just over half way across I found a Black Guillemot but not a lot else, So i found my B&B and settled in have a great view of the bay so who knows what might turn up first thing in the mornings, Then off for my evening meal which I have just finished very nice indeed so now looking forward to the rest of the week hopefully I will be posting every evening as I have free Wi Fi at the B&B I have my bins with me so a look at the bay on the way back to the B&B.

27th April West Sussex

Trip to Sussex today with my mate set of from home in the rain our first stop was Ivy lake to see if we could find any Black Terns but with no luck we did have Blackcap and a Garden Warbler we spoke to another birder who told us there was a Wood Warbler at church Norton , Our next stop was a look at the ferry pool but no sign of any Common Sandpipers But a few Reed Warblkers , Then onto Church Norton we took the path down to the harbour where there were some other birders looking for the Wood Warbler after a short time we had views of it but it was keeping deep in the bushes we also had Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, We then had a walk to the sea but no sign of the Short Eared Owls that had been seen this morning on our return to the car park we had 5 Whimbrel, Now onto Selsey first stop for food then onto Bill House where we did a 2 hour sea watch birds seen Common Scoter, Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Common Tern, Great Black Backed Gull, 3 Black Throated Divers, 3 Little Terns, and lots of Swallows coming in, From here we headed for Pullbourgh Brooks where the weather had improved here we had  more warblers as before plus Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler but the bird we had hoped to see was the Nightingale where we had 6 singing and 3 good sightings of 3 of them Year Total now stands at 210

Nightingale

22nd April Chichester

The male Peregrine at Chichester

21st April Pulborough Brooks

Spent a very pleasant afternoon at the RSPB reserve at Pulborough Brooks target bird was to see if we could see Nightingale, We took a slow walk around the reserve plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers spent most of the time looking for migrants while sitting in the Little Hanger Hide we had a Red Kite  just as we came of the hanger we heard a Nightingale and after some effect we did manage to see it we also heard a Cuckoo, then continued to the hides on the return route while sitting in the winpenny hide we had a Lesser Whitethroat at the side of the hide there were plenty of the common species now on 208 for the year

20th April Sea Watch

Sea watch at Selsey Bill

Decided to do a sea watch at Selsey today I spent 2 and ½ hours there not a lot happing for the first half hour birds see are 3 Bonxie 4 Arctic Skuas 1 Pom Skua 3 Arctic Terns 20 + Gannets plus a Swift flew in off the sea other birds seen included Cormorant, House Sparrow, Starling, Turnstone, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Just as I was leaving I was told that there were 2 Common Sandpipers on the ferry pool so i got off the bus and walked past the pool found the Sandpipers and got on the next bus so ending a good afternoon now on 205 for the year

19th April

19^th April

Arundel

Spent the afternoon at  the wetland centre at Arundel nice quite afternoon (don’t think I have know it so quite people wise) at least 5 Cetti’s calling and a good number of Sedge Warbler nice number of Swallows with some Sand and House Martins as it was a bit of a wet afternoon no birds of prey plenty of the common species on the walk back to the bus stop alongside the castle in the canal that runs along the road I had a brief glimpse of a Water Vole as it disappeared into one of the holes

18th April

Pagham Harbour

Today took the coach to Chichester via Gatwick Airport (trying to keep the cost down) Arrived in Chichester at 11-20 then took the bus to RSPB Pagham nature reserve after a quick coffee I had a look at the ferry pool plenty of Shellducks, Lapwings, Teal, selection of Gulls and Corvids as it had started raining (showers where expected) I decided I would walk to the north wall I started along the old tramway where I had a Whitethroat singing I continued along the path to millpond where I found a Whimbrel then I continued to Halseys Farm then across the fields to the north wall where the sun came out plenty of common species seen after a short time the wind got up so I dropped off the top of the wall onto the path that runs alongside the wall and the reed bed where I stopped for lunch I then continued along the path and after a short time I had a Reed Warbler as I reached the sluice the rain started again I then walked along church lane to get the bus back   

Hre is a short video in slide mode of the walk please let me know whatb you think as i am thinking of more like this