UK Holiday - Part 6 - Homeward bound

On our last morning on Mull, I put some bird seed outside our window to see what would come along.  First on the scene, Mr Blackbird. Closely followed by Mrs Chaffinch, then Mr C.   Next were the Greenfinches, then a flash of pink and black, and there were a pair of stunning Bullfinches passing through.

We were heading back to the southern side of Mull to look for Otters and White-tailed Eagle.  No luck with Otters, but plenty of Eiders, and we eventually got great views of the eagle.

On the way back to the ferry we passed two castles, first was Torosay, and then Duart.

As we headed south through Scotland, we stopped at the Falls of Falloch, very picturesque, and also encountered a very confiding Blue Tit there.

We were going to stop with friends in Kirkcudbright, and while we were there went for a couple of walks.  One at Threave Castle and another along the Dee Estuary.  Threave yielded a couple of Hares, an Osprey, some resting Swallows and the local Banded Galloway breed of cattle.

Whilst a frosty walk along the River Dee gave us views of Sedge and Willow Warblers. 

On the way back to England, we passed through Gatehouse of Fleet, and the "big birder" and listened to a lone  piper at Gretna Green.  Another favourite stop of mine is the quaint village of Bibury in the Cotswolds.

Finally, I went to Prawle Point in Devon, to show my cousin Cirl Bunting, and though we only had about 20 minutes there we saw a couple, including this one singing it;s heart out.  Goldfinches were all over the place, as were Grey Squirrels.

Thanks for enjoying our holiday!!

UK Holiday - Part 4 - Off to Mull

We arrived in Oban late in the day, and after dinner took a walk along the quayside.

The next morning we were off to Mull with Calmac ferries. Straight off the ferry, we headed up to picturesque Tobermory.

We were staying close to Aros Castle, and took a walk there late in the day. The views across the Sound of Mull were breathtaking. Spring flowers were everywhere, and I particularly like to see wild Primroses.  

Next morning we were headed to the Western side of Mull.  We had plenty of time so stopped a few times on the way.  Amongst the birds we saw were Oystercatcher, Hooded Crow, Greylag Goose and our first Wheatear of the trip.

UK Holiday - Part 3 - Across the Great Glen

We spent the night in Inverness, and the morning dawned bright an sunny.  We headed out and walked along the northern shore of the Moray Firth.  Grey Herons were carefully picking their way through the foreshore, with red-breasted Mergansers in the deeper water, but by far the most common bird here was Common Shelduck.

After breakfast we headed down the Great Glen, along the northern edge of Lock Ness.  No monster sightings, but we really enjoyed Urquhart Castle. A little further on, we saw our first Highland Cows, and stopped to look at the very picturesque Oich Bridge.

Our destination was Fort William, and we found our bed and breakfast very easily. The view from the house was spectacular, with the snow capped peaks of Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Mor towering over us. 

Our early morning walk was the coldest yet at -2C, but we ventured along Glen Nevis, and were rewarded with some great views, a very cold looking Highland Cow and a close encounter with a group of Red Deer.

We didn't have far to go today, so we took the opportunity to take a couple of side trips.  Firstly up the "road to the Isles" to Mallaig, and then down into Glen Coe. We stopped at Glenfinnan, the monument to the clansmen who died in the Jacobite Rebellion, and a little further along when I spotted a pair of Black-throated Divers.  Mallaig is a very pretty place, with ferries heading out to Skye, and the "Small Isles" of Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna.  Coming back down the road, we saw many common Buzzards soaring.

Glen Coe is an amazing place for a number of reasons. Geologically, it is a classic U-shaped valley ground out of solid rock by glacial action over millions of years.  It is also the sight of the massacre of the MacDonald clan. As we headed through Glen Coe Pass, I heard the typical "chack" of a Stonechat, and after a few moments soon had him captured in an image.