R and R

Thursday May 12

A day out with Arthur Brown is an annual treat. He drives, knows where the birds are and provides home cooked food.

To-day was a pick-up from Tobermory at 9.30 day, he collected us from the bridge below Cathy's at 9.00, we drove in with him. 

An interesting group. Full house of 8 as always. A couple from Melbourne, another from British Columbia via Quebec and a pair from Leeds. The van is roomy and we sat behind the driver all day with plenty of legroom and our own door. The others swapped at intervals.

We took the Salen road, stopping several times to view the sound, a Common Tern sat on a buoy causing a few problems, distant and against the light. Then, cross country to the west coast and Loch na Keal. Whilst Arthur and the group were sea watching, I saw a White-tailed Eagle fly across the bank of trees on the landward side, landing in a tree for all to see through the scope. I set mine up and phonescoped but cannot download the pics at the moment - works fine at home. 
And it still did.

This one was very high !

I believe that the only way to get good pictures is to go out on the Lady Jane again. If only Martin would improve the jetty...I had enough trouble getting off at low tide last time.
Another stop for coffee and a choice of home-made biscuits brought our first Golden Eagle of the day, we saw five in total. In my binoculars, it showed beautifully, golden head and warm shades of brown wings. The photographs are disappointing. Taken against a bright blue sky they become silhouettes - and distant ones at that.

At another lochside stop, we became aware that a pair of Barn Swallows were taking advantage of one of the few patches of mud on the island to do some nest building. Irresistible.

Lunch was taken at a second Goldie site, where it duly obliged. We then spent some time returning to Aros and the loch's northern shore, seing our second White-tailed + various small birds. 
As we crossed a bridge over a rocky stream, Arthur told us that the Dipper's nest under the bridge had been washed out by recent storms, he hadn't seen it since. And.......there was one. I took two photos through a tinted window past Pam and Fernando's heads.

Paulina (Canadian who took dozens of photos at every stop), was a dab hand at getting back on the bus, showing Pam a photo on her screen and asking for an ID. On two occasions it was a bird no-one else had seen to-day - including husband.

The coastal drive to Calgary is narrow, with climbing hairpin bends, deciduous forest clinging to the  hillside and stupendous views on another hot and glorious day. One view of Ben More, the highest mountain on Mull and,  qualifying as a Ben,  had everyone clicking away.

 
This is where Arthur gives us a history and geology lesson to keep us entertained as there's nowhere to stop. Inch Kenneth, closest island  to shore,  where the Mitford family had a home and sister Unity came to convalesce in 1944 having failed a suicide attempt because she was in love with Hitler. North Mull is volcanic and the Roches Moutonee and Rigs are clearly seen. So were the islands of Dutchman's Hat, Lunga and Flodda which make up the Treshnish Isles. Ever windy Tiree is beyond.

Nothing in Calgary Bay, no need to shelter in weather like this, which is not good for birding either. The birds and animals are hot and sleep the day away. The moorland road back to Dervaig has another Golden Eagle territory. We parked in a pull-off near the old school house where one turned up on the hill opposite - where it nests - within a short time of arrival. I was sat on the bus step looking the opposite way, enjoying my Lemon Drizzle cake when Pam called birds. Two young Golden Eagles came over the hill by the schoolhouse, much closer than the others. Brilliant. We also added our first Whinchat.

The Torloisk road is in a hideous state of repair. Arthur, after a stop at his home to drop off the food stuff, drove part of the way up the Dervaig end which is better, No Harrier nor Owl to-day, just Tormentor (named so as it was used to alleviate toothache), and Fleabane to add to the flower list. We also saw several Green-veined Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell to-day.

Loch Cuin was lovely in the late afternoon light, two Dunlin the highlight for the group.

We returned to Tobermory to drop off the group as Arthur was trying the Frisa Road for raptors. No luck.

Adding the Coal Tit, Siskin, Greenfinch  and Great Tit on Arthur's garden feeders a total of 54 birds on a very enjoyable day. Arthur's trips have a feelgood factor.

Back to the lovely Cathy. Lily the donkey was tied up in the bottom yard. Pam went down to photograph her and she'd gone. A hot Cathy appeared at our bedroom window. The donkey's feet had been trimmed and she'd walked her, the lamb and the dog back up the hill to the field. That would have made a good photograph.

The car was not carefully packed, we'll sort everything next week.