We start wildlife spotting early today, with three red deer on the way down to
the boat.
An earlier start today (8:00 rather than 10:30). Jürgen & Sonja are doing the Andrew Evans' trip today, and we are joined by 6 day trippers (one of whom, Roberta, is an Italian to keep up our quota of Europeans). Crew are Laurie and Shona.
We start wildlife spotting early today, with three red deer on the way down to
the boat.
There is a 3 metre swell, which is quite unseasonable, so
Richard heads for "the only bit of calm water" up between Eigg and
Muck. On the way we spot the first Puffin of the week. Other birds we see
today include Kittiwakes, Tern, Oyster Catchers and Raven (over Muck). We also
spot our first Whale (Bill, one of the day-trippers, just beats me to the Mars
bar for the first spotting of the day), but then we loose it again.
Richard berates us, then we change watch and promptly
find it again from the main deck for a reasonable length of time as it swims
around the boat before heading off. It is given sighting number 2637. While we
are watching this we are surrounded by Harbour Porpoise, There are at least five
of them, possibly more. They swim all around the boat for some time, Then as
we head into Muck for Dinner (and their famous Cream teas!) we see the whale and
porpoise again!
Although Richard manages to land us on Muck, the tide is going out, so we have to re-embark by rowing boat. One more sighting of the Whale as we head for a roller coaster of a ride back through the swell.
Jürgen and Sonja arrive back just after us, having had a successful trip,
sighting Golden Eagle, amongst others. Marÿka gives us a tour of the
research room before dinner. It is very interesting to see the ongoing work and
the output from "Logger". We also hear the first UK recording of
Minke Whales.
We are joined for dinner by Colin and Anne, 2 Journalists
from "The Grauniad" who will be going out
on the boat tomorrow (our Wildlife Safari day).
After Dinner we go down to Calgary bay with Jacqui to look
for Otters. Denise thinks she sees one, but otherwise we have no luck, although
we do see Hedgehogs and Rabbits on the way back. After much searching back at
the Lodge we finally manage to find the Video of the Sperm Whale Stranding,
craftily labelled "SPERM WHALE STRANDING, ARDNAMUCHIN" so as to
confuse us, so we watch that before turning in for the luxury of a 9:00 am
Breakfast (three hours after the "boat" Breakfast).
Andrew Evans' Wildlife trip. Everyone (except Jürgen, who is going out on
the boat with the Journo's) is going, which confuses Andrew initially, as he
didn't expect Sonja, but we are soon sorted out and set off. We are joined by
Tony and Anna, who are holidaymakers on Mull for a couple of days.
We have
not been gone long before we spot a Sparrowhawk, the first of several Buzzards,
and a Hen Harrier, the last of which is rarer (at least in Mull Terms) than the
Golden Eagle. We set out to look for Otters (again) with no more success than
last night, although we do see several Heron, Raven and Hooded Crow, as well as
a pair of Peregrine stooping and rising on thermals. We also find a large,
beached Jellyfish.
Giving
up on the Otters, we go to look for Sea, and or Golden Eagles, but with no more
success, so Andrew decides to show us some wild flowers as they don't hide!
These include the insectivorous Sundew and Butterwort amongst others. While we
look at these Andrew thinks he spots a Golden Eagle on a distant hillside. We
move slightly closer, and as soon as we park the van it takes flight.
Fortunately it flies down our side of the hill, where we are able to watch it
with the aid of binoculars and Andrews telescope. While we are watching it is
mobbed by a buzzard, which gives a good impression of scale.
Word
for the day is "Crepuscular" (Active early morning and late evening) -
Used to describe the behaviour of Otters. We have an earlier start tomorrow
(Boat leaves at 06:30), although Jürgen (who had seen Whales and Porpoises
from the boat today) and Sonja are going on Andrew's Otter walk, so they can
have a lie in until 10:30! Regardless we take a trip up to the pub tonight,
courtesy of Brian's Astra Estate.
