Otters and Eagles Isle of Mull tour

Our "Otters and Eagles Tour" to the Isle of Mull was just a magical experience, stunning wildlife in equally stunning lamdscapes and with wonderful company. A winter visit to Mull is an amazing experience, we almost had the island to ourselves and the wildlife is very active and really showed off.



Although the hills were white with snow, at sea-level it was clear and we had no trouble moving around this beautiful island and encountering the very special wildlife. In fact we saw our first two otters on the mainland before crossing over to the island. We also found a flock of Greenland-white fronted Geese on the mainland, a lovely surprise.



Once on the island we encountered at least eleven otters during our time on Mull, where else could you hope to see so many in such a short time. The animals were very busy feeding and by being very careful we all enjoyed amazing views with binoculars and telescopes without disturbing them.









The Isle of Mull is also well known as the home of the magnificent White-tailed Eagle and each day we were able to marvel at the flying barn doors! What fantastic raptors they are and again we were able to soak up wonderful views at close range, time after time!







Of course there was lots more to see on this magical island and we saw a lot of red deer, including this handsome stag, fallow deer, common and grey seals. And of course the jaw-dropping views as we traveled around the island.







But the otters and eagles really were the stars of the show and it was wonderful to keep finding such spectacular wildlife each time we ventured out from our cosy hotel overlooking the Sound of Mull.



The highlight, of many, many highlights, was finding this female otter with two well grown cubs. We were privalaged to watch them playing, grooming and fishing, from a safe distance without disturbing them, just wonderful!











And here is what they left behind! It had been a magical encounter with three fantastic animals and we were all thrilled to have witnessed such a spectacle.

As we toured the island we regularly encountered birds of prey, ghostly male Hen Harriers and smart brown and white female harriers, and Golden Eagles, including a displaying pair right over our heads in a dramatic setting in the mountains.





The many sea-lochs hold divers, grebes, auks and wildfowl - we have never seen so many Great northern Divers before, and many close in and really showing well.









This became one of our favourite spots only a few minutes from our hotel. Here we had some of our closest encounters with the mighty White-tailed Eagles. We even watched a pair try and mug and otter for its fish! They then mated on the rocks as we watched!













It was also here that we had wonderful views of a gang of Common Crossbills that came down to get grit from the side of the track. Amongst them was one bird with a massive bill and bull neck, a Parrot Crossbill! A very rare bird on the Isle of Mull. We saw this bird twice here in the company of Common Crossbills.







Top picture is a male Common Crossbill, then Parrot Crossbill with Common Crossbill, then the Parrot Crossbill.













The Isle of Mull is a wonderful location to see very special birds and wildlife, we will be running our "Otters and Eagles Tour" again so if you would like details do contact us. This tour, like all our other tours is also availible as a custom tour - we can tailor make the tour, dates, pace, accommodation etc to be perfect for you! This latest tour was a custom tour as a Christmas present for one of our party. Just drop us a line and we can make it happen for you.

info@thebiggesttwitch.com

For information on this and all our other tours. We look forward to enjoying great wildlife with you soon.



On the ferry home, still scanning....