I was up this morning just before 2am. I spent a couple of frustrating hours trying to write the blog but I was unable to do very much because the blogger app refused to work, even to do it direct through the browser didn't work, so in the end I just gave up. Later on the problem was easily resolved by restarting the iPad, it was caused by a photo not uploading properly. Easy, in the cool light of day but when I'm tired, I just can't think logically!
I went out into the conservatory about 6.45am, it was an absolutely glorious morning, there wasn't a cloud in the sky but being November there has to be a trade off, it was extremely cold! It didn't take very long for the conservatory to mist up and I couldn't see anything. Eventually, as the temperature balanced itself out, the conservatory cleared and once again I had a great view Westwards across Lochdon. The view we had over breakfast.
The small birds are certainly enjoying the seeds that Jan spreads along the front wall, normally by the end of breakfast the seed has to be replaced. Today will probably be the last day we can get out as we have been doing and we have been deliberately saving the best for last. We have to leave Mull on Friday and it is looking like, weather permitting, we are going to catch the 9am ferry which means we have to be at the terminal by about 8.15am. Unfotunately the weather forecast for Thursday and Friday is not good with gales and heavy rain predicted.
We set off from Lochdon just after 11.30am and headed West to Fionnphort through Glen More, the mountainous area of Mull. It was 11.47am when we saw our first car in any direction. We turned off the Fionnphort Road towards Salen and the Ulva Ferry. The signpost just says Salen (Scenic Route) and they are not wrong. There can't be many better scenic routes in the whole of the UK let alone Mull.
Jan often says to me: "How do I remember everything that happens during the day?" It's easy really, I just have an a really empty mind but I've been encouraging Jan to use a notebook just to keep brief notes of what we see. I normally do it if Jan is driving, but it's easier for Jan to do it when I'm driving. I've done more driving this week than I have done for the whole of the last 3 years put together!
The scenic route to Salen begins by going along the edge of Loch Scridain (a sea loch) and then you turn away from the Loch and go through a forested area climbing up into the central mountains. By this time we had already seen a number of Buzzards (12 seen during the whole day), Herons (23) and Robins (just too many to count). Before we left the Loch side we had also seen 3 Red Breasted Mergansers, 4 Great Northern Divers (a first for us - 7 for the day), lots of Redwings, 15 Cormorants, and then an incredible raft of about 80 Eiders by a Mussel Farm.
As you climb up from the loch into the hills you expect to see an Eagle or a Mountain Hare at any moment but today it was mainly sheep.
Then as you start to descend you go round a bend and a whole vista of Islands and sea opens before you. It might be a bit of a cliche but it takes your breath away. All the pictures we have taken of this vista have never done it justice, it is just something you have to see. There must be something like 20-30 islands in your sight.
You then start to descend down a road that has nothing between you and the sea loch, Loch Na-Keal. On one side you have the loch side and the other the mountains. On a previous visit to Mull on our sabbatical 5 years ago we saw 2 Golden Eagles being escorted by 2 Ravens but not today. There was a lot of work going on for a new hydro electric project and this entailed a helicopter ferrying loads of concrete from the loch side up into the mountains. Each return trip took about 5 minutes and we were aware of the helicopters presence for at least a couple of hours.
As we were descending down to the Loch side, down below us we could see 3 Harbour Seals travelling parallel to us. We are probably unaware just how quick these Seals can travel and how long they can spend underwater, they soon left us behind.
At the bottom of the descent the road follows the loch around to Calgary. We pass through the works for the hydro project. It's the first time that I've seen traffic control in place for a helicopter but I guess it is necessary because the helicopter passes low over the road with a container full of concrete slung beneath it.
Further along the road that is marked by Herons fishing about every 100-200 metres and various Gulls and Hooded Crows in groups scavenging for food amongst the rocks we come across 2 Ravens on the rocks, we stopped to get some video and pictures, they didn't seem too bothered until I turned the engine off, forgetting to put the gearbox into Park (it is an automatic), the car let out its audible warning to remind me to put it into Park. That's it the Ravens are off. It's said the best place to see Ravens on Mull is the rubbish dump at Tobermory!
Not very much further along the road we come across another first for us, a Rock Pipit. After some heated discussion between us and much jiggering of the car, Jan manages to get some good footage of the bird (I hope).
Jan spotted about 4 Harbour Seals hauled up on some rocks out in the loch and also perhaps, an Otter before it slips away. Carrying on around the loch we see another 3 Great Northern Divers and another first for us 2 Slavonian Grebes.
Carrying on around the loch we come to a sporting estate, with the dreaded rhododendrons taking over again. Jan saw two Fallow Deer in a wooded area and then we came across a strange sight. A field of Sheep but their coats are dyed completely orange. On our way to Mull we saw a few Sheep with dyed pink fleeces but not a whole flock! I'm sure there is some agricultural reason for the dyed fleeces but it's a rather nice thought that a farmer has a sense of humour who has dyed the Sheep for Halloween. However, all the farmers I've known have been reluctant to spend anything they don't have to. Strangely, there were also 2 Fallow Deer amongst them.
Just after the Sheep we saw a field with about 200 Greylag Geese, 4 Barnacle Geese and 4 Curlews happily feeding on the grass.
After we'd gone through the estate we found a parking place overlooking the loch, hoping to see an Otter while we had our coffee. Having no joy at Otter spotting we then travelled the short distance to Salen, where we got some supplies.
We thought that we would give the River Aros a try to see if we could spot a Dipper, but no joy there either.
On our way back to Lochdon we witnessed an amazing Moon-Rise. The Moon was rising above the Highlands and shining across the Sound of Mull. Earlier this year we had spent some time filming the 2nd and 3rd of this year's 3 Super Mega Moons. We both thought that this Moon appeared bigger than them but not quite as bright.
I had to smile when we stopped at the Garmony Viewpoint. Jan was trying to get an artistic shot of the Moon but while she was doing this a Harbour Seal had popped his head out next to the shore and was watching her!
We had one last attempt to see if we could see a Barn Owl by going down the Kilpatrick Road. No joy there but as we travelled back up the lane we did hear a distant Tawny Owl. What was ironic was when we returned the cottage, Jan heard another Tawny Owl just up the road from us.
Keep your eyes peeled and good spotting.
No comments:
Post a Comment