Corncrake
Rugged scenery and long summer nights epitomise the romantic Western Isles of Scotland. Our tour to these evocative and wild places captures the true spirit and tranquillity of the islands .These are essentially mountainous islands, interspersed with sheltered sea lochs, inlets and moorland. The rocky coastline is heavily indented, though Mull itself is only forty km long and between five and thirty two km wide, while the influence of the Gulf Stream ensures a mild, but variable climate. The Sea Lochs of the southern end of the island host beautiful Red-throated Diver in its breeding dress and along with playful Otter can often be seen right outside our hotel. Black Guillemot, European Shag and Common Eider share the sea lochs while Rock Pipit and Rock Dove also occur. It may not be long before we encounter the majestic White-tailed Eagle which is at a higher density here than anywhere else in Scotland and there can be no greater sight than the mythical ‘flying barn door’ breaking the skyline of an adjacent mountain top. Around Lochdon, passage waders and seabirds might be seen as well as Twite and Whinchat, though the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly also occurs. Wild flowers include Northern Marsh, Fragrant, Heath Spotted and both species of Butterfly Orchid. Passing through Glen More on our return, we will scan for Golden Eagle over the ridge, while various conifer plantations are great for Hen Harrier and Shorteared Owl with Merlin and Peregrine also possible, as well as the croaking call of the Common Raven. We also located breeding Long-eared Owls on our 2008 tour. Woodland near Loch Ba will give us the chance to look for Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Lesser Redpoll and Wood Warbler. Weather permitting, we hope to visit the uninhabited island of Staffa; home to a variety of sea birds. Northern Fulmar, Blacklegged Kittiwake, European Shag, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin and Black Guillemot should all be present and there is the possibility of Great and Arctic Skua from the boat as well as Northern Gannet and Manx Shearwater. We land on the island and witness the massive basaltic columns that form the entrance to the world famous Fingal’s Cave. Extremely close views of the Atlantic Puffins will be possible as we sit by the entrances to their burrows made in the soft earth of the cliff top. It is not unusual to have a returning bird land at your feet, bill bulging with freshly caught sand-eels for its hungry chick that waits underground. Passerines such as Rock Pipit and Twite also occur on the island as well as the wild, pure Rock Dove which still exists here and breeds on the cliffs. We will also visit the island of Lunga in the nearby Treshnish Isles, a bustling seabird colony with large numbers of breeding Auks and even better opportunities for close views of Atlantic Puffins. A little further from shore, this excursion, which includes landing on the island, gives us a greater chance of encountering skuas and shearwaters, and also European Storm Petrel which breeds in the area. The short ferry crossing from the Ross of Mull to the beautiful island of Iona allows us to visit the famous Iona Monastery and hopefully the sound of Corncrake and with patience and due diligence possibly a sighting! These birds will tease us as they call loudly from the allotments and pasture around the village. Working our way back along the Ross of Mull peninsula, we stop off at some of the most beautiful spots such as Fidden and Uisken Bay—perhaps an emerging fin from the water in one of these sheltered spots will reveal a Bottle-nosed Dolphin!
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Introduction
