The Isle of Mull

Mull, which is located on the West coast of Scotland, provides a healthy and diverse habitat for a number of the UK’s most precious bird species. Including White Tailed Sea Eagles, Hen harriers, Short eared owls, Corncrakes and Great Northern Divers for a taste. But with all the birdlife on Mull, there is one mammal which, for photographers, trumps all of these, the Eurasian Otter. On the beautiful island there is a dense population because of the rich sea life that thrives on the Lochs edge. Alltogether, Mull is a breathtaking place to visit not just for the flourishing wildlife but for the stunning scenery that you can enjoy from all corners of the island.

My highlights of the trip

We were very lucky with the incredible weather we had for the six days that we were staying on the East side of the small island. almost unheard of in Scotland I can happily confirm for most if not for the whole few days the sun was never not shining.

Otter

After the very first encounter I had with Otters one afternoon during low tide I became obsessed. From the road I noticed a small splash in the calm water where an Otter was hunting close by to the shoreline. I rushed out of the car down to the rocks below where the Otter came back up with a crab large and started to feast. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I had these magical encounters day after day, it felt much like a dream. and the best part was the Otter never noticed my presence and thats perfectly how I like it!

After these endless encounters this mammal soon became a favourite and still is today, they are as charismatic as a dog and that’s a great joy to watch.

Short eared owl

Every evening I had the pleasure of watching a wonderful female who perched on the same row of posts each night, before it delivered a tasty vole to its young that were hidden among the rough grassland. Knowing this routine allowed me to set up with my tripod and wait for the next catch it got before swooping up onto a post beside the road.

The Owls hunted in a very vast area with marshland habitat which was great to see as they quartered the fields with Hen harriers too. Observing these owls in such fantastic light was special in many ways and that’s what I loved the most, as the wings lit up at dusk I felt a great sense of peace.