A "Ruff" day

Weather: moderate breeze from the west and mostly bright with some light cloud until mid afternoon when heavens opened!

Theo's tour:

The day started with the over-summering Pink-footed Goose once again before a guest spotted a White-tailed Eagle flying overhead followed by 2 more immature White-tailed Eagles overhead! An Adult White-tailed Eagles was over the near hills further down.

A distant Golden Eagle was over the far hills on the next stop with both Seals species on offshore islands. 2adult and a juvenile WTE were also sat out on the island.

Further down we had great overhead views of another WTE powering overhead and 2 more adult WTE soaring across the loch.

Onto our lunch spot, Theo spotted a group of waders on the shore, getting them in the scope they were Ruff! A very scarce bird on Mull and a first for Theo on the island.

Fallow deer were in the trees on the way to the next stop.

A great spot by a guest of a Kingfisher at the next stop, another Mull scarcity. It fished for a short while in the scope stood by a Grey Heron. A Sparrowhawk flew overhead.

Onto the grass moorland we saw Red Deer gathering into the hareems for the rut, 2 immature WTE over the distant hills in the scope and to finish the day a male Hen Harrier quartering the moorland.

Jack's tour:

Started the day with 2 immature White tailed Eagles before the local adult flew through to hunt on a nearby ridgeline. A short drive along the loch resulted in a pair of Yellowhammer feeding roadside before we headed south to look for Otters.

After checking out some woodland for Fallow Deer, we then headed towards Otter territory. A short drive after we found the local female Otter with 2 cubs. After finishing napping the young family moved out to feed in the loch.

We then worked our way North and had a Golden Eagle flying over the road, giving everyone wonderful views (and more importantly a chance to look at the ID features). 2 more Golden Eagles hunting over the moors to finish the day before working our way back to base while heavy squalls pushed in from the west.