Bottlenose Dolphins action and Eagles in the Mist

Theo's Tour - 21.08.25

The weather today was cool and misty with drizzle and sporadic sun. It felt like Mull had returned to its usual self. Theo was the tour guide for today, and eagles were the target species.

With eagles as the main focus, the first spot was to find a white-tailed eagle. What a way to start the tour! An impressive adult white-tailed eagle was perched on a large conifer, and a ringtail hen harrier was seen distantly over the skyline. In the distance, a few Red Deer were also visible, looking incredible with their antlers through the scope.

Continuing around the loch, the tour was treated to great scope views of a juvenile Black-throated Diver, a scarce bird on Mull. Additionally, two more white-tailed eagles were spotted on offshore islands, along with Harbour and Grey Seals.

Our next stop was overlooking the Sound of Mull. Upon arrival, we saw Bottlenose Dolphins! A pod of 15 swam by at speed, quite spread out in front of us. This was an uncommon sighting for our land-based tours and always a delight to see these large dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are super swimmers, gliding through the water using their curved dorsal fins. They can reach speeds over 30 km/h and dive as deep as 250 meters below the surface. Further down the Sound, the tour had brief and distant scope views of a female Otter with her two cubs heading quickly for the safety of the shore. A few Eiders were bobbing about, and Buzzards were calling above. The Sound of Mull was amazing today with some fantastic sightings.

Around lunchtime, the group enjoyed an absolute eagle fest. Two adult white-tailed eagles watched us from their treetop perches while we ate lunch. Then, a golden eagle soared over the skyline—the first for the tour today. What a mighty bird! Simultaneously, an adult white-tailed eagle appeared below, powering across the loch and snatching some prey off the shoreline. It tucked into the prey while sitting on a rock, with two Hooded Crows watching jealously.

Into the mountains, the tour went, and the eagle fest continued. Unfortunately, the peaks were hidden away in the deep mist, but Theo spotted a golden eagle perched on a hilltop rock in the murk. An adult white-tailed eagle was then spotted from the vehicle by a guest—a brilliant spot. The white-tailed eagle soared high above the road, and the tour enjoyed a hot drink at the last stop, watching red deer out on the grass moorland to finish the day.

What a successful day, in quite tricky conditions, with the bottlenose dolphins being the standout species and so many white tailed eagles providing great support throughout the day.