Eagle fest in the wake of Storm Amy!

Mull was alive with activity today after Storm Amy. As we set off from Tobermory, a male Sparrowhawk gave us a brilliant start, darting along the roadside before pausing on a perch long enough for a great view. At our first sea loch stop, a pair of White-tailed Eagles sat high on the hills, watching over the water. Below them, an Otter fed constantly just off the shoreline, soon joined by another on the far side of the bay. Both are busy fishing, consistently hauling their catches ashore, giving us excellent views.

Out on the loch, two Great Northern Divers, one still in its striking summer plumage.

Continuing along the coast, we found Harbour Seals hauled out on the rocks, with yet another White-tailed Eagle keeping watch behind them. A female Sparrowhawk soon followed, flashing past as she hunted along the hedgerow.

The raptor action continued inland, where our first Golden Eagles of the day appeared high on the ridgeline, accompanied by several ravens.

Before another pair of Goldies showed beautifully nearby, circling on the ridge as we headed to our lunch spot.

Lunch brought more excitement — an adult White-tailed Eagle lifted off the shoreline and up onto a hillside to perch in a dead tree, while a mother Otter and her two cubs rolled playfully on the seaweed below. Moments later, a Golden Eagle soared low across the same hillside, the sunlight catching its golden nape perfectly. Then, in quick succession, an immature White-tailed Eagle followed the exact same path — three eagles over the same hillside in less than five minutes!

We carried on around the coast, spotting two more White-tailed Eagles perched out on exposed rocks in the loch. As we turned inland, the sound of roaring stags filled the air. A dominant Red Deer stag was busy guarding his hinds, patrolling the moor and chasing off younger rivals — a classic scene of the autumn rut.

The day ended back on the coast with a lovely mix of waders, another Otter feeding distantly, and a stunning pair of Red-throated Divers.