Ice crispies

The shop was closed today so we had plans for a walk. There were clear skies last night so we knew it would be icy conditions today but the forecast said the weather would be good until about 3pm.
Just before setting off this morning I heard a Greenfinch singing so I scanned the trees until I found it. They seem to disappear in the winter probably to another part of the Island so it was nice to see they are on their way back.
We were heading for Loch Ba today and it's been a bogey walk for us for a while. The weather has beaten us every time with rain, gale force winds, thunder and lightening but today would be different with a bit of luck! We stopped along the shore of Loch na Keal in a couple of places to get a few birds in as we knew there wouldn't be much up Loch Ba. First stop produced 1 BT Diver, 3 GN Diver and 2 Black Guillemot and the second stop gave me an opportunity to photograph these Red-breasted Mergansers. As soon as the scope and camera came out the birds decided to go for a swim but I managed to get this shot of the male and female in the same frame.
We set off on the walk with the wind in our faces and it wasn't too cold but the various streams that come off the hill were in various stages of freezing. The walk is approximately 4 miles and flat - just right for me! Not too far in and a Common Snipe exploded from the side of the path and away into the distance. While there were no birds to watch I was busy crunching my way through the iced over puddles or looking at the ice formations on the overhangs at the side of the path. I'm sure I'll find one that's worth taking a photo of but it's still fun to break the fresh ice or crunch though the virgin snow!
The woodland areas along the loch are made up of Birch, Hazel, Oak and the odd Holly tree here and there. They are all wizened with age and the harsh conditions - fascinating to look at. We actually found some birds in there too but not many. A Buzzard was the first one we disturbed rapidly followed by a Robin and not too much further on we found 3 Mistle Thrush, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Blackbirds and 3 Lesser Redpoll.
We were nearing the top of the Loch so I thought I'd better take a snap of where we had come from. The field area of this photograph is where we saw 5 Golden Plover on the way up but on the way back we picked up 16 Golden Plover and 2 Lapwings - superb! As we approached the loch again there was a flock of 8 Wigeon (the only birds we saw on the water) and a fly by of 7 Curlew.

Another surprise find were these Hazel catkins. It's obviously reasonably mild in this area. There was a small, broken, tree stump that had a collection of Hazelnuts scattered around. This was the scene of a wild party held by the local mice as we don't have Squirrels on Mull.
Next one for the hungry eye of the camera was this bracket fungus - nice.

At last I found some ice that was worth trying to get some shots of. It never seems to do it justice but at least I tried. Spiky formations always look good but you don't get the added extra of the sound of the water gurgling underneath it. Quality stuff though.
The next shot looks like a real cold one with the ice covering the small rocks and the ice gargoyle clinging to the side. The gargoyle part actually looked like a Seal so apologies to the Seals for that!
This next shot was taken looking further up the glen and in the centre of the shot, at the base of the snowy hill, is a settlement. Pre Highland clearances there used to be 800 people living in the Loch Ba area - unbelievable!
Another shot of the settlement but zoomed in this time.
We could have carried on from here but the clouds were starting to gather and we didn't want to get caught out again so we headed back.

A super-wide angled lens or a panoramic view would have been a better shot than this but it was just to capture the snow on the hills.

I actually took some shots of this fallen tree on the way up the loch but as we approached it again the sun was shining through and gave a much nicer feel. Not a moment too soon either as the sun was swallowed by the clouds at this point and you could feel the temperature drop.
As we neared the end of our walk there were 11 Red Deer, hinds and youngsters, grazing on the top of the rise. The camera was out but the settings were not right so I missed the whole group but I did manage to get 5 of them!

We were pretty well walked out and in need of a nice cup of tea and musing over whether there would be a welcoming party for us with a medal presentation etc. after all this was our bogey walk laid to rest. We got our medal in the form of a stunning Grey Wagtail in one of the burns!

Interference

Another cold day with an icy wind to top it off. I'm almost tempted to wear a coat but I'll tough it out for now!! There is a fair bit of heat in the sun if you can find the shelter. As you can see the water on the shore has frozen but the bird bath and the Herons drowning pool remain clear so it's not cold enough for a coat yet. Logical or what??!!!

A quick glance around this morning produced very little so I was heading for the North side of the Loch today to get out of the wind more than anything else. It wouldn't be great for photos as you always have the sun glaring unless you get real lucky. A nice drake Goldeneye, a female Goosander and a Greenshank had me stopped and trying to work the magic. I'm that good I never saw the Goldeneye again, the Goosander went for the water speed record and that was before I'd stopped! The Greenshank was too intent on feeding though so here's one for 'Dusty Bins'. It's not a great shot but the camera was completely freaking with the light conditions and a pale bird.

I had a scan for the Goldeneye again and couldn't see it. A tell tale splash further up the Loch was an Otter and then another one surfaced a couple of yards away from the first. You know where I'm heading next....but a look behind before I head off. A Little Grebe scattering across the water....why? Another Otter out on a rock but just sprainting before it's back into the water. Sensible Grebe keeping a close eye on it.

I can see one Otter on the shore eating a fish so off I go. The last tasty morsels are just disappearing as I'm getting the camera on the scope - I won't have long. I got a few shots before she left and headed further up the Loch so there might be another chance.
It must be nearly time for a snooze as she was out again about 100 yards up. She was fairly well tucked in so I had to do without the shelter of the motor. Gusty wind, glaring sun, it wasn't great and then someone turned up to ask what I was photographing - nothing now! I thought that was my lot but she came back out for a wash and brush up - cool. I was keeping half an eye out for the other Otter in between trying to get the camera to behave but I couldn't see it. Just as I was lining up for another shot the other Otter wandered through the view!! A dog Otter this time. There was a fair bit of shuffling about going on. He wasn't sure if he was welcome or not so he was in and out of the water and wandering round the female without looking at her....just in case. That's the dog creeping through the back of the shot - you can see the extra weight they carry!
She settled down to sleep and he stretched himself out a couple of yards to left of her and dropped off to sleep himself. Time to leave them in peace I think.

No other photographic opportunities presented themselves but I was happy with watching a Robin toughing it out with 3 Song Thrushes - they'll have a go at anything. A Grey Heron tried to make itself into a frost blanket for the windscreen. Not sure who got the biggest fright but I was safer!

Just so you can see it's not an easy life digiscoping - a bit arty but FUBAR!!! A good gust of wind caused that I think.

One of those days.....

....when you don't have to try too hard!
My early morning browse outside was kept to the bare minimum and didn't involve any birds, apart from the Robins, due to the nithering Northerly and blizzard conditions. The Robins were trying their best at the peanut feeder this morning so we had to get them some food before doing anything else. The only problem with putting food on the ground is our cat likes it too (peanuts, bird seed, bread - he'll try them all) so he chases the birds off it - nutter!! He's a proper mouser and doesn't have a clue how to catch birds so we don't worry too much.
A couple of hours into the day and it clears nicely but the wind is still cutting. I need to fill the motor and it's 15 miles to the garage so I like it to be bird friendly weather.

The heater in said motor hadn't even started blowing warm air when I noticed a Hoodie on the shore with a familiar lump in front of it. I hauled in as soon as I could and grabbed the gear and ran back to find the Hoodie pecking at what the Otter had left but no sign of the beast. There he is closer than I thought and I'm puffing like a steam train but he obviously realised I couldn't run any more! Very obliging.

There were plenty of Buzzard and Kestrel about obviously trying to get as much food as possible before the next onslaught of poor conditions. I decided to pass the garage and carry on to Fidden in case the weather changed. First on the list were a group of 35 Golden Plover in the field where the Geese normally are. 6 Ringed Plover, 4 Rock Pipit, 3 Oystercatcher, 15 Curlew overhead and then a single Pied Wagtail. That's the first Pied Wag I've seen this year on Mull - it's a long wait for some of these birds! The 32 Greenland White-fronted Geese were just past the farm but too close for comfort. I let them wander down the field before I attempted to photograph them. With the sun the wrong side of them it's not a bad effort.Back to the farm to see what finches were about - 30 Chaffinch and six Reed Bunting was all I could find. There were a couple of Grey Seals in the bay but not much else. I had to rattle a few shots off for the Bunt as a car was rapidly approaching. I say rapidly but as fast as you can go on a road full of potholes!

Next stop was Loch Pottie. Never a great place to see birds but it does attract the ducks. A scan with the bins found me an Otter - never seen one on this Loch before so a bonus there. A scan with the scope produced 18 Tufted Duck which is another uncommon bird on the Island.

After filling the motor a quick stop at a regular spot for Golden Eagle and there they were sitting on the top of the hill. Photo taken with full mag on everything otherwise you wouldn't be able to see them!
Next stop was Bunessan to see if the drake Gadwall was going to play nicely. After half an hour chewing the fat I thought I had better look for it. No sign until I'm driving out of the village and there he is but there's nowhere to stop. I gave it a full 2 minutes in the cutting wind and got this shot - I'm happy with it......for today!

My next stop was in the middle of nowhere near the seaward end of Loch Scridain. A decent place to scan the ridges. Nothing, nothing, nothing.......Buzzard with another bird that looks different...and a bit grey...male Hen Harrier woohoo! Keep watching...... another Buzzard then a female Hen Harrier join the growing crowd...a bigger bird in the background to these 4....a juv White-tailed Eagle. All in the same view was pretty impressive I thought. Another adult White-tailed Eagle was way off to the right of this crowd and two Buzzards right overhead. A nice busy little spell.

That was me heading for home after that. This Hoodie was the town cryer for the day, standing on the post shouting to anyone who would listen. I took notice and a photo for posterity. The rest of Loch Beg had 2 Goosander, 35 Teal and 4 Little Grebe with the usual array of waders and gulls.