Isle of Mull part seven

 Some of the larger birds from our time on Mull.

Female Hen Harrier seen while we were on our way to Iona.

A different female seen while we were coming back from Iona.

This male Hen Harrier was hunting in the field opposite the cottage. He put in an appearance two or three times while we were there.

A “Tourist Eagle” (Buzzard) doing what they normally do, fly off from a telegraph pole when you stop the car to take a picture.

This Buzzard was hunting the fields not far from Lochdon and at first I was convinced it was a Hen Harrier because it was so light in colour.

This one was our local Buzzard which I saw every day outside the cottage.

Short-eared Owl. These are the best shots I could manage. It was the only one we saw and it was around a quarter of a mile away and unfortunately the heat haze has just about ruined the shots. We went back on another couple of occasions but the Owl didn’t show up.

We saw Hooded Crow everywhere we went on Mull.

This dot in the sky is the only Golden Eagle we saw while we were on Mull.

Isle of Mull part six

 One thing I was surprised at while we travelled around Mull was the lack of insects including butterflies and dragonflies. When we have been there in other years there seemed to be loads flying around this year was totally different. I always mention my attempts to identify insects etc. please correct me if I have anything wrong.

Male Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

I think it was having a Common Darter for lunch.

Common Darter.

I’m still none the wiser about Bumblebees despite looking in several books.

A Bee Mimic Volucella bombylans.

Nicrophorus Sp. of Burying/Carrion beetle.

Clouded-bordered Brindle moth.

Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus) this thing was about an inch long.

Gorse Shieldbug.

Geometridae Sp. of moth.

I think this is another (more worn) Clouded-bordered Brindle moth.

Dark Green Fritillary butterfly.

Transparent Burnet moth.

This is the longest Grasshopper I have ever seen it was over an inch long.

Another Geometridae Sp. of moth.

Another Dark Giant Horsefly I think they just liked the colour of my car as this one and the one above were on the car while we were parked in different places. 

Sericomyia silentis Hoverfly.

Red-legged/Forest Shieldbug.

Eristalis Sp. Hoverfly

Another Sericomyia silentis Hoverfly.

Female Golden-ringed Dragonfly posing for me.

Female Common Darter.

A Diving Beetle (could be Agabus striolatus).

Isle of Mull part five

 Back to Mull and once again some of the smaller birds from around the island. Most of these images are of juvenile birds of which, I’m pleased to say, there were many.

Whitethroat with lunch.

One of the juvenile Whitethroat the parent bird was about to feed.

This is one of its siblings.

This is another one.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Juvenile Wheatear.

Another Juvenile Wheatear this time on Iona.

Juvenile Robin.

Duck. Another juvenile Robin nearly takes out a House Sparrow.

Willow Warbler. I love the little white feather sticking up from its head.

Juvenile Stonechat.

Goldfinch with what looks like nesting material.

Song Thrush.

And another.

Wren singing its heart out from the top of a post.

Feeding time for the House Sparrows on Iona.

These two were on the shoreline by one of the lochs.

Redpoll.

Greenfinch another juvenile.

Before anyone says anything, I know it’s not a small bird but I had to include this Hedgehog that was wandering around in the garden of the cottage somewhere.