On the 29th August travelled to Scotland stopping at a B & B in Moffat. Set off next morning just before nine, stopped in Dumbarton for shopping etc and finally arrived at our destination about four. This was my first trip back for almost fifty years. Last went on a day trip with school to Isle of Bute.
We were in the western end of the Morvern area. We rented a cottage for a week, which overlooked the Sound of Mull. Driving along the narrow roads for such a long way needed all my concentration, so I couldn't take in the scenery as much as I would have liked.
I had hoped to see the eagles but didn't. We knew before hand there would be a good chance of seeing Otters and an almost 100% chance of seeing Pine Martens. We were not disappointed. Otters were seen most days from the rocks which were only 200 yards from the cottage. One day we saw the female with three young, which was fantastic, especially as I'd never seen an Otter before in the wild. Pine Martens we were told are partial to jam sandwiches so we took two jars and a couple of loaves. On Sept 1st I went for an early morning stroll and spotted my first ever sighting of a Pine Marten [male] it was at the side of the cottage, the time was just before seven. After that we saw them every night around nine o'clock both the male and female. My pal would cut the bread into 2" squares and scatter them all about the patio and on the table. Sure enough when it started to get dark they would come, we took photos of the but they didn't come out to well, but at least we have record shots. We both got within inches of them, they were obviously used to people supplying them with their favourite. Not sure why but they preferred raspberry to apricot
The birds I saw for the first time were Shag, Eider and Hooded Crow. The latter came in the garden a couple of times.
Roe Deer came in the garden most days and we managed to photograph them quite close, one came to the window which made me jump. We also had 30 Common Seal every day close to the pontoon.
The garden had feeders and one morning we counted 57 Chaffinch plus assorted tits.
One day we had a drive out and went to Strontian, Glenborrodale and the Ardnamuchan Visitor Centre. Also visited Lochaline a few times, it has the only shop for miles and a small cafe near the ferry terminal [although we didn't go in] and an hotel.
The list of birds seen by one or the other of us were as follows:
Hooded Crow
Arctic Skua
Siskin
Stonechat
Rock Pipit
Eider
Sparrowhawk
Song and Mistle Thrush
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Barn Owl
Common Buzzards [they were about the garden and all over the place]
Grey Heron [never seen so many]
Whinchat
Raven
Grey Wags
Mipit
Curlew
House Sparrow - 1 female
Peregrine
Swallow
House Martin
Tree Creeper
Gannet
Cormorant
Wren
Pied Wag
Tawny Owl [ we heard it every night]
Robin
Merlin [over garden]
Oystercatcher
Nuthatch [in garden]
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Redpoll
My pal went down to the rocks and saw in the Sound of Mull a Minke Whale and Porpoises unfortunately I wasn't well enough to go, so missed out! On another time minus me he saw Black Guillemot and Black Tern.
Also dragons, moths and butterflies.
There is so much more to tell but I'm sure you have got the drift, don't want to bore you
We both enjoyed the holiday and especially the location, a first for us both. Will most certainly go again!
One thing I don't recommend is driving the 410 miles in one day, which I decided to do coming home, my worst decision ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Took me four days to recover including two days sleeping!!!!
Kind regards
John / Max
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