Mull of Oa and Bridgend

Although we visited the Mull of Oa on the first day we didn't get very far. So we went back to the full walk around the Mull and the Monument. The day started off extremely dull with thick, heavy cloud. At lunchtime this all disappeared very quickly, changing to sunny skies again.

We had finished the Mull by late lunchtime so had a walk around the woods at Bridgend. Great carpets of Bluebells, as well as brief glimpses of Dipper and Grey Wagtail. We vowed to return when we had more time.

Mull of Oa route

Bridgend route

Feral Goat

Extremely distant Golden Eagle over the cliffs by Beinn Mhor

The Mull of Oa

American Monument

American Monument

Bluebells

Bluebells

Bluebells

Bluebells

Wren

Spotted Flycatcher

Siskin

Grey Wagtail

Feral Goat

Chough

Gannets

Rock Pipit

Fulmar

Fulmar

Flock of Gannet (with juvenile) skimming the sea's surface

Raven

Big, heavy cloud over the sea

American Monument

Lush woodland at Bridgend

DIY hide and tripod

Martin Mere

A cold, frosty and misty day at Martin Mere.

Male Ruff

Black-tailed Godwit

Ruff

Whooper Swan

Black-tailed Godwit

Wren

Female Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Moorhen

Ruff

Moorhen

Bit more garden

Still dodgy weather so more bothering the birds in the garden and practising (not particularly successful but learning).

Goldfinch fledgling

Robin

Robin

Long-tailed Tit fledgling

Wren fledgling

Dunnock

Loch Gruinart

A windy and variable day out at Loch Gruinart. Quite a long drive along back roads but not many cooperative birds along the way. On arrival we soon made up for this with more Willow Warblers than I've seen before in one place.

Male House Sparrow

Oystercatcher

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Starling piloting a sheep

The one hide overlooking the Loch was reasonably popular, with humans and grey herons.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Later a family of Lapwing fledglings made their way past the front of the hide (almost too close to get).

Fledgling Lapwing

Fledgling Lapwing

Blackbird

Greenfinch on gorse

Greenfinch on gorse

Wren

After failing to get a good shot of the above wren we were having a short break on a wooded path when a brown hare started nibbling grass at the bottom of the path. It warily made its way up the path towards us, stopping occasionally, not really sure what we were (as we were in full camouflage gear). It got quite close before deciding we weren't worth the risk and ran back down and away again. I was standing and would have preferred a lower viewpoint but I didn't dare move in case I frightened it off.

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

More Willows on the way back. The path near the visitor centre was full of them.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Goldfinch

Breezy House Sparrow

Rookery (sans Rooks)

Rainbow over Loch Indaal

Fungus