Trip report - Islay and Mull

[Picidae]

Anyone intending to do a visit to Islay then the second/third week of October really is the best time to see geese in large numbers on their arrival. Barnacle and GWFronts arrive in continuous skeins in their thousands at this time over a period of a few days and are concentrated on RSPB Gruinart before dispersing over the island in smaller groups in November. It's a fantastic spectacle when 70,000 geese all rise up in their anxious flushes!

In addition to the species Richard mentions, Dipper can be seen in Brigend Woods fairly reliably.

I'd thoroughly recommend Malcolm Ogilvie's ''The Birds of Islay'' which can be purchased online or from the Islay Natural History Centre in Port Charlotte.

Great Report Richard. I'm due another visit myself!

[Ruth Daniel]

A super read thank you Richard!
Your pictures are absolutely stunning and a wonderful reminder of our Mull adventure last year!
Where are you going next?

[Ukwildlifeo]

Great stuff! Ive been discussing a visit to Mull with the gf and her dad end of may/start of june next year, so when I saw your post about a report on your visit to come I took a peep at your pics on your website. The otter pics (among others) are fantatstic

[sunnydale]

A wonderful trip report Richard and beautiful photo's too! It must have been fabulous seeing the Otter so close and in it's natural environment I've only ever seen them in a rescue centre

[Chris Hawes]

Brilliant stuff Richard - brings back some great memories of my own visit to Mull last year.

Thanks.

[vaohama]

nice! trip you make me there I love it Thank you,

[rlchew]

Many thanks all for your appreciaitve comments.

Yes, it does take a while to pull it all together but as I said I do this for my own enjoyment as well as for WAB hopefully.

Rob .... I did recall that you are an Islay fan too and the weather that you had during the previous week was reported to me by the owners of the B&B that I stayed at .... it did sound a bit rough so I hope it did not detract too much from your own visit.

Pauline .... I know you are a big fan of Scotland from your own reports and photos from the Hebs and Cairngorms .... I can not recommend Islay and Mull highly enough .... you have to go!

Picidae .... I second the Ogilvie book recommendation and it certainly helped me a lot on my first visit last year .... I think I need to try a late October visit next year as you suggest to see the 1000s of geese actually arriving from the far northern breeding grounds.

Ruth .... where next? .... there will be some birdwatching in north Norfolk around the ned of the year and in to the New Year, there will be at least one trip to Scotland next year and I am currently planning a trip to Arctic Finland and Norway for next May/June (definitely "wild" but not "in Britain"!)

Ukwildlifeo .... go to Mull .... you will not regret it!

sunnydale .... yes, the joys of Otter watching .... one of my favourite mammals.

Richard

[taxi]

Thanks for posting this rlchew. Very interesting read

I'll be in mull next month, so this is a useful guide to go by.