September.....Another great season coming to a close

We are in to September now and the season is coming to a close with the trips quietening down, but the wildlife is still showing well. We have had some nasty spells of weather during the month but on the days when we could get further out we have had some good Minke whale encounters feeding hard. Also the Eagles and other raptors putting on great shows during clear spells. At the end of the breeding season a lot of migrant birds start moving to different parts of the planet and this is when rare birds can crop up along the British Isles. The landscapes are turning in to all sorts of glorious colours and the freshness in the air it really is a great time of the year.

Minke whale surfacing surrounded by fantastic Scottish landscape

The largest predator on the planet, the Sperm whale was spotted in the sound or Raasay near Skye on the 17th. Sperm whale sightings are rare off the west coast of Scotland but not unheard of with the last sighting being off the Isle of Canna in 2008. The majority of these sightings come from the Minch and off Skye where the sea bed reaches depths of over 100 meters. Sperm Whales are the largest toothed animals on earth and feed on mainly cephalopods like Cuttlefish and Squid. Fishermen in the area have reported catching more and larger sized Squid in recent years so it is no surprise that there are more Sperm whale sightings in the area.

The whale was reported to have being feeding rather than just travelling through which is a positive sign. Sperm whales can be under the surface for up to 90 minutes and go to depths of up to 1000 meters.

Two Mountain Hares, Photo G storey

Manx shearwater, photo G storey

The annual RSPB nature of farming award has gone to the Isle of Mull's very own Treshnish Farm ran by Somerset and Carolyne Charrington. The land is managed to cater for a huge array of wildlife including the very scarce summer migrant the Corncrake. Also other farm birds including the Curlew and Lapwing. They have over 300 species of Butterflies and Moths on their land and 10 species and Dragonfly and Damselfly.

Minke surfacing close to Yacht, photo G Storey

Harbour seals at the Carins of Coll, photo G Storey

We have two species of Seal's in the UK, Common / Harbour Seal and Atlantic Grey Seal. The Harbour Seal is the smaller of the two species and have a big variation in colour. It is very difficult to distinguish the sexes of Harbour Seal's.

Grey Seals are larger with the Bulls growing to a possible 2.6 meters in length. The British coastlines hold over half of the world breeding population. The Grey seals will be starting to give birth to pups at this time of the year as the breeding Harbour Seals move out allowing the cow Grey Seals to move in to pup. The young Grey Seal pups have a waterproof white coat which is a flaw within the species in this period of time on the planet as we are still in the retreating stages of the ice age and going back 8000 years on the British Isles the country would of being covered in ice and snow which would of provided good camouflage for the Grey Seal pups, but as the climate got warmer the ice melted and the Seal pups have become more exposed to their surroundings. Seal Pup milk is up to 50% fat and grey Seal mothers feed their pups with milk for 16-21 days, during which time the pup gains an average of 30 kg.

Common Dolphin approaching Sula Beag, photography by G Storey

Another great Common Dolphin experience at the very start of the month as a group of 20 approached the boat and associated with us for nearly half an hour. Their behaviour and intelligence amazes me more every time I see them. Their brain is more complex than ours and their language is more sophisticated. Their society is dedicated to peace and love and they are very talkative even though they don't have any vocal cords they produce clicks, whistles, groans, squeals and barks coming from sacks in their nasal passage. They can produce 1200 sounds per second.

Their intelligence is incredible as some populations of Dolphins around the world are known to use tools as when hunting along sharp coral they attach sponge to their snouts as safety masks. They are also known to help certain small fishing communities as they heard shoals of fish into nets in return for a few thrown back.

The river in flood near Knock

Slow shutter speed photo with Jayne

A disturbing wildlife crime made the headlines this month as millionaire Michael Barclay and a former magistrate John Metcalf were convicted as criminals as they have being involved in the trade of protected wild animals and bird eggs for many years. Guy Shorrock was the leading RSPB investigation officer who worked with the police in a coordinated raid on Michael Barclays mansion. Inside the mansion the police located hundreds of rare eggs and stuffed birds and animal skins including Tigers, many illegally obtained.

These wealthy criminals help drive the illegal animal trades and can pay up to five figure sums for animal parts or skins. Both men have being imprisoned for the serious crime and well done to the RSPB and police wildlife crime unit for getting to the bottom of the case.

Egg collecting is still a problem to this day in the British isles with the hobby going back to the 1880s. It was a fashionable activity encouraging people to go in to the countryside and collect the different specimens. It got banned in 1954 and still continues as 'Eggers' can devote their lives to the pursuit for eggs and become obsessed with the practice. The rarer species of birds are often targeted. In the UK the problem seems to be declining but it could be on the increase abroad as collectors could be moving further afield.

Isle of Mull also have a strict operation in place called 'Operation Easter' which is a joint effort between the RSPB, Forestry Commission, Mull and Iona community trust, Strathclyde police, SNH and many locals and volunteers. It is a six week project during the breeding season where the people involved help to protect the eagles nests all around the island and report anything suspicious. The main threats to the nest sites are egg collectors and also the prospect of chicks getting stolen to be sold and raised as falconers birds. The eagles on Mull generate a huge interest to the island all year round and are valued at 5 million a year to the local economy.

Wildlife persecution is still a major problem in the UK and Great Britain has the worst record for illegal killing of Birds of prey in the world. The fantastic website Raptor Politics is a good insight into the problems we have and is well worth a look.......

Loch Na Keal looking to the west at sun set

Its approaching a great time of the year for photography with the autumn colours and changing landscapes. Isle of Mull is a hot spot for capturing the best landscape and wildlife images. here is 5 tips to help you get a better photo....

1. The rule of Thirds (below) - Don't always put the subject in the middle of the picture. cut your scene in to thirds and try to position the subjects on show in to an option of 9 imaginary boxes to get more interest in the composition. It is just a guideline and there is many circumstances where the rule is not preferred or needed.

2. Get to know your subject and surroundings - in terms of the wildlife you are capturing try and get to know their behaviour and different characteristics and it will give you a better chance of getting the photo you want and also one that relates to that species. For example if you are wanting to photograph Otters then you can discover that they will more likely be active at dawn and dusk and you can discover their preferred feeding areas to give you a better chance of photographing them.

3. No such thing as bad conditions - Use the weather to your advantage and try and capture the power of the weather like for example if it is raining you can potentially get some nice effects capturing the motion of the falling water with a slower shutter speed. The rain will also lead to strong running rivers and possible waterfalls to focus your attentions on. Also overcast conditions can produce a nice shade of light and also nice cloud formations to focus on. The wind if you are by the coast will create very impressive waves to capture with a camera. The snow and ice of course creates amazing photography opportunities all round.

4. Start simple - If your just getting in to photography then the best practice is to stay local and focus on the surroundings close to you. Garden Birds are great practice and garden landscape shots. The beauty of photography is that there always a better photo to capture even if it is on your local patch.

5. Patience and commitment - One of the most important aspects of wildlife photography is patience and commitment to getting the opportunities. If you can dedicate yourself then you will give yourself more chance and the rewards can be huge. There is always that element of luck involved as well of course!

Fishing on Loch Na Keal at dusk, everyone was 'hooked' with this picture

The home favourite the Minke!

Our trips for the month were challenging with conditions restricting the areas we could cover. When we had a good spell we did get further out to the whale grounds and had some good Minke sightings along with Porpoise and good birds. Unfortunately there was too many days where we had to stay in more sheltered waters which was frustrating because we like everyone else wanted to get further out and see what was going on, especially with the season coming to an end and we wouldn't get many more opportunities to do so.

Overall the season has being a very good one in terms of sightings and we have experienced a huge variety of wildlife on our trips including Minke whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Basking Sharks, Sunfish, Porpoise, WT Eagles, Golden Eagles and a good number of superb sea birds. Unfortunately the sneaky Orcas evaded us every time with a number of reports but we never managed to bump into them. Rissos Dolphin were not sighted by our operators as we did have 3 encounters last season.

I will post season highlights to follow as well as the top photos of the 2011 season........Thanks for reading everyone. :-)

Ewan

Wildlife Guide

August.....The peak time for Mull and its Wildlife

August is the peak time for the island with a large amount of tourists flocking to Mull to see all the magical island has to offer. School holidays either side of the border add to the tourism with British holiday makers making the most of the beautiful remote locations and islands we have in Scotland. With the month of August being the peak of summer and the hottest time of the year means the food is at its most abundant, as is the wildlife and its offspring.

A Lunch time landing on the Cairns of Coll

Classic rolling back and small dorsal fin....

The Evolution of the Whale.........Fifty five million years ago hoofed carnivores started to move from the land back into the sea. Legs becoming fins and tails and bodies becoming longer and more streamlined as the evolutionary clock ran backwards. Whales have no relationship with other water based meat eaters like Seals and Walruses. Their closest living relative is the vegetarian Hippo. Its one of evolutions most compelling stories how a clumsy crocodile shaped Otter became the largest, most graceful and mysterious of all creatures on the planet.

Why so big? Whales grew large because the buoyancy of water meant they could - nothing so heavy could survive on land as the energy needed to move and feed would be too great. Heat travels 24 times faster in water and being large helps as it reduces the surface to weight ratio. The real success is the blubber that acts as an insulation overcaot and a life jacket. It also stores the water extracted from food and provides a handy on board supply of nutrients when food is scarce.

Laggan Bay, West Mull Sunset

Its all about the Mars bar.....won by the first person to spot a Whale!

In Iceland whale meat is a traditional local dish but a recent survey by IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare) discovered that only 5% of Icelanders ate whale meat on a regular basis. This means the main drive for eating whale meat in Iceland are tourists visiting the island. The predicted mentality is 'I will only try it once it wont do any harm' There are over half a million tourists visit Iceland every year. Zoologist Mark Carwardine has met people in Reykjavik who have walked off a whale-watch boat and straight into a restaurant to eat whale meat.

Buster the Grey seal on Calve island

Morning in Tobermory

A Minke Whale surfacing off Sanna bay as the guests watch on....

The Value of Whale Watching.....Whale watching generates far more than whale hunting worldwide as the industry now generates over two billion a year. The group commissioning the report IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) says whaling countries would gain from a switch to whale watching. However Icelands delegates said that both industries were compatible and could grow together. Icelandic Whalers have recently increased their quota to over a hundred and fifty endangered Fin Whales as well as a hundred plus Minke whales. Whale watching is clearly more environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial than hunting. Whales are worth far more alive than dead.

Crew and Guests enjoying the Isle of Muck

Minke Whale surfacing close to Sula Beag

There were a few special trips towards the end of August starting with a seven hour trip on the 30th of the month as we ventured in the morning. The condition of the sea was a bit choppy which added to the challenge of finding wildlife. We got Porpoise showing as we headed west towards Coll, and further on in the open sea up to 20 Common Dolphins approached the bow of our boat from the south! They stayed with us for nearly half an hour, being their usual playful selves bow riding and also performing some interesting behaviour, tail slapping constantly. The trip continued in good vein with good minke whale sightings as well as more porpoise.

On the trip the day after (Wednesday) it summed up all that is great about wildlife with the excitement, unpredictability, pleasure, joys and rewards. It was a four hour trip with 40 guests and they were not disappointed as we managed to see seven whales during the trip which is a record number in recent years!

The day after again and there was a lot to live up to after Wednesdays events. A seven hour with the usual very keen guests on board excited about what the trip will bring. A bit trickier sea state than the day before but we still managed 5 Minke whales! a lovely lunch stop off Sanna bay and great views of White Tailed Eagle on the way in made for another fantastic all round trip.

Muck for lunch!

The four 'Small isles' are seen to the north on our longer trips. They are sometimes called the 'Cocktail isles' because all four are very different in appearance, habitat and structure. You can visit the islands from Mallaig via the Calmac passenger ferries all year round.

Isle of Rum is the largest of the small isles and is owned by SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage). It is one of Scotlands finest and most important nature reserves in particular for the 100,000 breeding Manx Shearwater on the higher ground. The two peaks on Rum are remains of an extinct Volcano.

Isle of Eigg is the second largest island and has a unique structure to it with a slopping ridge of Lava called the Sgurr. Isle of Eigg is owned and managed by the people in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of Scotland and the island is a full nature reserve with no hunting and shooting with the sole purpose to promote wildlife and their ecosystems. If only other parts of the UK had that set up for promoting wildlife.

Isle of Muck is again very different to the other isles and it is basically ran as a large farm. Managing the livestock on the island as well as game birds Pheasants and Red Legged Partridge used for shoots during the open season between September and January. Muck is the smallest of the small isles. A lovely tea room is well worth a visit!

Isle of Canna is the furthest island from the mainland. It is very low lying and has a population of 20. There is a primary school on the island. The island is currently in care by the National Trust of Scotland and are on the look out for the right family to come and live on the island and manage it.

Fulmar

Blow! Minke surfacing in lovely sparkling light

How to whales communicate and find prey underwater? Smell is useless, sight is limited, and touch is tricky when you have fins rather than fingers. But sound waves travel four times faster underwater. Whales use Echolocation to send out sound waves and when receiving the returning calls it gives them an accurate reading of their surroundings. Whale songs are the loudest noise made by any animal. Some songs are so low in frequency that they can be heard thousands of miles away. The massive head of a Sperm whale focuses sound into a burst that can stun a giant squid and can also be used to navigate and interpret its dark mysterious world. A half hour song from a humpback whale can contain millions of discrete units of information and they sing different songs in different places at different times of the year. No one knows what information they are portraying but we do know that military sonar and general noise pollution in the sea has reduced the whales carrying range by up to 80% and many stranded whales have severe inner ear damage. We may not hunt whales like we once did but we still torment them.

Tobermory looking out to the harbour, best seat in the house!

Keith Edmunds photo of the male Peregrine on Tobermory main street has won best photo in the urban category of the national Bird Watching magazine. A pair of Peregrines have being showing very well all season in Tobermory with excellent food source available, Gulls and Pigeons. here is a video of these amazing predators at their best.

Mountain Hare

The Mountain Hare also called Blue Hare can be seen on Mull and it is Great Britian's only native Hare with the Brown Hare found on the mainland introduced to the country for hunting and coursing. Mountain Hare is so well adapted to polar and mountainous conditions with very well insulated feet and ears letting minimal heat escape. Their coat also turns white (ermine) in winter as a defence mechanism and a form of camouflage to help prevent it being spotted by predators such as the mighty Golden Eagle.

5 Amazing wildlife facts......

- A Dolphins skin is shed and replaced every two hours to maximize streamlining.

- The Passenger Pigeon in America at one point could of accounted for half of all American birds as they could of reached up to 10 billion in number. They used to travel in vast flocks and would block out sunlight for hours on end. But by 1899 the species was extinct in the wild due to habitat loss and persecution. A testament to the destructive folly of humankind.

- An Albatrosses wingspan can be up to 11 feet. They can travel all the way around the planet in as little as 2 months and can go 6 days without flapping their wings.

- Bats account for a fifth of all mammal species. They navigate and find prey using the same method as whales and dolphins using echolocation. They can emit 400,000 calls an evening and they prevent damage to their ears by closing them with every wing stroke. The largest ever gathering of mammals was the 50 million strong roosts of the American free tailed Bat. Their 'evening' evacuations have to start in mid afternoon to allow all the animals time to exit and have some darkness hours.

- The Painted Lady butterfly which visits the British isles in the summer time migrates from North Africa every season and can travel from North Africa to Scandinavia in as little as two weeks!

Thanks for reading :-)

Ewan

Wildlife Guide

Scotsman - Whalewatching on Mull Article

Peter Ranscombe from the Scotsman joined us on one of our Gordon Buchanan trips this summer, please click here to read the article online.