Our planned trip to the south of the island was aborted. The road gang is back working on the Dervaig - Salen road so we'd have to travel via Tobermory. That would add 40 miles to an already lengthy drive. Not on. The west coast route is even longer and much harder driving.
Our first call is Dervaig shop to buy my daily paper - not in, late boat on Wednesdays, we ordered one for later. The tide was very high at Loch Cuin.
To-day's route took us via Calgary and the narrow, precipitous-sided road which hugs the mountainside high above the sea. An increase in the frequency of metal barriers has improved confidence but passing places are few and far between. Don't come to Mull if you're no good at reversing. Stunted, twisted, lichen-encrusted, dead-branched Oaks and Birch are testimony to the wild westerlies of winter. On a blue sky, sunny, day it all looks wonderful.
Near a convenient lay-by, Pam saw an eagle soaring high overhead. A White-tailed Eagle effortlessly using its broad, plank-like wings to gain height before drifting away. Very high already but difficult to resist.
The view as we descend towards Loch Tuath with Ben More, the highest mountain on Mull, as a backdrop, is stunning. Silvery morning light giving the water a mystical glow.
We met Arthur Brown of Discover Mull Wildlife Tours again. Like all the tour leaders he's having difficulty finding Otters at the moment. We couldn't help.
We toured the shore of Loch na Keal without finding any eagles apart from a very short view of another White-tailed, rising to see off a Buzzard, before dropping out of sight.
We enjoyed the other birds on view, Great Northern Diver in summer plumage, Hooded Crows
And a Starling which had found itself a comfortable bed.
Baby animals are irresistible. The mountain sheep lambs.
Highland cattle.
The obligatory stop to see Mull's only waterfall, not much of a sight but it always has its fans.
Time to make our way home. A Golden Eagle flew steadily along the ridge. The last stop was at the mouth of Loch Tuath before we take the road over the mountain to Dervaig. Someone was parked in 'our' spot - fortuitously as it turned out. We used a roadside pull-off. I scanned the bay and saw a head pop like a cork out of the water, a tail showing eighteen inches behind. A large dog Otter. Brilliant. Through the scope I could see that it was eating well, his jaws chomping away every time his head popped up, again and again. We watched for about twenty minutes before he drifted away and we drove back to Dervaig for my paper on the way home.
At a roadside stop, Pam found this tiny patch of Common Lousewort
The tide was way out at Loch Cuin. I know it's wonky. Not a usual fault, didn't know until I posted it !
Spurs are playing Ajax to-night. I can't see them winning. Unlike Barcelona last night who lost 0-4 to Liverpool, they are a young and energetic side. A fantastic 'Pool performance. Spurs are already 2-0 down after a 1-0 loss in the first leg. Oh oh.
3-2 to Spurs the final score.
3-3 on aggregate. So close.Spurs win on away goals and are through to the final against Liverpool. Two amazing nights !!
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