Witch's Cottage

Sunday May 5

After a hectic week, a slow and leisurely start to the day. At least our first moth trap at Witch's Cottage had some moths. The cold snap seems to have brought the numbers crashing - at least in the north. We thought that 6 species and 14 moths wasn't too shabby. I wonder if anyone has trapped here before?

1 Early Thorn, 

3 Glaucous Shears, 

 5 Powdered Quaker, 

1 Red Chestnut, 1 Swallow Prominent and 3 Clouded Drab.

Much debate about where to go on a Bank Holiday Sunday when Mull's narrow lanes would be overcrowded. Calliach Point, only about 6 miles away, and a favourite of ours, won out.

As we turned off the road, the same two enormous red bulls lay side by side in the same field as last year. A small bluebell wood first, then a moorland track down to the Point and the sea. The one gate that needs opening is even more decrepit and needs lifting across the road. I was hoping for last year's Cuckoo here, no luck. It is still rather windy and cold. A dry day with some sun after overnight rain.

Pam parked the car on the end moorland slope at the best angle she could manage amongst the rocks so that I could scope. 

Clad in gloves and an ear muff-covering, akin to a spaniel's ears,  fleece hat (a charming sight), I stuck the cold for an hour or so, seeing a regular but small procession of wheeling, water skimming Manx Shearwaters,  20+ Shags, Fulmar, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and 1 Puffin. Plenty of the usual gulls but no Gannets. One male Wheatear paid us a short visit, a Buzzard hovered above the ridge - and the sheep stood and stared.

A visit to Loch Cuin at Dervaig added some waders at last. Five Dunlin and a Redshank. They'd already gone by our return journey a few minutes later.

Whitethroat sang from roadside Bramble, the reedbed was silent.

Our newly hung bird feeders have attracted their first diners. Siskin and Goldfinch and Blue Tit. There isn't another dwelling in sight, it didn't take long to find the food. The gardens are thickly planted with trees, shrubs, fruit trees, raspberry canes and plants, wind protection for an exposed site. Maybe protection for the birds too.