Island Encounters

Island Encounters Guided wildlife all inclusive breaks on the beautiful Isle of Mull

Mixed bag of weather this week with plenty of geese and Swans flying South. On Thursday as it was a better day I headed...
06/11/2022

Mixed bag of weather this week with plenty of geese and Swans flying South. On Thursday as it was a better day I headed out around the main central part of Mull looking for anything rare. I managed to see both Eagles Hen Harrier Merlin all three Divers plenty of Slavonia Grebes but nothing out of the ordinary until I got back home and there in my garden on my return a Magpie!!. A fantastic sight at the end of the day 😀

Otter in the garden. This morning Tilley our Jack Russell was busy barking away, I assumed that one of the Red Deer Stag...
25/10/2022

Otter in the garden.
This morning Tilley our Jack Russell was busy barking away, I assumed that one of the Red Deer Stags was close then I spotted some ripples in the bottom pond and out climbed a female Otter!! ( not the one in the photo ).
With almost daily garden sightings of Hen Harrier , Eagles Red Deer and in summer Dolphins if I can train Tilley better and spend a small fortune on Kio Carp to put in the pond to feed the Otter when guests come to stay on their wildlife break we can just stay in the garden eating cake drinking coffee and wait for the wildlife to come to us!!.

Coming to a cotoneaster bush by you soon. I have had both Redwing and Fieldfare in the garden this week and returning " ...
23/10/2022

Coming to a cotoneaster bush by you soon.
I have had both Redwing and Fieldfare in the garden this week and returning " little birds " including Goldcrest Siskin and Redpoll.
We have had a Hooper here this week and went out to try and locate it but was unable to track it down. I did manage to see several Slavonia Grebes along with plenty of Divers. The Red Deer rut is almost over and as I sat with my morning coffee after feeding the birds, in the bottom field 4 big Stags had stopped fighting and putting their difference behind them were back being friends. Let's hope the tories can do the same.
However the Fallow Deer rut is about to begin.
I am looking into problems with my website but people can still book for next year's breaks at islandencouterswildlifemull.co.uk
Nigel

A dilemma. Recently a pair of Sparrowhawks have moved in to a coppice at the back of the garden and I was initially plea...
16/10/2022

A dilemma.
Recently a pair of Sparrowhawks have moved in to a coppice at the back of the garden and I was initially pleased. However the Rock Dovers not so as this pair are taking a couple a day.
A couple of years ago around this time of year I had both Brambling and Turtle Dove in the garden and am hoping for them again but the dilemma is I would hate to lose either of these species to the hawks.
Plenty of Swans and Geese flying over again this week, saw my first flock of Brent Geese.
Sad to see a flock of 18 Whooper Swans on Monday morning containing only one young bird don't know if its down to bird flu or just a poor breeding year. A pleasant afternoon here today and just taken Tilley our Jack Russell down the track and spotted a young White Tailed Eagle sitting on the shoreline while a large pod of Dolphins were feeding.

Last week I started my post by saying a lovely week here on Mull , well I will not be saying that this week!. The silver...
09/10/2022

Last week I started my post by saying a lovely week here on Mull , well I will not be saying that this week!. The silver lining for me was that I was away for most of it. Like the Whoopers and White Fronted Geese that have passed over head the last couple of days I went South hopefully to see Bearded T**s. Did managed to find a large flock of nearly 20 along with views of Bittern and even managed to catch a view of Magpie and Moorhen!!. I remember that glorious day when I spotted a Magpie in my garden. Such a rare sight I had to send a report in to the Argyll bird reporter.
Last night we had a Red Deer stag outside the garden bellowing most of the night.
We now have a new website for our breaks with all the details linked in to this page.
Please get in touch letting me know what you would like to see as this will make a difference to which time of year to visit.
Nigel

A nice week on Mull with several nice days. I have been out watching the wildlife on my bike this week. Although Otters ...
25/09/2022

A nice week on Mull with several nice days. I have been out watching the wildlife on my bike this week. Although Otters don't really have a breeding season I always find September the month when I see more young family group's of Otters . Normally we see mum with 2 or 3 then by December the weakest one of the family group has passed away , then often by March we are down to mum and 1.
People who have been on my breaks will know of my favourite Otter Scratchy . I have seen her each day I have been out and see is fine 🙂.
The Mergansers and Goosanders are back from their molt and looking very smart.
Haven't seen any more Geese heading south but with the weather during this coming week I expect to see more. I've sat out in the garden and watched some lovely sunsets.
Plenty of garden birds about.
For those who are interested in my 4 night residential breaks I will be running 6 next year from Monday to Friday . Dates April 24th 28th. May 1st 5th. August 21st 25th 28th 1st September 11th 15th 18th 22nd.
For more information or to register an interest please contact me either through this page or at [email protected].

Hello It's been over two years since I did a post. Obviously alot has happened to us all , we have lost friends and fam...
18/09/2022

Hello
It's been over two years since I did a post.
Obviously alot has happened to us all , we have lost friends and family and hopefully gained a few as well.
This is just to let you know that I have decided to run my residential breaks again from next year. These will be running from the end of August into September 2023 and the following year from April into May. Total of 10 breaks in total and a maximum of 5 on each break.
I have chosen these dates as it is the best time for the wildlife. In April we get all the spring migration happening and the Eagles and Hen Harriers are mating. In late August and September the autumn wildlife is arriving with returning Divers and Slav Gredes along with the start of the Red Deer rut. Also its a quiet time giving us the island to ourselves and no midges!.
I will post more details soon and look forward to having guests again.

Good Times Have included some of my favourite photos. I have had to make the sad decision to cancel all of my wildlife t...
15/05/2020

Good Times
Have included some of my favourite photos.
I have had to make the sad decision to cancel all of my wildlife tours for this year with all the problems with face at the moment.
Next year I am starting a new business venture with my business partner Steve which is along the same lines as my 4 day breaks.
It's a 6 day residential break staying in one of Mulls best hotels and includes a private sea trip on our luxurious boat.
All details can be found on Mull Wildlife breaks website and it would be fantastic to meet you again.
It could well be that I have done my last daily tour and would just like to thank everyone who has made it such an enjoyable experience for me and meeting such wonderful people.
Kind regards to you all .
Regards Nigel

What Wagtail you've never seen a Stone Curlew before!!. Not since 1997!!.The Magpie has been spending a far amount of ti...
19/04/2020

What Wagtail you've never seen a Stone Curlew before!!. Not since 1997!!.
The Magpie has been spending a far amount of time in the garden and I thought that would be the highlight of the week.
Today I went down to a local beach and spotted this Stone Curlew, I was amazed!!.
Between 400 and 475 pairs a year all way down south.
Only one record for Argyll on Islay in May 1997.
Plenty more spring migrants arrived. Cuckoo Whinchat Common Sandpipers and Snipe are nesting at the bottom of the garden.
Sad to say I haven't seen an Owl this year so heading out tomorrow night to see if any SEO are about.
Hope everyone is managing ok, fare too say that here on Mull this week the weather has been fantastic and with no traffic about its been one of the most enjoyable times I've known in a long time.
Ive managed to build a new gym, dig out a new 6mtr by 8mtr pond see a Stone Curlew and get a sun tan!!.
Nigel

Mega on Mull!!. Pica Pica. As you will know there are 8 members of the Corvid family in Britain. 6 have visited my garde...
31/03/2020

Mega on Mull!!. Pica Pica.
As you will know there are 8 members of the Corvid family in Britain.
6 have visited my garden and I saw Chough just 3 miles away but after over 20 years of looking yesterday as I sat with a well earned coffee the missing piece of the jigsaw turned up.
Pleased to say it was back again today, anyone who has spent anytime with me will know what a fantastic experience this is and in my garden!!.
I once watched a Golden Eagle drag a hind Red Deer off a cliff but to see this elusive bird !!.
Remember a common bird is a very rare bird somewhere else.
Mull at the moment is fantastic, It's really quiet
and as I have been travelling the 60 mile round trip to get my "essential shopping " I am seeing plenty.
Last week saw all three Divers, two pairs of Slav Grebes and last 2 " shopping trips " seen Crossbills.
Most Eagles are now sitting on eggs and watched a pair of Hen Harriers mating.
First Wheater was seen but still waiting on Sand Martins and all other migrants.
Nigel

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