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Simply Unthinkable to ignore everything but the headlines

wildlifetours — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:00:55 +0000

Hares are enigmatic creatures wrapped in folklore. Perhaps it is their mystique that makes them so appealing. During our trip to Scotland last weekend on the Cetacean Tour we saw several.

These were Mountain Hares; not white as we usually see them on our April Bird Watching Tours but donning their silver summer pelage. Now, before I generate a picture of a Hare bounding over a series of breaking waves like some adapted Guinness advert; I’d like to point out that the tours I run are headlined by a particular species or group of species. Last weekend it was cetaceans. However, if something lands in our lap like this Mountain Hare leveret we wouldn’t ignore it. To simply pass it by without so much as a sideways glance would be unthinkable.

Mountain Hare – just one of the 14 species of Mammal we saw on our four day tour which included Bottlenose Dolphins and Pine Marten.

Seaking Peace and Quiet

wildlifetours — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:46:32 +0000

Normally Falcon Cottage is quiet. A haven of peace. However; one morning this week saw the Sugar Beet being harvested in the field that surrounds us. Starting at 6am with lights and noise akin to a factory floor the peace was shattered. As the morning wore on attempts at typing on the laptop were abandoned due to the furore of harvester and tractors outside.

I decided to seek peace and take a walk to the sea.

The harvester had an entourage of gulls. Among them a pale winged Mediterranean Gull. No sooner had I spotted it, all the flock was up and panicking. The perpetrator was a large female Sparrowhawk that split the field as she flew south.

Away from the cool wind on the sunny side of a hedgerow Red Admirals and a lone Common Darter were enjoying the surprising warmth having survived the first negative night temperatures of the autumn.

As I looked down towards the sea from the top of the ridge I could make out an unusually large concentration of diving Gannets quite close inshore. I made my way down to the cliff top. Sure enough my suspicions were founded and a shoal of fish was attracting attention. As well as the Gannets, a bevy of Auks a few Red throated Divers and even a couple of late Sandwich Terns were also enjoying the bonanza. A little more careful watching and two Harbour Porpoise could also be seen to be taking advantage.

As the fish moved away offshore so did the birds and the Porpoise soon after. All was quiet once more.

Grace from the deep

wildlifetours — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:21:44 +0000

From the dark deep came a glowing light.

A swam, if that is the correct collective noun, of Moon Jellyfish glided gracefully through the sealoch below our boat. There are several different species within the Aurelia family that can only be separated genetically but they occur all around the world in most oceans. The sting of these things is akin to a brush with a nettle so they are more beautiful than they are dangerous.

As quickly as it rose to the surface this individual disappeared back to the depths.