Jack Harrison

[David M]

Congratulations and best wishes, Jack.

[Pete Eeles]

Congrats Jack - and all the very best!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

And cheers to you both from Switzerland. It's Lent, but I am raising a bottle of organic alcohol-free beer to you as I write!

Guy

[Jack Harrison]

My take on the spring equinox at 1101 GMT on 20th March



And still no definite buttefly sightings. However, on 20th I did see both White-tailed (Sea) and Golden Eagles

Jack

[Vince Massimo]

Just goes to show that it's never too late..............

Congratulations to you both.

Best wishes,

Vince

[essexbuzzard]

And a huge,late congratulations from those of us still in East Anglia too!
All the very best to you both.
Mark

[David M]

My take on the spring equinox at 1101 GMT on 20th March

Looks positively balmy, Jack.

Will it still be light at midnight in Mull on midsummer's day?

[Jack Harrison]

Mull 30th April

No butterflies but....

I have to attempt to rival the Annoying Swiss (resident) and his Black Kites.


Wheatear


Gulls various, Ravens and Hooded Crows


Ravens. I tried to capture the spectacular talon grasping as the male (presumably it's the show-off male) flies inverted but although I witnessed a few times, no pictures.

Jack

[MikeOxon]

Keep posting photos like those Ravens and you will soon earn the title 'The Annoying Mullander' (or whatever the correct term is)

How about a few Sea Eagles?

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

How about a few Sea Eagles?

I only reckon to see one about every three weeks. Goldies are easier.

I was down at the harbour a few weeks ago with some birders who had just spotted a Sea Eagle high over the town. I commented that I really ought to dash back home to get a "garden tick"!

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Mike:

'The Annoying Mullander'

The correct term for Mull resident - so I understand - is Muileach. (Gaelic: "from Mull')

Jack

[Padfield]

Love the ravens, Jack. Real Hitchcock stuff!

Guy

[MikeOxon]

The correct term for Mull resident - so I understand - is Muileach.

Thanks for that, Jack. "That Annoying Muileach" will be a wonderful phrase to spit out, when you post a photo of a Sea Eagle on your garden bird-table.

It's remarkable to observe how large birds of prey have spread in recent years. Red Kites are now common over my suburban Oxon garden and I also see Buzzards quite regularly, with even a Raven on one occasion. Lower down the scale, a pair of Sparrowhawks are making a nuisance of themselves, by using my bird feeders as a fast-food outlet.

Red Kite, Oxon - 30th April 2013
Nikon D300s with 300/4 + 1.4X TC - 1/1500s@f/8 ISO800

Of course, the Kites are re-introductions and are now so widespread that they may eventually join the list of 'unfortunate' introductions. Already, there have been reports of them attacking school playgrounds to steal lunch-boxes!

Glorious weather today, with Brimstones and Holly Blues frequenting the garden.

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

By the way, if any of you on ukb would like to enjoy the delights of Mull, we could put up two (non-smoking) people for free. A couple of pints at Macgochans would suffice to keep me happy. You would of course need a car to get around.

We will be away from mid July to mid August but other than that, any time is suitable.

Jack

[Rogerdodge]

Sadly Jack, as you know, I am have all my leave fully booked this year.
However - if any one is tempted to take Jack up on his amazing offer, take a peek at the attached photos.
I took all these last year during a two week stay on Mull.
It is firmly in my top 10 places in the world.

[Jack Harrison]

Well, here we are six months to the day after moving to Mull. Just two non-hibernating butterflies so far this year, two whites, presumably Green-veined.

I must admit to a little jealousy with all those butterfly reports from the south. But as compensation, I do have a pair of Siskins in the garden using a nest box. They certainly bred here last year as we saw juveniles in the garden when looking at this property prior to buying later. Plan visit to Iona this coming Friday for Cornrakes if I can afford it Although the bus to the ferry is free, it costs a whopping fiver (admittedly for a return trip) for the ferry

Chequered Skipper searching begins in two to three weeks.

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

Tobermory Mull 5th June

Observed a Sparrow doing a crazy zig-zag dance in the road. It was chasing a [presumably injured] Green-veined White. The pair continued up the road until I lost sight of them round a corner.

Of course many birds eat insects but this was the first time I had seen a Sparrow chasing an adult butterfly.

I assume GV White. I have yet to see any other species of whites here on Mull. Much as I love Large Whites, their absence (or scarcity) here on Mull means I can at least growing one of my favourite garden flowers, Nasturtiums. I tried many times when living in England but Large White caterpillars have an insatiable appetite for Nasturtium leaves and have always ruined the plants.

Jack

[MikeOxon]

It was chasing a [presumably injured] Green-veined White.

Coincidentally, I watched a Sparrow chasing a White over our garden yesterday. It didn't manage to catch it either

I suppose it is a bit like trying to catch a light-plane with an airliner.

Mike

[Jack Harrison]

I would now make a much better job chasing a butterfly than that Sparrow. I’ve just had a haircut. Polish girl who failed to understand that I DIDN’T want it short. She gave me a go-faster skinhead style (well, that’s what it seems like).

About to test my new-found speed on a Marsh Fritillary site.

Jack

[Padfield]

You misread the sign, Jack - she was the polish girl. And it sounds as if she did a good job!

Guy