Thursday 15 March 2012

Mull of Galloway

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to revisit the Mull of Galloway earlier this week, staying in Portpatrick for three nights. This is an area with which I am very familiar, from the days, twenty years ago, when sea angling was the life driving force and in particular a point south of Portpatrick which has to be the most productive shore angling spot in the UK. I say shore but it is at the bottom of ninety foot cliff and that's and another story.
A birdwatching visit down to the end of the Mull was top of the list although I was unsure what birds may have arrived on the cliffs. It was soon confirmed, by the noise, that there were already substantial numbers. In the main, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes  had arrived in good numbers on those impressive cliffs.
A new addition to the end of the Mull  is a superb cafe which makes spending dawn to dusk there, easy. There wasn't even a toilet there the last time we visited.
.....but back to the birds






I moved closer to a cliff edge to get a better view, while trying to concentrate on my footholds,  I heard that unmistakable Peregrine alarm call.
I looked up to see the bird flying away from me and it perched itself on a  foothold on the opposite side of the gully



I wrongly thought that would be the end of the excitement for the day, .....but that's for the next post

5 comments:

Killy Birder said...

It's a wonderful area. I spent a very hot day in May there a couple of years ago. Watched the Peregrine eating a seabird. I was told they had had a lot of problems up there with persecution and the guy representing the RSPB seemed very suspicious when he found us watching the bird through the scope.

kirstallcreatures said...

Great pics, hopeyou were careful on that cliff edge...probably not...great to see the peregrine. Linda

Unknown said...

Portpatrick and the Mull of Galloway is a brilliant place, we've stayed at Drumore quick a few times. Great shot of the Peregrine

Johnnykinson said...

Nice images of the birds back on the cliffs.
John

Citybirding said...

It is a great area Killy and I was the only one tramping about.
I was very careful - that the scope didn't go over Linda.
Thanks Cain, our first visit we stayed in Mrs McKlintick's caravan at Drummore.
Thanks John the birds were an impressive sight.