Mull 2014 Pictures

Day 0: Saturday 31st May 2014.
Day 1: Sunday 1st June 2014.
Day 2: Monday 2nd June 2014.
Day 3: Tuesday 3rd June 2014.
Day 4: Wednesday 4th June 2014.
Day 5: Thursday 5th June 2014.
Day 6: Friday 6th June 2014.
Day 7: Saturday 7th June 2014.
Click here to return to the General 2014 Pictures page.

Photos Tuesday 3rd June 2014, Ardnamurchan.

It was a wet start but a clearance was expected. It was an early, mysterious and very cloudy crossing on the ferry to Ardmanuchan to the North of Mull. But already evidence to the West of the weather starting to clear. We had a pleasant drive along the single track roads Eastwards. By the time we got to near Strontian, Ariundle the sun was starting to come out and the temperature rise a bit. But showers were also brewing. After a long search and braving swarms of hungry midges my primary goal of the trip was achieved, to see a Chequered Skipper butterfly! This is one of the UK's rarest butterflies. A single Male was found in a soggy patch of bracken and bluebells (their favourite habitat). Lots of other wildlife was also seen. We stopped at Ardery on the way back. Here we found another two males and a female and got some good shots. Then in glorious warm sunshine we returned to Mull. I had fish n chips for supper, sitting outside in the warm sunshine. It was very unlike a typical day in Northwest Scotland. The air here in good weather is amazingly clear and clean. (I suspect later in the day the Outer Hebrides would have been visible from Glengorm.)

Ferry From Tobermory to Kilchoan

It was an early start to catch the 07:20 ferry (the first of the day) from Tobermory to Kilchoan.

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180 degree panorama while waiting for the ferry to get started.	A group of German bikers loading onto the ferry ahead of us.	Departing Tobermory.	This ferry is pretty small. Some nice vantage points from the raised viewing areas above the small car deck.

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Looking back at Tobermory Bay as we get further away.	The Ardnamurchan hills shrouded with cloud made for a mysterious atmospheric landscape. Rubha nan Gall lighthouse in the foreground.		Glengorm masts shrouded in cloud.

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360 degree panorama on the ferry half way from Tobermory to Kilchoan.	Cloud shrouded Ben Hiant.	Panorama of the Kilchoan area to the North.

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More shots and panorama highlighting the low cloud shrouding all the hills.

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Approaching Kilchoan harbour.		The German bikers disembarking at Kilchoan.

Drive to Ardery

The B8007 East from Kilchoan was single track all the way. The scenery was gorgeous. The weather was dry now and improving all the time. After rounding the North side of Ben Hiant we followed the North bank of Loch Sunart all the way to Salen. Then carried on East along the A861 until we arrived at the car park at Ardery. When we arrived it was still a little cool and cloudy, and no butterflies were to be found. I went for a quick walk round a circular path there before returning to the car. A swarm of midges had also found us though and when we left we took several hundred of them with us!

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Heading for a cloud capped Ben Hiant from Kilchoan.		Meanwhile a buzzard was caught landing on a power line pole.	From the North side of Ben Hiant the isle of Eigg could be seen, with Rum almost completely obscured by cloud beyond to the left.	Loch Mudle.

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Camas nan Geall, just Southeast of Ben Hiant.	Looking Southeast across Loch Sunart from near Glenmore Bay.	Meanwhile to the East below us is Glenborrodale.		Driving along the North bank of Loch Sunart.

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Wandering around the paths at Ardery.		Brown Silver-line moth.	The view point at Ardery. Peering over the trees to Loch Sunart.

Strontian and Ariundle

On the way to Strontian we kicked out most of the midges. A short while later we arrived and parked up at a coffee shop. Tea and cake were a welcome addition here. A couple of friends of Jack turned up and rendezvoused with us here. Meanwhile the sun was coming out more and more as we went by convoy round the corner to the Ariundle car park. We spent a little while exploring the large numbers of flowers around the car parks. I spotted a Green Hairstreak which was a good sign. There were also Green Veined Whites milling about too. We set off down the track, focussing in particular on the damp patches of bluebells and bracken. Having spotted nothing we carried on into the woods. After a long walk down and back two people spotted a Chequered Skipper but alas I missed it. We spent a while in the area as a shower came through. Meanwhile some dragonfly nymphs were spotted having climbed out of a ditch and presumably about to emerge as adults. Frogs and other damp loving creatures could also be seen, including a swarm of midges that were eating us alive! Then back close to the car park I finally spotted my first ever Chequered Skipper. Someone also spotted a second one. But atleast I had seen one before we left.

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The road from Ardery to Strontian.	The sun coming out at Strontian and lighting up the poppies.		Green Hairstreak.	Green Veined White on my thumb. Note how much more pronounced their veins are compared to those down South.	Another Brown Silver-line moth..

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Clouded Border moth.	Golden Ringed Dragonfly.	The beautiful woods of Ariundle.		Two Dragonfly nymphs emerging from a ditch ready to transform into adults.

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One of many ditches that provide the damp environment the Chequered Skippers like.	Two shots of my first ever Chequered Skipper. This is a Male.		Large Red Damselfly.	Green Veined White nectaring on Bluebells.	Common Carpet Moth.

Return to Ardery

We decided to stop again at Ardery on the way back to the ferry. As soon as we parked up I found one nectaring on a patch of Bugle. That's two I've seen now. Alas before Jack could see it, another car appeared and scared it off. However, the owner turned out to be a woman about to do a transect and pointed us to a place through the trees. It was hard pushing through but worth it as in the bracken on the other side we found 2 more, a male and a female. Awesome! In a place where we would never have thought of looking. We spent a while observing and taking lots of pictures while the woman carried on with her transect. Eventually we pushed back through the trees to the car.

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Male Chequered Skipper on Bugle.	Speckled Yellow moth.	Male Chequered Skipper.	Female Chequered Skipper.

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More shots of the same Female Chequered Skipper.			A bracken patch in the area where these Chequered Skippers were found.	Female Chequered Skipper in its home environment.

Return to Kilchoan

With the weather dried out and the sky clearing, the drive back to Kilchoan was very different to the drive out. In the sunshine the landscape was even more spectacular, and with sparkling visibility we could see for many miles. Nearby islands were clearly visible. It also made for a pleasant wait for the ferry back at Kilchoan.

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Driving back West along the North side of Loch Sunart.	Camas nan Geall looks even more amazing in the sunshine. Ben Hiant without it's cloud cap, and a view West along Loch Sunart and out to sea. The isle of Coll visible on the horizon.		Tobermory visible on the opposite side from the Eastern slopes of Ben Hiant.	Lenticulars and cumulus cloudscape aloft.

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Driving North along the Eastern slope of Ben Hiant.	In the clearer air the Isles of Eigg and Rum are now crystal clear, and now to the right of them the Cuillins on the Isle of Skye are visible too.	Descending towards Kilchoan round the West side of Ben Hiant.	A buzzard.	The coast at Kilchoan.

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The coast at Kilchoan.			Kilchoan jeti.

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The rocks at Kilchoan are a geologist's dream.	Here comes the ferry.	A pair of Osyter Catchers flying past.

Return Ferry

The return ferry was similarly spectacular with the clearer air and sunshine revealing more of the landscape than before in a whole new light. It was a nice smooth ride back to Tobermory.

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Departing Kilchoan.	Ben Hiant in all its glory.	Rubha nan Gall lighthouse.	A beautiful view to the West.

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The summit of Glengorm with the masts in clear air.	Glengorm cloudscape.	Rubha nan Gall lighthouse.	Tobermory from the hill looks much brighter in the sunshine compared to yesterday.

The weather tomorrow looks good too. So some more Mull based butterflying is planned. To Fishnish first to prospect for possible Chequered Skippers, then to Grass Point where Marsh Fritillaries are said to exist.