Hogmanay on Mull.

I have just returned from an excellent trip to the UK where I spent a few days over the Christmas period in Southern England and then the New Year in Scotland, with the weather causing all kinds of problems for the locals. Hogmanay was of partciular interest as I was with my partner Jane on the glorious island of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. We were staying at her sister and husband's hotel, which is situated in the hamlet of Dervaig with a population of 300 people. The establishment is the Bellachroy Hotel and it is simply gorgeous providing fantastic accommodation and superb food - I was treated to my first ever portions of fresh Oysters, Scallops and Venison!. Despite the continued revellry of Scotland's New Year celebrations, which are of course legendary, we did manage a day out visit some of the classic locations within easy reach of the hotel. We visited the island's main town - Tobermory, now made famous by the children's TV programme Ballamory and as they rightly ask "what's the story". The houses are all colours as are the pubs, but it fits in with this quaint 'old world' fishing town where a local friendly Otter shows itself along the sea front. We drove down the coast to just beyond Salen Bay where we found a good flock of Wigeon, Goldeneye, Red breasted Merganser, several Mute Swans, Oystercaters, Curlew and a Redshank amongst the seaweed. Nick and Deb then kindly took us to the other side of the island where we walked out to the lovely headland of Langamol, over the ice and snow which was (and still is) covering the whole area. It was cold but we braved the conditions the short walk produced a few Common Buzzards (actually they are everywhere), Ravens, Hooded Crows, Great Black backed, Common & Herring Gulls, a single Red throated Diver and a few Shags off-shore, Goldfinches and a Water Pipit. Back at the Landrover (essential today) we tucked into our homemade sandwiches and hot coffee, which was most welcome after the walk we had just been on. We continued south to Calgary Bay en-route seeing small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare. Calgary must be absolutely glorious in the warmer months being a cove with a classic white sandy beach surrounded by short grass and deciduous trees. However today it was sheet ice making it more akin to a skating rink than a tourist hotspot but was comical as we literally had to get on all fours to negotiate certain areas. One memory was of Nick having to be rescued by Debbie with her scarf as he couldn't get off a particular section of the beach, which was completely frozen over. Back at the Landrover we tracked further south hugging the rocky coastline and encountering countless views of breathtaking scenery, until Jane said "what's those big birds there?". Nick stopped and I climbed out and checked the soaring pair, confirming their identity as adult Golden Eagles. So we got closer to them at Treshnish Point and watched as they flew around being mobbed by Ravens and a Kestrel. This was a fitting end to the short winter day as it was now getting very cold (-9 at night!) and the roads were again starting to freeze, so we made our way back to the hotel for a celebratory pint of the black stuff. Thank you very much to Nick & Deb for their generous hospitality and friendship, if anyone is planning a trip to this superb island I can heartily recommend the Ballachroy Hotel. You will not be disappointed.

Wednesday 23rd December :- Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to everyone who´s kindly been involved with Oliva Rama Tours over this last year. I actually cannot believe it´s been another year of successful operation and I can only enjoy the fact that the company goes from strength to strength with 2010 being a very exciting prospect for me.
New ventures next year include Iberian Lynx in Andalucia (January, February & September) Cuba (March), Lesvos (April/May), Poland - Bears & Birds (September/October) and Panama (December). Things just get better and better. Early in the New Year I will be posting a newsletter highlighting further details on these and my other available holidays throughout 2010.
Finally I would like to personally thank a few people for their incredible help and support during 2009, none more so than my good friend and colleague Andy Carroll. His help and advice on potential merchandising has been invaluable - the proof of which will be seen next year. Also and as important is Ken Shaw who has been by my side since I launched Oliva Rama Tours providing incredibly useful contacts and ideas for future tours. He is a true friend. Next I would like to really thank Sally Dowden of Speyside Wildlife, Richard & Jane Palmer of Calandra Holidays, Ian & Dylan of Planet Whale for using my services during this year, I thouroughly enjoyed every trip I was involved with. Long may it continue. Finally a few other people such as Chris Byrne, Rob & Kathy Dowsett, Michael & Wendy Ball, John Moon, Graham & Agi Turner, Mike & Sue Pryor, Jan Beever and many more who have supported the business in so many ways. "Thank you very very much and I am lookin forward to seeing you all again next year".

An incredible afternoon

Wednesday 9th December :- The morning was a disappointment as thick fog spoilt any chance of finding a Lynx but a walk along the River Jandula produced several Hawfinches, Great Spotted & Iberian Green Woodpeckers, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Nuthatches, Iberian Magpies (actually these are everywhere), Short toed Treecreeper and plenty of other woodland species. I returned to the hotel for lunch and a relax while hoping for the mist to dispurse, which it did by 1:30pm. So I headed back up to Los Escoriales and met a few people at the watchpoint but they hadn't seen much. Quite soon after getting there a Black Vulture started the ball rolling and this was followed by a close Griffon Vulture and then a brilliant 1st winter Golden Eagle. Sergi then spotted an adult Spanish Imperial Eagle that pretty much soared right over our heads - absolutely incredible. Our spirits were high and we were determined to find a Lynx. We continued to search and I left the group to stand and watch another area, turned round and there about 100m away on the metalled track was an Iberian Lynx staring right at me. I couldn't believe my eyes. It then dropped off the road and down into the undergrowth so the others joined me and we tried to find it again. Sure enough I picked it up a bit further away and managed a quick photo before it again disappeared, however it again re-appeared and showed well to all but now about 400m away but still fantastically through the telescope. Eventually it disappeared although we suspect it just laid low until dusk as the attendant Magpies were still creating around that area. During this sequence another couple of Black Vultures flew close by being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. The day closed with a spectacular sunset over the mountains as I returned to the hotel. It had been quite an incredible afternoon.