Brilliant part 1 mate. Same about the weather but that Scotland for ya. 😆 nice footage of the harriers tho. Also great shot of the sandpiper. Looking forward to part 2.
Thanks Craig, it was pretty shitty but there we go! Can't WIN them all, lol.... Managed to scrap a few decent images together so not all bad! See you for Part 2👍
Mate you couldn't write it! It's been fantastic weather for about 7/8 weeks on Mull, & it goes downhill for your trip. One of those things that we unfortunately have no control over, & you have to make the most of the hand you are dealt & as you are doing - just get on with it. As you say it can offer some real atmosphere to your images & video, & against a dramatic moody skyline some subjects will really pop. Hopefully things improved in Part 2 for you weatherwise & I look forward to seeing that. Them Hen Harriers are just stunning birds, so lovely to watch. Excellent stuff mate, roll on part 2. 👏👏👏
I know! Bloody typical, lol.... Still you can't win them all mate! Unique opportunities in all weather although a bit more bright dry stuff would have been better! More coming in Pt 2..... Not sure about the conditions though😂 . Hen Harriers sure are special mate, never get bored of watching the common birds so the Harriers I'd never tire of! Thanks again for watching and supporting mate. Cheers R 😀👍
Glad you popped up on here, I saw Mull and have watched and enjoyed. I love that island been going there since I was a teen, holds a special place for me does Mull. Been lucky enough to see otters and a Sea Eagle and lots of raptor family Great work and grand video
Thanks very much for watching, I bet you've seen some awesome sightings over the years! It really is special and I will no doubt return one day but I'll be giving it a few years as I am heading to Canada for 4 years but maybe on my return! Cheers R 👍
@@RichardBirchett wow and all the best to you in Canada, amazing place I imagine I’d love to get there one day. Thanks for the reply and great work, love it 👍🏻
Richard, you have my utmost respect......you went all the way to Mull in a Landrover!! (I restrict moment in mine to the county in which I live.......and NO further!! 😂) As a seasoned trout & salmon angler, I am well aware of the vagaries of Scottish weather, I've been washed off more times than I care to mention......if it comes good for you once, if you're lucky, twice in every five years you're doing well! Great video.👍
Thanks very much Ian, it was a bit emotional but nice to have all the kit with me and to just pitch where allowed! Great to hear you've a landy! they are awesome vehicles but thirsty and not comfortable on long distance, lol... I'm thinking you are right on the 1-5 ration, lol... Still an amazing place regardless of weather. Thanks for watching, Rich👍
Brings back memories mate! I've had good luck with otters at Croggan on loch spelve (we used to stay in the old school house) and also at lochbuie. Great inspiration mate really want to get back this summer thanks for sharing👍👍
Such a great place Scott, Croggan's a top spot but far too popular and is like a visitor attraction! Still everyone has the right to see them as long as when an Otter appears people don't shout out loud "OTTER" nightmare! (Which happened)....Nice position the Old School House, close to the parking area though Hope you get back there mate, thanks for watching. R 👍
Just back from Mull ourselves a week of cold torrential rain interrupted by gales, you didn't miss much we did catch an otter feeding on the shore though so not all bad. thanks for the video
Nightmare Jim! It was pretty horrendous wasn't it! Still a few sightings and a couple pictures so not all bad! Thanks for watching, all the best Richard 👍
Nice one Richard was up in the highlands in april but struck out had all weathers including snow lol heading there again this week mire of a holiday but the gears coming with me 📸👍
I started doing wildlife photography as a teenager in the sixties. I first was using a Miranda Sensorex, then saved up and bought a Nikon FTn. Of course I couldn't afford a Nikon long telephoto, so bought one of those superlong lenses out of the back of Popular Photography. Used that until getting a Celestron and several other mirror lenses in college in the seventies. With our slow film back then it's so much easier now! My favorite cameras back then were TLR's--Rollei, Mamiya, Minolta and I switched to vernacular and wedding photography, eventually ended up two Leica M3's with the amazing 90mm f4 collapsible Elmar for portraits. Thanks so much for sharing and bringing back good memories to this old man in Texas!
Thanks very much for watching! It's lovely to hear your story from your photographic experiences from over the years! I remember the days of film, such fun and exciting times waiting for the slides or pictures to arrive! Now the ease of digital saves so much time, money and trial & error! Thew Leica systems are awesome and such great quality, I did look at Leica but the long lenses for the Wildlife photographer was lacking! Still great kit! My pleasure, and thanks so much for sharing your story. All the very best from Cornwall, UK... First person from Texas following me I think! Cheers Richard 👍
@@RichardBirchett We are so very blessed to have had Kodachrome, which of course was completely different than vegetable dye-based films like Ektachrome and Agfachrome. It was essentially a black and white film which had three color layers on it, released in its complicated processing. Archival life in proper cool storage is up to 300 years. The Zapruder film of JFK's murder is on Super 8 Kodachrome. Unfortunately, Kodachrome is much more sensitive to projection than the veggie-dye-based films so guys like me who were using it for projection would have dupes made for projection. It was the sharpest color film ever made. But film photography, whether b/w or color, was an art like cooking, using certain films in a way that digital will never duplicate. I loved shooting Velvia when I stopped using film for its color saturation, and Fujichrome over Ektachrome. I still have around $20k worth of Leica, Nikon, Rollei and Mamiya equipment just sitting in storage, why I don't know. Just reminds me of very happy decades shooting 35mm, 6x6, 6x7 and 4x5.
Cheers Keith, Weather was pants but I didn't have much choice so made the best I could! Pulled a bit of footage out the bag, might have just saved me from the Thumbs down Police, lol... It's all interaction!!! Thanks again mate, missed yours this week! R 👍
Well what can I say ??! A true photographer & naturalist !!!! That’s why your on top of your game ! As you know , you can always learn & see new behaviour in those conditions even though it a pain . Top Blog look forward to 2nd part ! Top work again cheers Richard
Thanks very much mate, got to do a video even in the harshest of conditions as you never know what nature will throw at you! Still, I managed to get some decent shots in the bag, not as many as I had hoped but wouldn't change it for anything! All the best R 👍
Thanks very much for watching Laura, Hope you have an awesome time and the weather is kind! Get in early for a boat trip they book up fast! All the best Richard 👍
Beautiful views over the loch,such an amazing location.I feel for you as the weather is so awful,but I love the sound of the rain!!Hopefully your patience will pay off and there will be some better weather and photo opportunities ahead.🥰
Thanks Alison, nice to see your comments again! Always really appreciate the support! It was an amazing location, shame the weather couldn't have been slightly better, lol... Still got a couple shots so not all bad! 👍
Great determination Richard! I also hope to find the otters on Mull in a couple of months time :) lovely shots of the sandpiper despite it chucking with rain!
Thanks very much, just got to give it a go! Best of luck with the Otters, if you need any info let me know. Can't beat a cheeky Sandpiper to keep you busy! Thanks R 😀
Very interesting as we have just got back from Skye! It also rained most days, but we anticipated the weather might not as predicable as here in the midlands! Wildlife was fabulous though so made up for the weather! Looking forward to part two. All the best.
Glad to hear you had a great trip Richard, heard great things about the Isle of Sky, maybe one day! That's the West coast of Scotland for you, lol.. Cheers R
Thanks very much, I wish they were, lol… joking! Nice challenge, and it would get boring if we got them every trip! Thanks for watching, enjoy part 2. All the best Rich👍
Nice one Richard. Just shows how fickle the weather can be up there. Always great to be up there whatever it chucks at you. Thats what its all about though, sticking at it and the rewards will come. Looking forward to Part 2!!👍🏼👊🏼📷
Thanks Simon, Totally right there mate! Got to get out amongst it and see what comes your way! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but I wouldn't change a thing! Cheers R 👍
Lovely footage of the owl and the eagle Richard ,hope you’ll get some footage of the otters. Having never seen a owl to photograph in the wild,a couple of day’s ago trying to get a picture of a sunset of Mont-St’Michel, a owl landed about 15ft in front of me, couldn’t be leave it, couldn’t get a shot as camera setting’s we’re wrong, but lovely to see. Can’t what to see part two.
Thanks Mark, such a great place for birds and mammals just a shame it's so busy! Still to see such amazing species really is a massive bonus. That's frustrating for you but it happens to us all, if I could count how many I've missed I'd be rich, lol... Keep it up and the rewards will come. Thanks for watching. Rich 👍
Thanks very much Smiffy, indeed and last year it was amazing! So the comparison was quite different, still it was still great to be there, most of the time! Cheers R 👍
It's five years since I was on the mull, must return as soon as possible. The harrier footage was great, I spent ages watching one with the binoculars as there no way we could get close enough with the camera. There's nothing like the weather on the mull, it hammered down for two days solid on our trip, hardly left the tent. Look forward to parts 2.
Thanks very much for watching and for the kind words. I was pleased to get the footage and a few shots from a safe distance! Great to just sit and watch them hunt, amazing how much you can miss sometimes stuck behind a camera. Yep weather was shocking but still beautiful in it's own way. Cheers R 👍
Superb location Richard regardless of the weather, do you have to seek any permission for a hide? I’m going on holiday with the Mrs in September to Mull staying on the banks of Loch na keal look forward to pt2👍
Thanks Laurence, as permissions go I didn't but it wasn't left up for more than a day and I was 30ft from it camping so could have removed if required! Hope you have a good stay and it'd quiet! Nice location for a stay. Cheers R 👍
Hi Malcolm, it was awesome and stood up to the weather without any problems! I will do one but not the best conditions in Scotland with little available time! Be coming soo all being well. Thanks for watching. Rich 👍
Hope you get the otter in part 2 🤞 If not you wouldn't of gotten it staying @home either. Bad weather and no shows are part of it, all the more magical when they do show up. Keep it up like the video's. I sat over 12hours in my Monal V2 for one fox cub shot last weekend. checkbit out on my insta. greetings David
Thanks David, you are right there, lol... Always good to be out no matter what the weather! I will take a look, all the best and thanks for watching. R 😀👍
Thank you. Looking forward to part 2. All the best. Cheers 🍻. 👍📷😎
Thanks Rob, hopefully out same time next week! Until then. Rich 😀👍
Lovely shots, Richard. Also good tips as well. Got to love getting wet and cold and miserable with our cameras. Nothing else like it lol.
Thanks Kevin, whatever the weather out there in Nature whatever it throws at you is got to be good. Cheers for watching . Rich 👍
Brilliant part 1 mate.
Same about the weather but that Scotland for ya. 😆 nice footage of the harriers tho.
Also great shot of the sandpiper.
Looking forward to part 2.
Thanks Craig, it was pretty shitty but there we go! Can't WIN them all, lol.... Managed to scrap a few decent images together so not all bad! See you for Part 2👍
Mate you couldn't write it! It's been fantastic weather for about 7/8 weeks on Mull, & it goes downhill for your trip. One of those things that we unfortunately have no control over, & you have to make the most of the hand you are dealt & as you are doing - just get on with it. As you say it can offer some real atmosphere to your images & video, & against a dramatic moody skyline some subjects will really pop.
Hopefully things improved in Part 2 for you weatherwise & I look forward to seeing that.
Them Hen Harriers are just stunning birds, so lovely to watch. Excellent stuff mate, roll on part 2. 👏👏👏
I know! Bloody typical, lol.... Still you can't win them all mate! Unique opportunities in all weather although a bit more bright dry stuff would have been better! More coming in Pt 2..... Not sure about the conditions though😂 . Hen Harriers sure are special mate, never get bored of watching the common birds so the Harriers I'd never tire of! Thanks again for watching and supporting mate. Cheers R 😀👍
Glad you popped up on here, I saw Mull and have watched and enjoyed. I love that island been going there since I was a teen, holds a special place for me does Mull. Been lucky enough to see otters and a Sea Eagle and lots of raptor family
Great work and grand video
Thanks very much for watching, I bet you've seen some awesome sightings over the years! It really is special and I will no doubt return one day but I'll be giving it a few years as I am heading to Canada for 4 years but maybe on my return! Cheers R 👍
@@RichardBirchett wow and all the best to you in Canada, amazing place I imagine I’d love to get there one day. Thanks for the reply and great work, love it 👍🏻
@@ablettgone thanks Jimbo, very exciting times for us all! The wildlife’s amazing! Be quite different! Really appreciate it, all the best R 👍
@@RichardBirchett the very best to you Richard and enjoy your time there 👍🏻
Richard, you have my utmost respect......you went all the way to Mull in a Landrover!! (I restrict moment in mine to the county in which I live.......and NO further!! 😂) As a seasoned trout & salmon angler, I am well aware of the vagaries of Scottish weather, I've been washed off more times than I care to mention......if it comes good for you once, if you're lucky, twice in every five years you're doing well! Great video.👍
Thanks very much Ian, it was a bit emotional but nice to have all the kit with me and to just pitch where allowed! Great to hear you've a landy! they are awesome vehicles but thirsty and not comfortable on long distance, lol... I'm thinking you are right on the 1-5 ration, lol... Still an amazing place regardless of weather. Thanks for watching, Rich👍
Great start Richard typical Scottish weather all the best Mark 👍😍
I know! Still a weather produces different images so got to go with it! Would of liked it to be a little better though😂
Good stuff againt Rich well done mate, particularly love that first Sandpiper image! 👍
Cheers Rob, hard going but the rewards did come after lots of wetness😂
Great vid, even nice to see you still hacking it out in the rain most people give up. Well Done. Steve
Thanks Steve, not the easiest of Vlogs but still got to give it a crack! Cheers for watching, all the best Rich👍
Brings back memories mate! I've had good luck with otters at Croggan on loch spelve (we used to stay in the old school house) and also at lochbuie. Great inspiration mate really want to get back this summer thanks for sharing👍👍
Such a great place Scott, Croggan's a top spot but far too popular and is like a visitor attraction! Still everyone has the right to see them as long as when an Otter appears people don't shout out loud "OTTER" nightmare! (Which happened)....Nice position the Old School House, close to the parking area though Hope you get back there mate, thanks for watching. R 👍
Just back from Mull ourselves a week of cold torrential rain interrupted by gales, you didn't miss much we did catch an otter feeding on the shore though so not all bad. thanks for the video
Nightmare Jim! It was pretty horrendous wasn't it! Still a few sightings and a couple pictures so not all bad! Thanks for watching, all the best Richard 👍
Nice one Richard was up in the highlands in april but struck out had all weathers including snow lol heading there again this week mire of a holiday but the gears coming with me 📸👍
It's a bit of a gamble Andy that's for sure, lol... Nice one I hope you have a cracking time and gets some good images and weather. Cheers R 👍
Rough weather but patience pays off. You got some good images.
Thanks very much, got to make the best of what you've got! Cheers R 👍
I started doing wildlife photography as a teenager in the sixties. I first was using a Miranda Sensorex, then saved up and bought a Nikon FTn. Of course I couldn't afford a Nikon long telephoto, so bought one of those superlong lenses out of the back of Popular Photography. Used that until getting a Celestron and several other mirror lenses in college in the seventies. With our slow film back then it's so much easier now! My favorite cameras back then were TLR's--Rollei, Mamiya, Minolta and I switched to vernacular and wedding photography, eventually ended up two Leica M3's with the amazing 90mm f4 collapsible Elmar for portraits. Thanks so much for sharing and bringing back good memories to this old man in Texas!
Thanks very much for watching! It's lovely to hear your story from your photographic experiences from over the years! I remember the days of film, such fun and exciting times waiting for the slides or pictures to arrive! Now the ease of digital saves so much time, money and trial & error! Thew Leica systems are awesome and such great quality, I did look at Leica but the long lenses for the Wildlife photographer was lacking! Still great kit! My pleasure, and thanks so much for sharing your story. All the very best from Cornwall, UK... First person from Texas following me I think! Cheers Richard 👍
@@RichardBirchett We are so very blessed to have had Kodachrome, which of course was completely different than vegetable dye-based films like Ektachrome and Agfachrome. It was essentially a black and white film which had three color layers on it, released in its complicated processing. Archival life in proper cool storage is up to 300 years. The Zapruder film of JFK's murder is on Super 8 Kodachrome. Unfortunately, Kodachrome is much more sensitive to projection than the veggie-dye-based films so guys like me who were using it for projection would have dupes made for projection. It was the sharpest color film ever made. But film photography, whether b/w or color, was an art like cooking, using certain films in a way that digital will never duplicate. I loved shooting Velvia when I stopped using film for its color saturation, and Fujichrome over Ektachrome. I still have around $20k worth of Leica, Nikon, Rollei and Mamiya equipment just sitting in storage, why I don't know. Just reminds me of very happy decades shooting 35mm, 6x6, 6x7 and 4x5.
Scottish weather at its best mate. Still you managed to get some great footage. Looking forward to more. Cheers Keith
Cheers Keith, Weather was pants but I didn't have much choice so made the best I could! Pulled a bit of footage out the bag, might have just saved me from the Thumbs down Police, lol... It's all interaction!!! Thanks again mate, missed yours this week! R 👍
@@RichardBirchett didn’t get one out this week mate so not missing anything.
@@KGsPhotography it’s hard going at the minute mate👍
Well what can I say ??! A true photographer & naturalist !!!! That’s why your on top of your game ! As you know , you can always learn & see new behaviour in those conditions even though it a pain . Top Blog look forward to 2nd part ! Top work again cheers Richard
Thanks very much mate, got to do a video even in the harshest of conditions as you never know what nature will throw at you! Still, I managed to get some decent shots in the bag, not as many as I had hoped but wouldn't change it for anything! All the best R 👍
Fab video, going to Mull in 4 weeks. Going to book a boat trip.
Thanks very much for watching Laura, Hope you have an awesome time and the weather is kind! Get in early for a boat trip they book up fast! All the best Richard 👍
Beautiful views over the loch,such an amazing location.I feel for you as the weather is so awful,but I love the sound of the rain!!Hopefully your patience will pay off and there will be some better weather and photo opportunities ahead.🥰
Thanks Alison, nice to see your comments again! Always really appreciate the support! It was an amazing location, shame the weather couldn't have been slightly better, lol... Still got a couple shots so not all bad! 👍
Great determination Richard! I also hope to find the otters on Mull in a couple of months time :) lovely shots of the sandpiper despite it chucking with rain!
Thanks very much, just got to give it a go! Best of luck with the Otters, if you need any info let me know. Can't beat a cheeky Sandpiper to keep you busy! Thanks R 😀
Very interesting as we have just got back from Skye! It also rained most days, but we anticipated the weather might not as predicable as here in the midlands! Wildlife was fabulous though so made up for the weather! Looking forward to part two. All the best.
Glad to hear you had a great trip Richard, heard great things about the Isle of Sky, maybe one day! That's the West coast of Scotland for you, lol.. Cheers R
Fantastic footage Richard, in a stunning location
Thanks Darren, it really is the place to be just far to many people, lol.... Still we all have the right to be there just responsibly! Cheers R👍
Cheers for an honest video Richard! Too common to see videos on youtube where it looks like otters are every 100m! Off to watch day 2 now!
Thanks very much, I wish they were, lol… joking! Nice challenge, and it would get boring if we got them every trip! Thanks for watching, enjoy part 2. All the best Rich👍
@@RichardBirchett Day 2 was great and liked the clip for day 3, excited to watch!
Nice one Richard. Just shows how fickle the weather can be up there. Always great to be up there whatever it chucks at you. Thats what its all about though, sticking at it and the rewards will come. Looking forward to Part 2!!👍🏼👊🏼📷
Thanks Simon, Totally right there mate! Got to get out amongst it and see what comes your way! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but I wouldn't change a thing! Cheers R 👍
Lovely footage of the owl and the eagle Richard ,hope you’ll get some footage of the otters. Having never seen a owl to photograph in the wild,a couple of day’s ago trying to get a picture of a sunset of Mont-St’Michel, a owl landed about 15ft in front of me, couldn’t be leave it, couldn’t get a shot as camera setting’s we’re wrong, but lovely to see.
Can’t what to see part two.
Thanks Mark, such a great place for birds and mammals just a shame it's so busy! Still to see such amazing species really is a massive bonus. That's frustrating for you but it happens to us all, if I could count how many I've missed I'd be rich, lol... Keep it up and the rewards will come. Thanks for watching. Rich 👍
That's wildlife photography for you! frustrating especially travelling all that way! I'm off to Skomer next week then up to Mull in September!
Indeed it is Andy but totally worth the effort in my book! Best of luck in Skomer and for Mull in September, good times to go! Cheers R 👍
Good old British weather, guaranteed to scupper any plans… Stick with it you’ll get your breaks. 👍
Thanks very much Smiffy, indeed and last year it was amazing! So the comparison was quite different, still it was still great to be there, most of the time! Cheers R 👍
Good luck with the otters Richard hope you get some great shots. The weather in Scotland is so fickle isn't it? All the best, Steve.
Thanks Steve, Wet, Wet and more WET... There's a song there I'm sure, lol.. Still a cracking place though! Cheers R 👍
It's five years since I was on the mull, must return as soon as possible. The harrier footage was great, I spent ages watching one with the binoculars as there no way we could get close enough with the camera. There's nothing like the weather on the mull, it hammered down for two days solid on our trip, hardly left the tent. Look forward to parts 2.
Thanks very much for watching and for the kind words. I was pleased to get the footage and a few shots from a safe distance! Great to just sit and watch them hunt, amazing how much you can miss sometimes stuck behind a camera. Yep weather was shocking but still beautiful in it's own way. Cheers R 👍
We were there 2 weeks ago Richard, did ok with the otters and did exceptionally well with cuckoo.
Nice one Gary, heard loads of Cuckoo and saw a fair few Otters but the weather was against me quite a lot! Cheers R👍
@@RichardBirchett grasspoint seem a hotspot.
It’s a great spot, got a video on Grasspoint coming at some point, only a short one👍
Very nice!
Thanks very much for watching. All the best Richard 👍
I'm heading there for a 2 week stay in July- can't wait to give the Sony 600mm f4 a go :) Nice video buddy
Hi Les, best of luck on Mull and I hope you get some great shots with the beasty 600mm! Thanks for watching. Cheers Rich👍
@@RichardBirchett Otters are on my hit list Richard so any location tips are greatly appreciated 👍
@@Lez325 can send some locations if needed. Just send me a message via my website or Facebook 👍
@@RichardBirchett All done- lovely images on your site by the way
@@Lez325 Thanks Les😀
Superb location Richard regardless of the weather, do you have to seek any permission for a hide? I’m going on holiday with the Mrs in September to Mull staying on the banks of Loch na keal look forward to pt2👍
Thanks Laurence, as permissions go I didn't but it wasn't left up for more than a day and I was 30ft from it camping so could have removed if required! Hope you have a good stay and it'd quiet! Nice location for a stay. Cheers R 👍
What did you think of the roof tent and will you be reviewing it at a later date ? 😁
Hi Malcolm, it was awesome and stood up to the weather without any problems! I will do one but not the best conditions in Scotland with little available time! Be coming soo all being well. Thanks for watching. Rich 👍
What a great video buddy II’ve also have a wildlife channel and hopefully grow my channel thanks for sharing
Thanks Dave, best of luck with your channel👍
Hope you get the otter in part 2 🤞 If not you wouldn't of gotten it staying @home either.
Bad weather and no shows are part of it, all the more magical when they do show up. Keep it up like the video's.
I sat over 12hours in my Monal V2 for one fox cub shot last weekend. checkbit out on my insta. greetings David
Thanks David, you are right there, lol... Always good to be out no matter what the weather! I will take a look, all the best and thanks for watching. R 😀👍