Photographing a Wild Isle’s Wildlife

The Isle of Mull is famed for its thriving wildlife populations and our week on this wild isle was certainly rewarding. We started off by enjoying the magic of the Treshnish Isles. Situated off of Mull’s west coast, our primary focus here is the island of Lunga. Famed for its thriving population of seabirds, Lunga supports colonies of several auk species, including Atlantic puffin, common guillemot and razorbill. 

For most people, it's of course the puffins that are the primary draw. These ‘clowns of the sea’ are incredibly endearing and are wonderful photographic subjects. By spending a day on the island, it's possible to build an incredible portfolio of stunning imagery. 

Another highlight, if you're prepared to walk along the cliff path, is a number of nesting shags (cormorants). These birds are absolutely stunning when the light catches their iridescent plumage and vivid green eyes. By working with different backgrounds, you’re able to bring out these often overlooked details. 

Arguably, the white-tailed eagles, are Mull’s biggest success story. A big highlight is heading out on a charter to photograph these huge birds as they bank and dive to pluck fish off the sea. There's nothing better than watching an eagle soar overhead, before suddenly diving down right before your eyes. 

There are countless otters which can be seen along the island’s coastline. However, we don’t specifically look for these shy mammals. Over recent years, a lot of pressure has been put on them and so we try to keep our distance and photograph these mustelids as responsibly as possible to avoid disturbance.

The other side of Mull, which is far from obvious, is the wonderful macro world that's all around. The island supports a plethora of sought-after plants and the invertebrates that depend upon them. This time, we were blessed with some wonderful opportunities to photograph iconic species such as sundew, as well as rarely-seen butterflies, such as marsh fritillary and green hairstreak. 

So if you want to visit this wild isle, why not join us and local guide Alexa Kershaw, for a week of wildlife photography where you can revel in white-tailed eagles, puffins, butterflies, otters and so much more.

To find out more about our Isle of Mull Wildlife Photography tour you can speak to our team of wildlife experts today.