There can hardly be a better job than travelling between stunning locations around Mull, chatting with folk and scanning the landscape for wildlife. While there’s the occasional uncomfortable encounter with overzealous wildlife watchers, it’s been reassuring to learn that the vast majority of people have the best interests of the animals at heart.

One of the only downsides is I’m rarely in one place for long. My ‘patrol’ area covers the whole island meaning I have plenty of places to go, people to see, and little time to practice the key wildlife-watching tactic that I preach: patience.

Even when I do have time to search out specific species, my day can sometimes (actually, oftentimes) end in disappointment. Fortunately, I’ve always been one to enjoy whatever nature sends my way, which, as it turns out, can be quite a lot on Mull.

So while I might not get much of an opportunity to enjoy the big ‘headline’ species found on and around the island – the eagles, the otters, the seals and cetaceans – I always try to make the most of the smaller but no less special encounters I have whilst out and about.

While many scan the skies and lochs on the drive to Lochbuie, they can miss some brilliant sights mere metres away. Throughout June and July, I’ve watched rugby ball-sized greylag goslings lose their early fluffy down and gain their adult feathers. Young snipe have peeked out at me from behind grass. And I’ve seen lapwing chicks (surely the cutest?) stumble around the grassier areas, while their parents stand on alert nearby.

A call regarding irresponsible wildlife watchers getting too close for comfort to an eagle nest meant a long afternoon drive around the middle of the island, to install some warning signage and reattach a traffic barrier. Fortunately, curlew and wheatears kept me entertained along the way; a stranded adder allowed me to test my snake rescue skills; and a huge golden-ringed dragonfly plonked itself down next to me as I got to hammering the signs together.

Finally, a visit to Loch Torr Wildlife Hide, where the visitors present were disappointed not to see eagles and otters, became a competition to see who could identify the most species. House martins, sand martins and swallows were all visible from one spot, offering a great opportunity to compare their physical appearance and flight patterns. Redpolls and whitethroats made an appearance, while a small field vole fed amongst the scrub a mere 2 metres away, oblivious to our presence.

It can be easy to get caught up looking for the ‘big ticket’ species, but it can be disheartening too. So be sure to to keep your eyes and ears open to other wildlife nearby – You might see your new favourite creature!