It was my intention to go and photograph in a woodland today. I had fond imaginings of lichen draped craggy oaks and mossy limbs clinging to the rocky terrain. But that'll have to wait! I got sidetracked, highjacked. I got lost to a ditch!
It's all the fault of a neighbour on the campsite who mentioned the magic word 'Sundew' and I was gone. From that point I had no alternative but to drive the 90 minutes to a specific place and wander the bogs and ditches in the hunt for the obscure little carnivore. And are they tiny! Perhaps about half the size of a little fingernail.
Fortunately I found them alongside Bog Asphodel and Bell Heather deep in a ditch alongside an unassuming track alongside a loch on the eastern side of Mull. So, here's a gallery of my choice from some 200 shots caught in the damp places.
Join me virtually on my upcoming Deep Dive to Mull. Jump into Becoming Nature and come along.
Great photos Jason, that’s another book, what an amazing photographer you are. Thanks for sharing.
Another book… hmmm… now there’s a thought. Thank you for your kind comments.
Thank you for sharing your amazing adventure with us. So pleased the weather was better for your final day. The scenery was stunning and l liked the perched boulder that was behind you but you may not have noticed it. Safe journey home 🙏
Thank you Jennifer. Yes, that boulder was quite a thing! I’ve visited it several times over the past few weeks.
love nature and the land. thank you for sharing. look forward to more another time
Thank you Joan, yes there will be more to come.
Wow Jason thank you for sharing your adventure with us of this beautiful wild place. I’ve been captivated by the sea, the mists and mountains and the photos of what you found in the ditch, the eagle and the highland bull. How special! Thank you x
Thank you for this Maureen, I’m pleased you enjoyed the wander. x
Enchanting! I love also the companions-to-sundew in that ditch. Bog ashpodel, spearwort, sphagnum, heather – and you!
That’s kind of you to say Kathy. Yes, the world in miniature totally had me!
Lovely stuff. Sundews are amazing. I noticed you got a great shot of Sphagnum too (which is sooo photogenic) and I spotted a bit of Bog Rosemary. Reminds me of my peatland days. I bet there are some really fascinating and maybe even some rare Sphagnums in that area.
Oh believe me there was so much biodiversity on the island. Ever since my first ever visit I’ve been entranced by the ditches and hidden woodland corners just as much as the mountains and islets.
So glad you got side-tracked Jason, those photos are amazing! You have totally inspired me and I will try to pick up my dinky-toy a bit more and see what magic I can find. Not going to be anything like your photos – they are one of a kind! Ian’s mentioned you a few times from his visits to Mull, it was a pleasure finally meeting you.
Thank you so much for your kind comment Han. It was so good to finally meet you too, and to have good chats with you and Ian. Hoping that we meet again.
Quite magical Jason to see this hidden world so close that yet so far as we would not see that ditch can hold such beauty without your beautiful photography. Thank you xxx