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Premiere: 7/11/2010 | 00:00:30 | NR

The Scottish island of Mull provides a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for an insider's guide to its thriving wildlife. Airs 7/11 at 8pm. Read more...

About the Episode

They say ‘There’s no place like home’ and for wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan, it takes more than growing up in a place to truly appreciate its beauty.  It takes coming home again.  Born and raised on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland, Buchanan set off when he was 17 years old in pursuit of his dream of filming the animals and natural settings of faraway places.  But presented with an opportunity to return home after 15 years abroad to film the wildlife on Mull, he was happy for the chance to take a new look at his native land, through his camera lens.  In the process, he found more admiration for it than ever before.

The Isle of Mull is the fourth largest Scottish island, and its 300-mile coastline supports a wide range of species.  Although animals such as otters, seals and dolphins are often seen there, the island is most famous for its eagles.  The golden eagle, one of the most familiar birds of the region, presents a magnificent display of colorful plumage and powerful features.  And another inhabitant is getting lots of attention — the white-tailed sea eagle, which was once extinct in the area, but has since been re-introduced and has taken up residence on Mull.  It has a striking appearance, an enormous 8-foot wingspan, and impressive hunting tactics.  The sea eagles can eat anything from fish to the occasional lamb, and can be seen soaring through the air with their prey dangling from their sharp talons.  It’s no mystery why their growing presence has become a source of pride for the island.  And for Buchanan, who left Mull before the birds were re-established in the area, the eagles were an exciting addition to his home turf.

As Buchanan says, there is “always something to film” while exploring Mull.  He heads off in all directions, finding otters like those he remembered watching as a child and stumbling upon sights he never dreamed of seeing.  It’s a spectacular setting, combining the changing moods of sea and sky, woodlands and coastline with the quaint and dreamy feel of the place, which now attracts a multitude of tourists but still manages to maintain its unique character.

Watch as Buchanan rediscovers his homeland, surprises himself with new findings, and falls in love all over again with the splendor and magic of Mull.

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PRODUCTION CREDITS

Television Credits

Producer
MIKE BIRKHEAD

Photography
GORDON BUCHANAN

Film Editor
NIGEL BUCK

Dubbing Editor
PAUL CLARK

Dubbing Mixer
GRAHAM WILD

Music Composed by
DAVID MITCHAM

Script Editor
JEREMY EVANS

Scientific Consultant
DAVID SEXTON

Additional Photography
MIKE CUTHBERT
MICHAEL FRANCIS
CHRIS SCOTT
TEO LEYSSEN

Online Editor
TIM BOLT

Production Manager
CAROLYN NAYLOR

The Producer Wishes to Thank
RSPB SCOTLAND
FORESTRY COMMISSION SCOTLAND
SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE
MULL & IONA COMMUNITY TRUST
SEALIFE SURVEYS
SEA WATCH FOUNDATION
STRATHCLYDE POLICE
FINLAY CHRISTINE
IAIN ERSKINE
GLENGORM ESTATE
NEIL MORRISON
THE PEOPLE OF MULL

BBC Series Editor
TIM MARTIN

© 2005 BBC All Rights Reserved

For NATURE

Series Editor
JANET HESS

Supervising Producer
JANICE YOUNG

Senior Producer
LAURA METZGER

Producers
JILL CLARKE
IRENE TEJARATCHI HESS

Production Manager
JULIE SCHAPIRO THORMAN

Production Assistant
JAYNE JUN

Manager
EILEEN FRAHER

Re-Recording Mixer
ED CAMPBELL

Online Editor
CHRIS CONNOLLY

Series Producer
BILL MURPHY

Executive In Charge
WILLIAM GRANT

Executive Producer
FRED KAUFMAN

A Mike Birkhead Associates Production for the BBC

THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY BBC, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Web Credits

Producer
TANNER VEA

Production Assistance
DIANA COFRESÍ-TERRERO

Writing
“Introduction” by LARA GROSS
“Mull Eagle Watch” by JILL CLARKE
“Basking Sharks” by ELIZABETH McGOVERN

Photos for “Introduction” and “Mull Eagle Watch” © Iain Erskine c/o Carolyn Naylor. Photo for “Basking Sharks” by Chris Gotschalk. Other photos from Eagles of Mull.

Designer
JOY WEEENG

Pagebuilding
BRIAN SANTALONE

Technical Director
BRIAN LEE

Creative Director
NICK MILLER

Director of Digital Strategy
DAVID HIRMES

Director of Production
DANIEL B. GREENBERG

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