This site is especially
for birdwatchers and for those with an interest in the bird life of the
Isle of Mull and the surrounding islands of Argyll.
My aim is to share and help
visitors and Muileachs to enjoy the many birds we have on the Isle of Mull
and to keep up to date information on where to see birds at different times
of the year, especially any rare or unusual visitors to the island.
In June & July there
are carpets of wild Orchids to be enjoyed including, Fragrant Orchid, Lesser
& Greater Butterfly Orchid and many others. There are rare Marsh Fritillary
butterflies to be found, Scotch Argus and others.
The Isle of Mull is a favourite
place for bird watchers and has a large list of regularly seen species
including many breeding raptors as well as rare and endangered birds. Some
magnificent birds choose to over winter around the shores of Mull. Great
Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe are regularly seen in summer plumage
in early winter and late spring.
'Rare birds 'visiting our
shores include, from Europe, a European Roller in Glen Aros
in June 2011, the first record for Mull. A Wryneck in August 2011
at Haunn, Our third record. Two Bee-eaters at Calagry (May 2010),
and from north America, Pied billed Grebe in Salen Bay, (April
2011). drake Blue winged Teal at Killiechronan (2010), Sabines
Gull in May 2011 and Red necked Phalarope (a first record for
Mull) at Killiechronan in May 2011. Pectoral Sandpiper and Buff
breasted Sandpiper at Fidden in May 2011. (yet another first for Mull)
In October 2004 a Ross's
Gull was watched for half an hour at Fidden by myself and a couple
of friends.
September 2005 An American
Golden Plover at Loch Beg (a first record for Mull) and Little Gull
at Loch na Keal in February. A Forsters Tern spent 2 days in Oban harbour
January 2003, and Ring billed Gulls also in Oban harbour. King Eider
in Tobermory harbour. We had a Crested Tit feeding in a Tobermory
garden. (a first record for Mull) Birds can turn up at any time and in
any place.
In 2008 we had
Rose Coloured
Starling at Dervaig and Bunessan, and in April 2008 we had the first
ever Nuthatch visiting a garden at Calgary Returning
Nightjar
at Balmeanach, Cory's Shearwater in the Sound of Mull, a White billed
Diver on Loch na Keal.
In May 2009 an Ortolan
Bunting was briely at Craignure, (first record for Mull) also
in May a Common Rosefinch visited Kellan Mill by Loch na Keal, and
Lesser
Whitethroat at Loch Buie plus a Hawfinch was at Calgary.
Some common 'mainland ' birds
are considered scare here on Mull, for example, Moorhen and Coot and we
have very few Tufted duck and Shoveler are very scarce. Magpie are
a 'rare' sight and Jays are scarce.
Resident breeding birds include
some of the most spectacular birds of prey like Golden Eagle, White-tailed
Sea eagle, Merlin, Buzzard and Hen Harrier. We also have lots of singing
Song Thrushes and Skylarks, now becoming much scarcer on the mainland.
The Isle of Mull is very
under recorded and your records are welcome. (see
latest reports page) All records are passed to the Argyll Bird
Club to be included in their annual bird report |
