Latest reports for June 2017
Latest sightings for June
2016
29th spent last week at tiny cottage at Croggan.It
was our 8th visit to Mull and first time at Croggan mainly to hope to see
Otters but only one sighting late on Sunday night! But had good views of
both eagles from cottage garden.On a walk round to the mouth of loch shelve
noticed what looked like a golden eagle sitting on the hill opposite side
of the loch.It took off and was joined by 2 white tailed eagles, in the
end there were 4 together. Dave Parsons
29th: We saw the Ring Ouzel on the 26th
in a field that led up to a large White House, opposite the scallastle
bay I am told. We also saw 4 female hen Harriers today, and a male hen
harrier in the fields near loch beg. Another mention is the two black gullimots
we saw in the waters between mull and ulva, visitor Joshua Toogood
26th a single female Ring Ouzel in fields
opposite Salen Bay. visitor Joshua Toogood
28th four Swifts crossing the Sound of Mull heading
South. Ewan Miles. Ewan Nature
Scotland
27th Balmeanach by Fishnish: a report of a Yellow
Wagtail from here, more information required
please. Alex McFadyen.
22nd Treshnish: one Swift over Treshnish wood.
Prasad Prasads
Blog
18th left Craignure and we were escourted all the
way by a femail Hen Harrier which kept pace with the boat and made landfall
to disappear beyond a hill to the south west of Oban. Stunning views all
the way. Tina Stafford and Tony Nayager.
14th Staffa: three Great Skuas over Staffa. Mark
W. www.mwphoto.co.uk
12th Treshnish, 1 Common (Mealy) Redpoll at
boathouse showing signs of breeding behaviour. Prasads
Blog
Northern Marsh Orchid
14th - NW Iona Two Great Skuas harassing gull colonies
off NW Iona today; 47 Kittiwakes (mainly immatures) and five Arctic Terns.
Stuart Gibson
14th Treshnish, 2 Swifts over the wood.
prasad Prasads
Blog
13th Cock Chiffchaff in song at Scallastle and
a non-breeding Great-northern Diver at the head of Loch Na Keal. Ewan Miles
Ewan
Nature Scotland
9th Last night whilst looking for bats , the bird
club members had excellent views of 2 separate woodcocks over our cottage.
Today on my tour we had excellent views of a white wagtail on the north
shore of Loch Scridain.
Pete Mull
wildlife Tours
6th Interested to read of the male Hen Harrier
sighted 4th June. We saw the same yesterday heading out of the Sound of
Mull just before the lighthouse. We were returning from Whalewatch boat
trip with Sea Life Surveys around 5pm having seen 8 or 9 Minke,
including young. Fab day!. Wonderful website by the way? visitor
Marion Criswell.
6th - Torosay Three Black Guillemots in
the Sound of Mull; male Whitethroat in song; 'singing' Cuckoo; seven Oystercatcher
and three Common Gull territories now with chicks or eggs on verge of hatching
due to their resilience in the face of everyday disturbance from (dog)walkers;
and three Marsh Fritillary, two Painted Lady and single Small Pearl-Bordered
Fritillary and Small Heath butterflies noted in what was a rather
subdued day for wildlife due to the continuing warm weather. Are we truly
ever happy?. Stuart Gibson
!2nd June - Highlights for us viewed from Lochdon,
w/t sea eagle 29th May - short eared owls (2) 28th May - hen harrier, cuckoo,
tawny owl. Elsewhere on the island we saw Gt. Northern Diver (29th
May, off Calgary / Caliach), redstart (Loch Ba), golden eagle (Glen More),
peregrine (Iona) and eider (Iona) plus many of the other species you associate
with region. Many thanks and I will continue to enjoy reading your blog
:) visitor Tim Preece
5th Marsh Fritillary, Pearl Bordered Fritillary
and Green Hairstreak about now. Alan (mullbirds)
5th - Aros Park. Very few birds singing in the
heat, but what were included a single Wood Warbler, several Willow Warblers
and two Chiffchaffs. Stuart Gibson
4th - At sea, off NW Mull: An incredible sight
of a male Hen Harrier far out at sea, heading towards Ardnamurchan from
the Isle of Coll. Seen from the port side of boat, while a Minke Whale
was showing on the starboard side. Now, that's not something that is seen
everyday, is it?!! Also, two Bonxies and raft of ca.200 Manx Shearwaters
in same area.
Stuart Gibson
4th Just spent a glorious week here on mull,of
all my sightings just thought you may be interested in was a calling
Quail at the back of dobhran cottage at 4.55 this morning at Lochbuie.
Great blog by the way Thanks Brian Jones
3rd - Tobermory harbour. A 1st S. immature Glaucous
Gull was an unseasonal find this evening. Stuart Gibson
2nd - Iona Calling Corncrakes at a premium until
mid-afternoon, possibly due to cold wind; three calling, with two seen,
including bird at the Fire Station; first brood of Eider (two ducks with
eight ducklings) at the Bay at the Back of the Ocean. Stuart Gibson
2nd - Inverlussa Hunting female Hen Harrier, with
a male over the main road near the Guline Dubh, on outskirts of Tobermory.
Stuart Gibson
3rd two Dippers at Knock and a Golden Eagle from
the Torloisk road lookinh East, found by Summer aged twelve.
2nd Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat family and Whinchat
on Grasspoint road. Dipper at Knock and two male Hen Harriers again in
Glen More. Andy Bayes
1st Lochdon Marsh Fritillaries and Small Heath
out
at Lochdon yesterday near parking area at gate at Gorsten Farm. Arctic
Skua harassing Gulls from Duart Castle. Mick and Sylvia Brennan
Latest reports for June 2015
30thTreshnish: 1 Swift flying west at boathouse.
prasad. Prasads
Blog
30th: Arthur Brown had a good day out today picking
up a Jay by the 'old Byre' and a pair of Red Grouse and eight
large chicks on the hill road. In Calgary Bay was a fully summer
plumaged Black throated Diver.
28th - Torosay: Two Crossbills high over the castle
grounds; a nice find was a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk moth in same area.
Mull
Magic Wildlife Walks
28th - Tobermory: The local Magpie is still
doing the rounds. Mull Magic
Wildlife Walks
29th Mull Orchids are now in bloom accross
the island, check hereto know your orchids. Mull
Orchids
29th Sightings over the last couple of days have
included Common Crossbill,Red-throated Diver, 5 Greenshank at Loch Beg,
Small Pearl Bordered,Marsh and Dark Green Fritillaries at various locations.
Bryan Wild About Mull
28th Salen: We have a pair of House Martins
nestbuilding Debby Thorne
26th a Jay from the road across from Salen
to loch na keal. Adrian & Glenis Bury. North Yorkshire
26th Grasspoint: Saw a party of up to 20 plus
Swifts in the lochdon area from grass point this afternoon.
23rd 15 Common Scoters in flight heading
north and 2 Storm-Petrels in waters between Mull and Coll this morning.
Ewan Ewans Blog
young Whinchat
23rd Great view of Male and female whinchat
down the Grasspoint Road. Also family of willow warbler and a cuckoo
calling in the same spot. Our male redpoll is still visiting the
garden at home. Debby
23rd - Tobermory: A bird showing characteristics
of
Common (Mealy) Redpoll was taking nyger seed in the Mull Magic
garden this evening. Interesting that Prasad has had several doing likewise
at Treshnish recently. We found a Mealy Redpoll on Ulva two years
ago during the breeding season and had it confirmed that this species,
as well as Lesser Redpoll, were likely to be nesting locally. Mull
Magic Wildlife Walks
23rd - Aros Park: Singing Wood Warbler and Chiffchaff
(Willow Warblers too busy with young to be singing) and four male Blackcaps
in song. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
22nd Tobermory: The Aros Park male Wood Warbler
is
still in song; a Spotted Flycatcher was nearby.Stuart
17th Female Peregrine carrying large prey on the
north shore. A non-breeding Great-northern Diver at Croig and a one in
breeding plumage at Lochbuie. Ewan Ewans
Blog
16th Lady Jayne, Loch na Keal: We had great
views of a group of 6 Red Throated divers with 2 displaying
and calling. Location, near Scarisdale Rocks Loch Na Keal. Martin Mull
Charters
21st Glengorm A Solstice stunner! Nine male and
three female Beautiful Demoiselles defying the showers
14th Croggan: A Bordered Straw moth. A migrant
from the Mediterranean and North Africa. Previously
unknown on the Isle of Mull or on mainland Argyll, this migrant moth is
a Scottish rarity. Stuart Gibson
 
photos by Stuart Gibson
14th I saw what I am sure was a Ruff yesterday
on the pools on the left entering dervaig from Calgary direction. I thought
nothing of it, as they are common around us. It was a wader about the size
of a redshank, but with spangled back, plain palish grey head, orange based
beak with dark tip, shorter than a bar tailed godwit, which is the other
wader with similar patterning on the back and I see is common. visitor
Janet Roberts
13th a whale watching tour gave us Red throated
Diver in flight, Black Guillemot, Bonxies. visitor Rick
12th Loch Ba: an Osprey here, also White
tailed Eagles,Hen Harrier (f), visitor Rick
14th I've just returned from Holidaying on Mull.
Unfortunately due to having no internet whatsoever while on Mull i couldn't
find whom to report this sighting to. The Mink came past me on the
river bank at Knock Bridge on Thursday 11th June. It was coming from Lock
Na Keal & heading up stream towards Loch Bar. Paul Biggs
13th Treshnish: at leaste one common redpoll still
present. Prasad
12th Burgh: a Magpie here. Carolyne Charrington.
12th June - single whooper swan on Loch Assapol
also one osprey still around .Felicity Pollard
12th Lochdon: Our Osprey is still hanging
around (since early May now) and can often be seen fishing on the loch,
usually around high tide or receding tide. Alan
11th six common Crossbills high up in the
spruce trees next to the Guthrie Memorial at Duart Bay, Craignure today.
Angi Harrell
10th a Red Grouse on the hill abouve
Gribun tonight. Colin Moody
10th Fishnish Bay: a
full summer plumaged
red throated diver in Fishnish Bay. Pete Mull
wildlife Tours
10th Huge rafts of Manx Shearwaters from Ardmore
lighthouse out into tghe open sea beyween Isle of Mull and Coll,
most rafts numbererd several hundred birds and there were at leats
5,000
birds in the area, also a Bonxie and three Puffins. Stuart Gibson
9th Treshnish: at least one Common Redpoll present.
Prasad
8th - Loch Ba Four singing Tree Pipits and a single
male Redstart still in song; three calling male Cuckoos; family party of
Goldcrests calling in Spruce and Lesser Redpolls, including what was probably
a family party of six birds; a pair of Grey Wagtails food carrying for
young; Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin over loch; several Snipe,
including a 'drumming' bird and a pair of Redshank with young out of the
nest; a Red-throated Diver in flight and a female Goosander
7th - Craignure Male Blackcap and Whitethroat singing;
200 Kittiwakes feeding and resting in Sound of Mull, off Craignure, where
50 feeding Common Terns (in three separate groups) heading NW up the Sound;
also several Gannets and single adult s/p Great Northern Diver and Red-throated
Diver.
6th - Croig/Langamull Three (two male) Goosanders
were at Croig, while the breeding Arctic Tern pair at Langamull are nesting
on the sand in what looks a particularly vulnerable location. Mull
Magic Wildlife Walks
5th - Tobermory A Chiffchaff was in song
on Prison Brae today. Stuart Gibson
5th excellent views of a male Merlin in
Glen More, near to Craig. Also watched a short eared owl quartering over
the field opposite the derelict farm near Loch Spelve, at the Grasspoint
turn 3 cuckoos together, and the Osprey made an appearance.Pete
Mull
wildlife Tours
4th - Tobermory: A calling Crossbill flew SE high
over the bay towards Aros Park this morning. Stuart Gibson
5th: 1 Swift on Cruachan Treshnish (Graeme
Hutchinson & Angie Craft) and at least 1 Tree Sparrow still present
Prasads
Blog
3rd: 1 pipit showing Scandinavian Rock Pipit features
& pair of breeding Arctic Terns, Langamull Prasads
Blog
5th A Jay flew across the road in front of us this
morning at Torlochan. Martin Mull Charters
a family of Stonechat along the Grasspoint road.
4th June 2015. Alan Spellman
4th A Jay was calling loudly from woodland between
Quinnish and Loch Torr. Phil & Carol Sharp
4th Salen: Just looked out office window to see
fantastic
male Hawfinch on lawn, flew into trees and not relocated. Bright
breeding colours. Real surprise. David Sexton Mull Officer
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes
coccothraustes) extremely scarce, only a few records for Mull
2009 a female in garden
at Calgary June. 2010 a female at Treshnish on a garden feeder April.2014
on
6th-7th May at Killiechronan. Jan Fuller 2015 a male in Dave Sextons
garden at Salen 4th June
 
3rd - Aros Park, Tobermory: All three Phylloscopus
warblers singing (one Wood Warbler near Sput Dubh waterfall and a Chiffchaff
near the main entrance); singing Spotted Flycatcher and several Blackcaps
in song; male Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Bullfinch on today's
Nature Ramble with guests from the Balmoral cruise ship.
 
Common Gull chick, Colin Moody, Knock
Barn Swallow, Lochdon, Alan Spellman
2nd - Craignure: An adult Summer-plumaged and an immature
Great Northern Diver in the Sound of Mull, off Craignure. Mull
Magic Wildlife Walks
2nd Treshnish, at least 2 Tree Sparrows and several
Common (Mealy) Redpolls, prasad. Prasads
Blog
1st Pennyghael: Male Hen Harrier over fields, just
west of post office. Two Golden Plover along shore of Loch na Keal near
footpath to Ben More. Phil and Carol Sharp1st Martin reports a Little
Gull seen from 'Lady Jayne' in Loch na Keal. Mull
Charters
Corncrake Iona by Andy Bayes May 2015
Latest reports for June 2014
30th Female peregrine at Glengorm and 4 swifts
heading north. Ewan Ewans Blog
30th - Loch Ba: Breeding confirmed: a pair of Dunlin
with minimum two chicks on sphagnum and Bog Myrtle hummocks. a
once regular breeder, this is the first known record of confirmed breeding
in ‘recent times’ Ruth Fleming, Stuart Gibson. Magic
Wildlife Walks
28th - Craignure 3 Arctic Skuas (one pale and two
dark morphs) flying ---> NW up Sound of Mull past Craignure at 17.00 hrs
today; also, an adult White-tailed Eagle over camp site. Ruth Fleming.
26th 6 Common Swift over Iona , Great Spotted
Woodpecker in trees just down from the WTE watch point this morning also
female Cuckoo, a pair of Hen Harrier bringing in prey to the
same area of heather,
Rob Hoare
26th June Eas Fors - Garden Warbler, Spotted Fly,
pair Grey Wagtails and a Dipper in the waterfall burn
Dervaig - 5 Goosander, 3 Beautiful Demoiselle,
Four-spotted Chaser Killiechronan - 1 Common Swift
Glen Seilisdeir - 3 Common Crossbills, Tree Pipit,
10+ Golden-ringed Dragonfly Caliach Point - ringtail Hen Harrier Ashley
Saunders. Oriole Birding.
26th - Torosay Single Red-throated Diver in Duart
Bay; singing male Blackcap and Sedge Warbler; male Hen Harrier along coast
near camp site; and a Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth and an Elephant Hawkmoth
on our walk today. Ruth Fleming Magic
Wildlife Walks
26th Treshnish, 20 Swifts over Treshnish wood
Prasads
Blog
26th A Humpback Whale was washed up dead at Fishnish
25th June A single Storm-Petrel seen on Treshnish
Isles trip, close to Lunga. One Great Skua also. 3 Greenshanks and
3 Golden Plovers on Loch Beg in evening on high tide. Ashley Saunders.
Oriole Birding
24th June: 3 summer plumaged Great Northern Divers
on Loch Buie Marsh, Dark Green & Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at
the turning to Loch Buie off the main road. This site was fabulous for
odonata too and we had Common Hawker and Highland Darter here. More importantly,
we also had a Northern Emerald. Large Heath was also on the
wing at Grasspoint. Whinchats at Three Lochs and Inverlussa. Male Hen Harrier
and Tree Pipit Glen Forsa, Tawny Owl in Pennyghael. Ashley Saunders.
Oriole Birding.
24th Short-eared owl north of Loch Frisa
and 7-8 common scoter in waters north of Mull. Ewan Ewans
Blog
24th - Loch Ba: A pair of Dunlin on suitable breeding
habitat, including singing male; a chick was briefly observed; displaying
Snipe and six other species of breeding waders; seven ad. Greylag Goose
with seven goslings; fem. Mallard with brood of four ducklings (< 1
week); single Grey Wagtail; one singing Tree Pipit; two fledgling Wheatears;
and two Crossbills at Knock. Magic
Wildlife Walks
23rd - Sgurr Dearg: Male Golden Eagle; male Hen
Harrier hunting ridge near summit; single Snipe at 1,500 feet; and Sparrowhawk
on our mountain walk. Ruth Fleming Magic
Wildlife Walks
22nd Summer plumage Great Northern Diver
on loch na keal from eagle watch point this pm Rob Hoare
22nd Osprey over Mishnish lochs at 4pm today,
bit of a tussle with a buzzard then gained height, heading NW. Rachel
French Ranger Service
19th The Australian black swan was at Glenforsa
this morning - got a poor photo on my iPhone. Debby
17th - Up to ten separate frenzies of gannets feeding
hard which included one with up to two hundred birds. Ewan Ewans
Blog
16th - 8-10 common Scoters in flight north
of Mull, 2 GN Divers flying north and the largest number of storm petrels
I have seen in five seasons covering these waters, which included hurries
20-30 strong. Ewans Blog
16th - Tobermory A Garden Warbler in song
about 1 km SE of entrance to Aros Park, where a Chiffchaff was heard singing.
Over 400 Northern Marsh Orchids counted along road verge immediately SE
of entrance to Aros Park; the local Magpie was in the Mull Magic garden
this afternoon. Ruth Fleming.
16th: Treshnish, 1 Osprey flying north-east
over Calgary bay. Prasads
Blog
11th-14th Bunessan: a Rose Coloured Starling
visiting a garden feeder. (pp) Emily Wilkins (this is the seventh
mull record of the species since 2002)
14th - Loch Ba. Six species of raptor on our walk
today, including an Osprey being escorted off the premises by three
Oystercatchers, a male Hen Harrier hunting the hillside and a Sparrowhawk;
lots of Lesser Redpoll activity, displaying Siskin, and singing Spotted
Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Whinchat; and a Snipe nest with c/4 near hatching.
Ruth Fleming. Magic Wildlife Walks
13th Loch Ba: a pair of Redstart here nesting
in a naturual site on the point of fledging. Andrew Mortley
 
Redstart image Andrew Mortley.
Rose Coloured Starling
7th May late report just in: the Spotted Crake
on Iona - behind the Fire Station was first heard (and seen) on 7th May.
Anne Mansfield, Pam Tregunna and Brian Burton, also heard on 12th June
12th - Torosay 3 Red-throated Divers in Duart
Bay; 8 ad. Greylag Geese attending 8 goslings Oystercatchers
nest with single recently hatched chick (< 24 hrs) and two yet to hatch
eggs; Common Gull with b/2 in nest and single unhatched egg; displaying
Rock Pipit and Meadow Pipit; singing Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat
in woods.
Ruth Fleming.
9th male Teal in Laggan Bay Pam Brown
Discover Mull
12th Just had an Osprey at the north of Loch
Frisa, near the car park. 12 of us on my ranger service event there
saw it, great sighting! Rachel French
11th 2 Swifts crossing the open sea north
Calliach point on the 10th, good numbers of European Storm Petrels
seen in the last 7 days in waters north of Mull. Two light phase Arctic
Skuas off Loch Cuin on the 9th. Ewan Ewans
Blog
10th Treshnish, 2 Swifts at 11.30 at schoolhouse.
Prasad. Prasads
Blog
9th: 3 Swifts at Treshnish at about 5pm
and guests saw 4 at about 11am Anand Prasad
9th a Swift underneath where the Golden
Eagles normally are on the south side of Loch Na Keal. Had lovely views
of the White Tailed Sea Eagles on the north side today along with a pair
of Sedge Warblers, a couple of Whitethroat and Willow Warbler at
Fishnish. Bekki Pierce
8th - Loch Ba 5 Crossbills in plantation at Knock;
single Grey Wagtail hawking insects by loch shore; the Redstarts
in the birch wood appear to have fledged young; and a male Chiffchaff was
singing at Gruline. Ruth Fleming.
8th Walk to Loch Spelve and the ruined village.
Short
eared owl on post between the path and Grasspoint lane, 2 female hen
harriers and male hen harrier hunting in same general area.
Female cuckoo at gate on way out. White tailed eagle
hunting shallows at lochdon and landed on rock. Probably after the
cygnets as previous mentioned. Ted Humphreys
8th Lochdon: adult White tailed eagle circling
our newley hatched signets, doesn't bold well for them.
7th Iona: just heard the Spotted Crake on
Iona (00:20) in same location, grid ref NM 287244.
James Hudson. PS Found your guide very useful
during our week here. Thank you. (first heard on 7th May).
The size of a Starling, Spotted Crake tend to skulk
in thick cover and walk with their body close to the ground and tail flicking.
When disturbed they run for cover or jump up and flutter away with legs
dangling.
Breeding adults have a brown back with dark streaks,
a blue-grey face and an olive-brown breast - all covered with white flecks
and spots. The under tail is a warm buff colour.
This photo kindly supplied by
Dave Barnes see his web site www.pbase.com/davebarnes
6th loch na keal. just past the private landing
quay, a Yellow Legged Gull feeding on the shore, all got to see
this full summer plumaged bird. Chris Tynan RSPB Liverpool group.
Photo
and-or full description required please........not received
6th Female Hen Harrier sighted between Bunessan
& Fionnphort. Mike & Kath on holidays
6th Iona. waders on the golf course beach today.
11 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone & several Ringed Plover, also
a pair of Shelduck with 6 ducklings.James Hudson
4th Iona: Spotted Crake herad calling from
the irises on shore side of the path between Bishop's House and the Abbey
(same area as recorderd earlier, grid ref NM 287244). Only heard
not seen, while doing a corncrake count. Emily Wilkins. Ranger - South
Mull, Iona, Burg and Staffa NNR
4th a run round some of my favourite places gave
me a stunning male Redstart singing in Ardura oak woodland, a beautiful
male
Whinchat a close quarters at Inverlussa. Common Whitethroat
at Gorten and a singing Wood Warbler and a pair of Stonechat
along the Grasspoint road, good numbers of Eider on Loch Spelve,
and then a Woodpecker on my feeder. Who needs eagles ? Alan
4th 2 redpoll drinking from roadside pool
at finnan. 4 eider at beach. Ted Humphreys.
3rd - Langamull Single Red-throated Diver
and a late Great Northern Diver; two Guillemots and several Gannets
offshore; 60+ mixed gulls (predominantly Herring and Lesser Black-backed)
feeding on abundance of Garden Chafer beetles on machair; Oystercatcher
and Ringed Plover with chicks; Common Gull, Arctic Tern and Common Tern
on eggs on beach. Ruth Fleming. These birds
are nesting in an extremely vulnerable area of the beach and are prone
to disturbance. Walkers and wildlife watchers
should watch where they are putting their feet and dogs should be kept
on a short lead at all times to give these birds every chance of succeeding.
2nd Tobermory Magpie This bird is
now permanent here, it will should be paying Council tax Alan
3rd loch ba. 2 whimbrel 2 curlew 8 lapwing
m and f red breasted merganser Ted Humphreys
2nd Glengorm. Whinchat, cuckoo,
stonechat 3 mistlet thrush 2, A handful of common tern on small outcrop
off craignure golf course. Ted Humphreys
2nd 5 red throated divers on Loch Assapol this
morning. Felicity Pollard & Juliet Vines
1st 2 Swift over Bunessan 6pm 31st
May, 14 Sanderling including a ringed individual (details will be sent
to BTO) Ardalanish Beach 8pm 1st June. visitors James Hudson & Tim
Plowden
17th-31st May list Ernest Escott pp Peter
Keeley Staffa Cottage Griburn
28th May - Evening, from 'Knockan' we observed
at least 100 Manxies, in rafts on the water and flying in and out
of the mouth of Loch Scridain.
28th May - Evening, from 'Eorabus' there was a
s'pl Great Northern Diver close inshore.Wood Warblers heard on 27th &
29th by road south of Craignure near the Duart Castle turn.
Cuckoos seemingly everywhere Including
4 together at Loch Asapol. Good numbers of Common Whitethroats too. Sand
Martins at Uisken beach and pair of Yellowhammers there. Darren Robson
Latest reports for June 2013
29th 4 Arctic Skuas together (3 dark 1 light) heading
west at entrance to Loch Sunart. Ewan Blog
28th 2 Red-throated Divers Loch na Kea,l Great
Skua Caliach Point and a few Manx Shearwaters offshore Cuckoo Treshnish
Wood Ashley Saunders
28th 6 Common Scoters in Calgary Bay but Prasad
got them before me. A Peregrine Falcon also at Calgary.
2 White-tailed Eagles, 2 Golden Eagles, 2 Buzzards,
4 Kestrels, 5 Ravens and a male Hen Harrier Laggan Ulva.
Yellowhammer Fanmore Arthur Discover
Mull Tours
27th Tobermory, 1 Dipper in Distillery burn and
Spotted Fly catcher, Dervaig, 15+ Goosander in bay
Aros Bridge, Grey Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher,
Salen Bay, 1 Whimbrel on rocks at low tide, seems an unusual time of year,
Lochdon, male Hen Harrier flew towards Inverlussa, Loch Beg, 2 Dunlin,
1 Golden Plover and male Hen Harrier. Ashley Saunders
27th Calgary, 6 Common Scoters, prasad Blog
Redpoll
photos by Phil Boardman
Yellowhammer
25th Glen Forsa: Tree Pipit in full song. Loch Buie
turn off: Greater
Butterfly Orchid, 8 Common Crossbills flying over calling. Loch
Uisk: male Golden Eagle perched on crags up behind the cottage. 2 Yellowhammer
also in garden there Loch Buie: Two pairs of Golden Eagle from here including
said pair above. Female Whinchat, Red-throated Diver. Inverlussa: 4+ Whinchat
including 2 singing male. Two Lesser Redpolls
Grasspoint: Family of Whinchat, Tree Pipit, imm
male Hen Harrier, Grasshopper Warbler [reeling by parking area and seen].
One Transparent Burnet, several Lesser
Butterfly Orchids and a Small Heath.oriolebirding.com Ashley
Saunders
26th Tobermory: Magpie this afternoon at
Tobermory old cemetry. Celia McIntyre & Danny Lamont
24th: Buzzard with snake or Sloworm at Treshnish
wood. Last week I heard of 2 other reports of Buzzards with snakes or Sloworm
at Treshnish and also a *Kestrel* take a snake or Slowworm to the Kestrel
nest south of Port Haunn. Presumably there is either an abundance of Adders
or Sloworms or low numbers of small rodents,
prasad
23rd Whinchat quinish near mingary cottage in field
on left before cottage, Female hen harrier 4miles south of dervaig on road
towards crannich Nigel Dawber
22nd Non-breeding Great Northern Diver off
Ardmore point, Arctic Skua north of Glengorm and over 25 Storm Petrels
seen in a seven hour spell at sea today. Ewan Blog
21st two beautiful full summer plumaged red
throated divers in Fishnish Bay, close to the shore.Pete Mull
Wildlife Tours
21st: Treshnish, 1 Swift prasad
19th Four excellent sightings of a golden eagle,
including one overhead along with a male hen harrier and innumerable meadow
pipits and larks during BTO bird survey near Shiba, Ross of Mull. Felicity,
Juliet and David
19th: Langamull, 1 White Wagtail,
3 Dunlin. Prasad
19th Staffa. Corncrake
heard and seen, also 3 Swifts seen over Inch Kenneth. large groups
of Manx Shearwater on sea, plus Bonxies on Staffa, a Wheatear family group
on Lunga and Puffins of course. Chris and Tony Johnson regular visitors
to Mull
31st May Kestrel,
Cuckoo, Red-throated Diver NM 6418.2945 Ring Ouzel feeding young and
flying along river Lynn Farrell
16/6 Crossbill 2 conifers by Glenforsa airstrip.
18/6 Great Skua 2 Caliach Point. Dave Pierce
17th Loch na Keal: Good views of both golden and
white tailed eagles today and vast numbers of manx shearwaters about out
at sea probably several thousand in all as well as large rafts of mixed
auks. Martin Mull Charters
Marie Gibson took these pix of bottle nosed
dolphins in Loch Buie on 8th June 2013
11th A pair of Twite at Lagganulva
and a small flock of Linnets, Black Guillemot in the Bay, a male Hen Harrier
hunting and Common Terns about half a dozen. Fledged Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher
and Redshank in same field at LagganUlva hungrily being watched by
Hooded Crows, Ravens and Great Black Backed Gulls. Zillions of Greylag
Goslings everywhere. Arthur Discover
Mull Tours
11th 3 Swifts heading
east off Glengorm. 4 Storm Petrels feeding in a small hurry off Mingery.
Ewan
10th - Loch Ba 3 Common
Swifts heading East up Glen Cannel at 13.30 hrs. Ruth Fleming
10th Arle: Richard Atkinson
phoned to say he had 20+ Swifts over his house and area last evening
2th 2 immature White-tailed
Eagles in Glen Aros; 5+ Wheatear in the valley, good numbers elsewhere
during the week, e.g. c15 between Calgary and Kilninian, and c20 along
the south shore of Loch an Keal. 1 Ringed Plover and 4 Black Guillemot
at Garmony.
3th 3 (2 s/p, 1 w) Great
Northern Divers and 4 Common Terns off Ballygowan, Loch Tuath, 3 Cuckoos
in the same area. 1 drumming Snipe at Burg. 2 s/p Great Northern Divers
at Killiemor, Loch an Keal. Rob
and Lucy Hill
4th 1 Little Tern (now
confirmed)
and 1 Great Skua off Iona. 1m Hen Harrier and 1 sub-adult
Golden Eagle at Lochbeg (the latter being mobbed by a pair of Merlin).
Rob and Lucy Hill
5th 1m Hen Harrier in Glen
Aros. 1 sum plum Great Northern Diver at Dererach, Loch na Keal. 1m Hen
Harrier and 6 Dunlin at Lochbeg. 1pr + 2juv Stonechats, 1 Cuckoo and 1
Tree Pipit at Grasspoint.
6th 1 Whimbrel and 1 Greenshank
at the Aros mouth, a Wood Warbler singing opposite the ruined boats
in Salen Bay. On Iona, 16 Ringed Plover 15 Dunlin), 14 Sanderling
, 2 singing Sedge Warbler.
7th 1m Hen Harrier in Glen
Aros. 1 Snipe drumming near Lochdon.
8th 2 s/p Red-throated Divers
off Craignure pier, 1ad White-tailed Eagle at Grasspoint. Rob and Lucy
Hill
8th June feeding Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest,
Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 pairs of Common Sandpiper River Forsa. Feeding
pair of Common Redstart Loch Ba. Pair of G S woodpecker on our feeders
every day and Tree Pipis nesting in our woodland. Arthur, Pam, Jaquie Ferriday
and Mike Murphy Discover Mull
Tours
8th Aros Park, Tobermory A trio of Phylloscopus
warblers on our cruise ship ramble today : two singing male Wood Warblers,
a solitary singing Chiffchaff and lots of Willow Warblers. Good nos of
Blackcap in song also, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flyover Crossbill
added to our enjoyment. A Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk Moth was at the
Standing Stones at Baliscate. Ruth Fleming Stuart Gibson. Mull
Magic Wildlife Walks
7th 4 Red Throated Divers displaying on Loch na
Keal yesterday. Martin Mull Charters
7th Torosay Three Red-throated Divers close inshore
and calling in Sound of Mull, along with a late adult Great Northern Diver.Ruth
Fleming. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
6th Sand martins at Ardalanish Tony Jefree
4th Treshnish A Great Skua harassing a Herring
Gull at Port Haunn. Stuart Gibson & Ruth Fleming
3rd Loch na Keal Calling adult Great Northern Diver
at head of loch. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
2nd Dervaig - Calgary A Jay flew across the road
near Am Birlinn restaurant. Ruth Fleming
4th A Swift in open sea north of Mingery heading
south. Ewan
3rd Little gull Killiechronan 3rd June in morning.
Geoff Pain
3rd A Great Skua at Scarisdale Rocks today
Arthur Brown
3rd Four dark morph Arctic Skuas heading north
up the sound of Mull. Ewan
2nd Lochdon – peregrine falcon circled for 5mins+
over the loch. Male hen harrier hunting over road to Gorten.
white tailed eagles circling overhead. Felicity
& David Pollard
2nd Dervaig. Goosander female with 4 duckings prasad
26th May a report supported with photo's
of a Black Stork over Dervaig is a
first record forArgyll & Mull. many thanks Dave &
Lynda Parsons, visitors from Bedfordshire
27th May I’ve just
received a report via VisitScotland, of a Black Stork on 26th
at Fanmore, being mobbed by crows. Paul Toner
Black Stork over Dervaig 26th May 2013 a first record
for Argyll and Mull. pix by Lynda Parsons
Latest reports for June 2012
29th 2 swifts flying low over the coastline
at the mouth of Loch Cuin.Roger Craven
29th Treshnish, 1 Swift over Treshnish wood.
Prasad
27th: "There has been some views aired recently
on Mull that the Puffin numbers on the Treshnish Isles are declining due
to White-tailed Eagle predation. I am sure White-tailed Eagles take some
Puffins and so will many other raptors including gulls and skuas but so
far there is no evidence that the overall numbers are being reduced by
White-tailed Eagles. Predator-prey relationships is one of the most studied
areas of ecology and many studies have shown that in the wild predators
and prey will reach a natural balance" ................ find
out more and read
28th 2 cuckoos by glengorm on
telegraph wires. also a lesser redpoll at fishnish along with an
otter fishing. Also a White tailed eagle fishing on the sound of mull.
a male hen harrier fly south across Salen bay and a barn owl close
to Salen bay.So far this holiday we have seen74 different species of birds
and lots of beautiful wild flowers and orchids. The pierce family
27th A Swift and a Storm Petrel off the
north coast of Mull. Ewan
26th Last night was a good night for short eared
owls had 5 different birds between pennyghael and lochdon 7.30-9pm,today
twite x 2 on road along loch na keal just after a bridge and before parking
area for Ben more,had great views of a female hen harrier on salen-dervaig
road Monday ,Red throated divers x2 at Calgary today and Sunday in
Fishnish bay. Simon Duckworth
27th 2 red throated divers mouth of Loch Cuin Roger
Craven
10/6 Pomarine Skua 1 west of Bloody Bay in the
Sound of Mull attacking a Kittiwake along with an Arctic Skua and a Great
Skua, somehow the Kittewake survived.
11-14/6 Twite 2, a pair at Loch Na Keal under the
Griburn Cliffs
14/6 W T Eagle 2, sat on rocks off of Ardnalanish
Beach
17/6 Redstart 3 piars along Loch Ba, whith fledged
young
18/6 Reed Bunting 1 singing male at Loch Beg
21/6 Swift 3 under Griburn Cliffs
23/6 Whinchat Along the Carsaig road, nest containing
5 chicks., Martin Gillingham
5th Staffa: Corncrake calling (heard but not seen)
Sea Eagle seen to dive into the sea about 300 yds off Grass Point. After
a brief struggle with something in the water (unseen) it lay still for
about 30 seconds, wings outstretched, and then swam ashore on the North
bank. It tuned out to be a very strong swimmer but luckliy it was
flat calm. Pomarine Skua with 2 x Arctic going north up Loch Linne,
from the ferry to Oban just as it left the Sound of Mull (near small lighthouse)
- June 9th 9.00am. Rob Hammond
23rd Roger Harding (a visitor) came accross a rare
Mull orchid, it being a Small white Orchid, many thaniks indeed
for your report and photograph (below)
lapland marsh orchid
|
small white orchid
|
22nd Short-eared Owl - one Loch na Keal, one Dervaig,
Hen Harrier - two ringtails Glen Forsa, ringtail and male Loch Frisa, male
Glen More, male Dervaig, Golden Eagle - one Glen Forsa, Swift - one Killiechronan
Whinchat - three Loch Frisa, Tree Pipit - one Glen
Aros, one Glen Forsa, Beautiful Demoiselle - two Glen Aros. Ashley Saunders.
Oriole Birding
21st June. Glaucous Gull - first summer
still at Iona Pier on rocks, Wood Warbler - pair in Pennyghael 100 yards
up Carsaig Road, Common Redstart - male same site as above. Common Swift
- one west in Pennyghael
Ashley Saunders. Oriole Birding
20th June Bottle-nosed Dolphins - pod in Iona Sound,
Great and Arctic Skuas 3 each at Lunga
Glaucous Gull - first summer Iona pier on rocks,
Golden Eagle - pair Glen More, Merlin - one Glen More
Short-eared Owl - two Glen More, Hen Harrier -
ringtail Glen More
Butterflies: Marsh Fritillary, Large Heath,
Green Hairstreak, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary
all on wing in Glen More near cottage below Golden Eagle site.
Ashley Saunders. Oriole Birding
Tuesday 19 June._ 1900hrs. approx 1
mile east of Bunessan, Marsh harrier (f) crossed the road in front
of us and flew towards the shore.
Wednesday 20 June._ 0930-1100hrs. Laggan
Bay Hen harrier (f) flew across the beach scattering every gull in the
vicinity. Cuckoo (m) on treetop on hill behind the bay calling for 20mins.
Anne Wilkinson
19th June Short-eared Owls - one Kinloch, two Glen
More by Goldies site, one just past three lochs
Redstart - female going in nest box in woods on
road down to Loch Buie, Tree Pipit - singing male at above site
Golden Eagle - pair Loch Buie, one Glen Seilisdeir,
Lesser Redpolls - in rhodedendron valley on way down to Loch Buie at least
ten, Whinchats - pair Inverlussa, Hen Harrier - male Inverlussa
20th Treshnish, 11 or 12 Swifts flying south over
Treshnish Old Schoolhouse. Prasad.
12th Treshnish, Quail heard in afternoon
and evening at Haunn (per Carolyne Charrington) Last year heard on 18th
June and in 2009 from 31st May until 21st June Prasad.
17th - Iona. A Short-eared Owl by side of the main
road at Pennyghael at 10.00 am; a Great Skua flying North through the Sound
of Iona; eight Corncrakes, including one (probably female) seen in flight
in meadow near Abbey; fledged broods of Goldfinches and Linnet; eclipse
Red-breasted Merganser and Eider drakes at The Bay At The Back Of The Ocean,
where three broods totalling 11 Eider ducklings and brood of four Shelduck
were among the highlights of our walk today. No sign of immature Glaucous
Gull, however. Ruth Fleming
16th a large number of Ravens 42 in total at the
Tobermory tip was an unusual site for me, also a superb male Hen Harrier
near the Fishnish Ferry area too. Martin Izzard
15th - Garmony: Four Dunlin and a late Turnstone
were found along the shore and a female Hen Harrier was seen hunting the
meadow near the car park. Ruth Fleming.
13th Lochdon: pleased to confirm that our Spotted
Flycatcher has returned again for the fourth year and is now feeding
young in a nest platform I put up five years ago. Alan
14th Two screaming Swifts over Riverside court,
Tobermory. Ewan
12th driving to Salen I came across a Common Snipe
in middle of road, it didn't move as I drove past, I turned round and went
back to have a closer look, thinking it was injured, it wasn't, but was
standing next to its young chick which had been 'hedgehog' squashed by
an earlier vehicle. What a shame Alan
11th A pair of swifts flying around An Tobar, Tobermory
Matt Atkin
10th - Iona. Ist S immature Glaucous Gull still
present near ferry jetty; only three calling Corncrakes, but one male showing
near Abbey; single Whimbrel calling overhead was very late; several pairs
of Linnet feeding on grass and Sea Pink seeds; three broods of Eider and
a single Shelduck brood at the Bay at the Back of the Ocean.
10th Inverlussa/Torness. Hunting Short-eared
Owl in late afternoon. Ruth Fleming
10th 3 SE owls at Reudle (8 pm), 1 male hen harrier
at ensay and another at the summit of the torloisk to dervaig road. Black
guillimot in Calgary bay. Matt Atkin
9th Iona a s/p Black Godwit here today and Glaucouse
still around the ferry terminal. Sue Peterken
We just back from 2 weeks on Mull and we
saw the Marsh Harrier at Fidden on 22 May. Rex Earnshaw
(The bird Prasad had on 29th May was different
from David Warden’s on 30th May.....
Prasad’s had less of a creamy head and did not
show a creamy chin like David’s bird. So could be 2 or even 3 about. There
were 2 seen on Tiree in May as well (or same?))
8th Dark Morph Arctic Skua off Caliach point
today Ewan Miles.
8th 7 Manx shearwaters flying past Lismore lighthouse,
Stonechat family, WTSE and 2 RT Divers at Calgary beach, Spotted Flycatcher
in Calgary woods, Dunlin at Langamull beach
SE owl at Reudle, Golden Eagle at Glengorm. And
unfortunately, road kill of both adder and slow worm adjacent to Calgary
beach. Matt Atkin. Visitor
Just returned from a fabulous birding trip. Highlights
include
02/06/12 - Iona: Two, possibly three Corncrakes
seen in the fire station field. Birds seen twice in flight and once running
between the iris beds. Also Glaucous Gull in the harbour area at Iona.
02/06/12 - Glen More: Short Eared owl.
03/06/12: Dervaig: Two White Tailed Sea Eagles.
One with a white tag H5. One of the WT Eagles mobbed by a Common Buzzard
and then an Osprey. Glen More: Merlin. Ben More: Hen Harrier (f).
04/06/12: Ben More: Hen Harrier (f) and Short Eared
Owl. Glen More: Three Golden Eagles.
05/06/12: Glen More; Single Golden Eagle. Ardmore;
Five cuckoos, 3m 2f. Females giving their bubbling call. Another cuckoo
at Loch Frisa.
05/06/12: Dervaig: Cuckoo heard, White Tailed Sea
Eagle seen on the outskirts of Dervaig on the road from Loch Frisa. Hen
Harrier (m) hunting the reed beds at Dervaig. David Phillips
7th Tobermory. 2 Swifts flying around the
council buildings in Tobermory this evening
7th 2 swifts past Salen Hotel, seen from the window
whilst having cheeseburger and chips. Geoff Pain
6th Langamull, Scandinavian Rock Pipit still present,
Prasad.
6th - Langamull. Two late Great Northern Divers
remain off Langamull Ruth Fleming.
7th We just back from 2 glorious weeks on Mull
and we saw the Marsh Harrier at Fidden on 22nd May.
Rex Earnshaw
4th Torosay/Duart. 2 pairs of Red-throated Divers
were calling and displaying in Duart Bay today and, interestingly, a Spotted
Flycatcher was catching insects on the high tide seaweed at Torosay.
3rd - Beinn a Ghraig. A breeding pair of Golden
Plovers at 450 m and a pair of Cuckoos working the hillside and gorge of
the Scarisdale River were the highlights of our walk today.
3rd - Loch na Keal Four broods totalling 15 Greylag
goslings (with eight adults) near Scarisdale Point
1st - Salen A Barn Owl was seen at 23.35 hrs at
Salen Bay Ruth Fleming.
3rd Reudle: Arthur Brown was lucky enough to pick
up two Common Swifts today, the first reported this year.
Latest reports for June 2011
30th Uisken Bay: Male Whinchat
and fledged youngster Uisken Bay, twelve Common Crossbills Pennyghael in
conifers behind hotel. We've had roding Woodcock each of the last two evenings
there, with up to three birds present around 2230. Ashley Saunders30th
1 male Hen Harrier and a Short Eared Owl at Grasspoint this morning. Also
a Grasshopper Warbler reeling near the bridge. 4 Cuckoo - all males off
the Glengorm Estate road this afternoon. Nick Isherwood
29th various: 21 Red-breasted
Mergansers [moulting flock] Loch na Keal. immature Golden Eagle Torloisk.
2 Twite on road between Torloisk and Dervaig. pair Hen Harriers Loch Frisa
at north end. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary here also
Greater Butterfly Orchids
on verge at Aros Bridge. Male Hen Harrier Kinloch and male Whinchat. Ashley
Saunders
29th Grasspoint Road: 2 Hen
Harrier (1m, 1f) and also a family of Whinchat by the car park. Nick Isherwood.
28th Common Swift - 2 between
Inverlussa and Craignure, Whinchat - female Inverlussa. Merlin - male in
Glen More, mobbing the female Golden Eagle. Red-throated Diver - one Loch
Buie
Redpolls - large numbers
in Rhodedendron along road to Loch Buie all appear to be larger paler
'flammea' or Common Redpoll. Twite - two along shore of Loch
Spelve. Ashley Saunders. Oriole Birding
27th Loch Torr: a drake Tufted
duck on Loch Torr near Tobermoray today. Nick Isherwood. from Warrington
25th Salen Old Pier: 6 Sandwich
Tern over the shoreline. also 26th 2 Goldfinch Nick Isherwood
25th 4 Swifts (a scarce passage migrant)
along the side of Loch na Keal some Pete Hall
22nd Loch Harrison (at the
end of Loch Assapol) 6 Tufted ducks ,Great northern diver on the
sea in Loch Buie. Vic Kolodziejczyk
22nd Gruline: a Turtle Dove here today. Richard
Atkinson. Bob and Valerie Gill from Stockport
22nd Lochdon: an Osprey flew over (7:30pm) towards
Duart, probably to fish in Duart Bay. Rosie Salzman
21st Killiechronan: 3 drake Tuifted Duck tonight
opposite campsite Killecronan. Geoff Pain
20th Loch na Keal: 2 drake Tufted Duck Loch Na
Keal opposite Killechronan this evening. Geoff Pain
20th: There have been no further sightings of the
Roller reported since it was first found on 16th. Alan
19th June: 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Grasshopper Warbler
at Mishnish and there was 1 Jay at Penmore, 2 Grasshopper warblers
one at either end of Loch Peallach, Mishnish.. Prasad
18th Mishnish Lochs: a Tufted Duck here. Arthur
Brown Discover Mull Tours
18th Lochdon: Greater Butterfly Orchids, Fragrant,
Common and Heath Spotted all in flower now. Alan
17th: a Quail was heard off an on all morning
at Haunn. (Please do not approach the bird and keep dogs on a short
lead. They are a very rare breeding bird in Argyll, in fact there has never
been positive proof of breeding, but a male calling from 31 May to 21 June
at Haunn in 2009 may have bred.) Prasad
17th Lochdon: an Osprey over Lochdon at high tide
this evening. Alan
17th Fidden: a single Brent Goose with Greylags
at Fidden. visitor
16th Loch Beg: a male Scoter in Loch Beg two days
running. David Woodhouse. Isle of Mull Wildlife Expeditions
Roller
Pix Turtle Dove pix Osprey
pix Orchid
pix
16th:The European Roller located again this pm, not
close enough to photograph but through the scop a spectacular bird. Alan
Spellman, Dave Sexton, Debbie Thorn & family, Arthur Brown, Michael
Shepherd. and others
16th Glen Aros: The bird was found again and photographed
mid morning by Pam Brown, David Yates and Nick Evans
16th Glen Aros; a mega mega
find : a European Roller was seen & photographed here at 05.30hrs
this morning. on power lines by the log piles on the Glen Aros road,
approx 3.5 miles NW of Salen. John Bannon
This is the second record for Mull with the first
‘modern record’ being a shot bird at Achaforse High Wood on 10th Sept 1927
(though there were some old reports from the 1800’s)
16th Tobermory: Female Peregrine at Old Free Church,
Main Street. Single Marsh Fritillary at Baliscate Standing Stones; Crossbill
heard in Aros Park , where pair of Spotted Flycatchers at park entrance
15th Tiroran – Tavool: Male Peregrine at
usual location on Main Street , Tobermory
About 20 Slender Scotch Burnet moths now on the
wing and colony of Argent and Sable moths located (six individual insects
seen); other butterflies included Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Common Blue,
Dark Green Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
14th Duart Castle: a Bee Eater was 'heard' flying
over Duart Castle area, it was not seen. Su and Luke Delve (bto)
14th Calgary Bay – Caliach Point: Red-throated
Diver, Calgary Bay; 2 Great Skuas on land at Caliach Point, where a single
pale morph Arctic Skua past flying North
13th Tireragan Rasping male Corncrake in Iris beds
between Fidden and Knockvologan; male Hen Harrier actively hunting near
Tireragan.
15th Lochdon: Spotted Flycatcher busy feeding young
at 'Maridon', almost ready to fledge.Alan
14th Big hurries of gulls and Gannets on Loch na
Keal, rafts of Guillemot and Razorbill. 7 Common Dolphins off Inch
Kenneth 13th June. Male Hen Harrier flying between Gribun and Eorsa yesterday.
Martin Keivers
14th Single Common Scoter – Entrance to Loch Beg,
Mike Wagemakers Isle of Mull Experience
13th Ardmore: Long Eared Owl seen tonight at Ardmore
just off the forestry track. Ewan Miles
13th Glen Gorm: a male Hen Harrier flew over. Rick
Thornton
12th June. Single Swift hawking
in the late evening, Laggan Lodge, Lochbuie. Alastair Gossage
12th Lochdonhead: an Osprey fishing here at 19.20hrs
Rick Thornton
12th Glen Selisdair: close to the 'last years'
eagle hide, a male Pied Flycatcher, kindly reported by visitor Nora Morris
(correction) John Craig
10th Gruline: Garden Cottage on the Gruline
Estate. a male Blackcap in the gardens. Keith Hawker,
5th a Great northern Diver at Loch Buie and
on Tuesday 7th June we saw a Short eared Owl at the Torloisk end of the
Dervaig-Torloisk road (417460). David and Felicity Pollard
5th: 1 Whooper Swan at Loch Frisa fish-farm building
and a Grasshopper Warbler reeling there.
The Peregrine is still being seen at Tobermory,
today it was on the Church of Scotland church-tower above the main street.
1 Black-headed Gull on Calgary beach. Prasad
1st Calve island: 2 Long tailed Skua
heading up the sound past Calve island. Dark Morph Arctic Skua off Ardmore
point yesterday. Ewan Miles
25 May Fishnish pier: 1 or 2 adult summer Sabine's
Gull. One north at 7pm in Kittiwakes, second around buoy 7.40pm.
1 Pomarine Skua north 8.15 pm. Spoons clearly seen.
Pale phase Arctic Skua 8.16pm. Rob Pimlett
Latest reports for June 2010
29th Loch Pottie: a male Hen Harrier helped to
make my trip to the dentist at Fionnphort a liitle less painful. Alan
Ashley Saunders from Oriole bird tours reports:
Loch Buie - Common Redpolls breeding in rhodedendron along road down
to loch, seen with fledged young 22nd june Common
Redstarts female with three fledged young Loch Ba 26th June
Short-eared Owl - Inverlussa, 27th June
(scarce
this year, very few reports of sightings AS) Common Swift - 4 Grasspoint
26th
Hen Harriers - pair food passing carsaig road 25th
June, female Glen More 26th, male with prey fidden 22nd, male three lochs
viewpoint 23rd Common Crossbills - Carsaig 25th, loch ba 26th, glen
seilisdeir 23rd
22nd whooper swan - loch pottie. Ashley Saunders
(this
birds has been around all year AS)
28th June 1 Swift
seen at Lagganulva during our tour today, also Red-throated Diver at Calgary.Arthur
Brown Discover Mull
26th Haunn: Today at noon about 12 Swifts
over Haunn. Anand Prasad
23rd Lochdon: 2 Spoonbill were
seen by visitor Stephen Smith on the south side of Lochdon, all but too
briefly as they have not stayed around, however a photo was taken.
Stephen Smith, (pp) Phil McDermott, (This is the first record
of Spoonbill on Mull since 1994 when one was at Dervaig AS)23rd
Loch Buie: an Osprey here today. Clifford Moisey
22nd Lochdon area: A 'positive' sighyting of Goshawk
here. visitor
17th Loch Torr: an Osprey here this morning, ,
probabaly the same bird seen at Mishnish on13th. Alan
14th Loch Scridain: 3 Basking Shark, 2 RB
Merg.
15th Uisken: 2 Cuckoo (male & female
together), 1 Peregrine. Loch Scridain 11 Basking Shark, 1 Great Skua,
40 Manx Shearwater. Bryan Rains
16th Pennyghael : 3 female Eider with 11 young,
3 Snipe. Loch Scridain 6 Basking Shark, 1 RT Diver, 1 BT Diver and
2 Whinchat with 2 youngsters along the shore. Bryan Rains
10th Calliach Point: Great Skua confirmed breeding.
(this
is now the second year that birds have bred here on Mull. AS)
13th Mishnish lochs: Osprey over Mishnish Lochs
,2.45pm. Flew off in direction of Loch Frisa. Celia McIntyre & Danny
Lamont
10th Garmony - Fishnish: Grasshopper Warbler singing,
several Lesser Redpolls singing and displaying, two Crossbills, four male
Orange Tip butterflies, single Marsh Fritillary, single Small Copper, an
Elephant Hawk Moth, Buff Tip and Silver Y moth
9th Iona: Four different Corncrakes, three of which
singing and seen, migrant flock of 20 Dunlins at the Bay at the Back of
the Ocean, where two pairs Shelduck, one pair with b/1 and two broods of
Eiders
8th Langamull: Good numbers of Slender Scotch
Burnet Moths at known location, plus two on wing between Langamull and
Croig; late migrant Whimbrel, near Croig. Ruth and Stuart
9th Calliach: a Swift flying over Calliach
today. Pam Brown
7th Loch Frisa track: Tobermory end. A pair
of Whinchat, Stonechat and Grey Wagtail, Tree Pipits, a small flock of
Lesser Redpoll, and at least 4 calling Cuckoo. Pam Brown
6th Loch na Keal; a pair of White Wagtails.
opposite Inch Kenneth, also in the same spot but out towards the fish farm
a very nice summer plumaged black throated diver. Pete Hall
6th 2 Red Throated Divers
in Loch Tuath seen off Tostary 6th Arthur.
5th Tobermory: Singing Chiffchaff, Aros Park; colony
of Northern Marsh Orchids coming in to flower along grass verge between
entrance to park and Tobermory, where (amazingly!) there was a beautiful
Marsh Fritillary butterfly feeding on a buttercup. We had the most wonderful,
prolonged views down to inches! This is the most northerly record for the
island of this rare butterfly in recent times. Ruth and Stuart
5th Lochdon: An Osprey flew over this morning at
10.00hrs Rosie & Rod Salzman and AS
4th June Male Whinchat on fence near the Eagle
watch caravan, 2 Peregrines Gribun cliffs, Male Hen Harrier, Glen More
near the three lochs. Andy, Natalie & Hannah Bayes
3rd June At least 4 Spotted Flycatchers on Ulva,
Pair Shelduck on beach by the airstrip at Glenforsa. 2nd June Redstart
& Wood Warbler Grasspoint Road. Andy, Natalie & Hannah Bayes
3rd lochbuie: 1 otter showing well, 2 golden eagle,
2 White tailed eagle, 2 harbour porpoise, 1 seal, 1 great northern diver
s.p., 1 peregrine & 2 cuckoo. Bought latest mull bird report -excellent
Website very good also. Carl Winkley (praise indeed ! AS)
4th: heard a chiffchaff singing close to
Gruline cross roads yesterday. A pair of cuckoo flew from the car oark
over to Ulva ferry 1 calling the other sounded as if it was being strangled.
Martin
3rd: Bonxie (Bay-at-the-back-of-the-Ocean, Iona)
Matt Atkin
3rd Calgary: a Jay was seen here today by guests
with Arthur Browns Discover Mull tours
2nd Glengorm: A male Pied Flycatcher here today.
Discover Mull guests
2nd : 8 Manx Shearwater off the Oban-Craignure
ferry, Cuckoo calling constantly behind the St Columba hotel on Iona
Turnstone, pair of Shelduck and 3 chicks, and regrettably
a hunting Mink swimming between the islands (Bay-at-the-back-of-the-Ocean,
Iona), Fulmar (Iona Abbey) Matt Atkin
2nd Langamull Forest: Flock of 40-50 Crossbills,
feeding on larch seeds, in trees near car park area. One group, watched
at close range, included ten streaky juveniles. Ruth and Stuart
2nd Scarisdale rocks, Loch na Keal: had good views
of a drumming snipe and perched cuckoo at Scarisdale Rocks Jonathan
and Moira McKelvie
1st; Loch na Keal:Good views of an Arctic Skua
harrying gulls off the back of the boat. Red Throated Divers on the wing
and Peregrines. Martin Kievers
1st Calgary: a Jackdaw was an unusual find here
for Arthur Brown (normally only seen on Ross & Iona area)
1st Caliach Point: Dark phase Arctic Skua and Great
Skua at Cailaich Point this afternoon, also Cormorant, Gannets and Kittiwakes
there. We have nesting Bullfinches at Ardrioch and Tawny Owls in our Kestrel
Box. Arthur.
31st May - Langamull: Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk
Moth nectaring on Lousewort Ruth and Stuart
28th: 6 golden plover in field above Scoor house,
single golden eagle here also, single whooper on Harrison loch plus little
grebe and male tufted duck, 30 rock dove near Glebe cottage close to the
Bunessan road. Tony & Jan Jenkins
Late Reports:
15th May - female Goldeneye on the eastern most
of the Mishnish Lochs.
16th May - Twite, Black Guillemot, and two Red
Throated Divers along with a pair of Shelduck with 5 ducklings at Calliach
point.
17th May - West shore Iona, a flock of 6 Turnstones,
and two mixed wader flocks each with breeding plumage Dunlin and Sandering
and others in various stages of moult numbering in total about 12 Sanderling
and 20 Dunlin.
This was our first visit to Iona for a couple of
years and from our purely subjective view point there appeared to be far
fewer Corncrake than on previous occasions. We heard none on our
walk out to the West Shore - usually a very good area, and only managed
to hear around 5 birds during the course of the day. We did finally
manage to see one bird in the iris bed behind the new fire station.
We also saw a Greenshank in the shallow water off Pennyghael on
the way back. Nick & Stella Laughton
Latest reports
for June 2009
30th JUNE : CALGARY BAY (North shore)
Colony of Grayling butterflies
now on the wing on coastal lava cliffs at North end of Calgary Bay (6 -
7 butterflies seen); also colony of Transparent Burnet moths observed feeding
on Wild Thyme in same area. Birds included ad. Golden Eagle, 3 Kestrels,
Common Gull nest with one chick and another 'chipping' egg, 5 singing m
m Whitethroats and singing Tree Pipit - Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
29th JUNE : LOCHDON (Gorsten
Area)
1 Marsh Fritillary seen nr
High Oatfield; small colony of Large Heath now on wing on coastal moorland
North of Gorsten (4 - 5 butterflies seen); pair of Hen Harriers in same
area; 3 prs Linnet in gorse scrub; ad. WTSE being mobbed by Raven and Common
Gulls along North shore of Lochdon; also 3 Common Porpoise in nearby Firth
of Lorne. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
30th Loch Pottie 1 Whooper
Swan still present. Uisken 1 Swift. Loch Beg 1 Mute Swan, 7 Golden Plover,
2 Greenshank. Crossbills are showing in reasonable numbers in various locations.
Bryan Rains
20th Male Hen Harrier flying
down glen Forsa early evening (this was about 2 miles down the glen)
21st Brief sighting of a
Male Ring Ouzel (this was about 2 to 3 miles down the glen Forsa)
21st Lesser whitethroat at
the car park on B8073 at the north end of Loch Frisa
25th on the shore near Aros
Castle 2 Storm Petrels fly south also a Whooper Swan at this site
Geoff Trigg
28th LANGAMULL; 3 Crossbills
over plantation; Red-throated Diver calling and seen on sea; 50 Greylag
Geese on sea; 14 Sand Martins over colony where 5 out of 22 nest holes
active; family party Linnets in coastal scrub; pr Oystercatchers with b/2
harassed by Mink.
Orchids; 5 species
seen, Greater Butterfly, Fragrant, Northern Marsh, Common Spotted and Heath
Spotted.
Butterflies/Moths:
Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Pearl-bordered sp
, Six-spot Burnet and Slender Scotch Burnet all seen despite overcast conditions.
24th SALEN FORT 1 Swift -->
S at 22.20 hrs; family party of Whinchats.
25th TIRORAN - TAVOOL
18 Crossbills in plantation. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
28th: 2 gannets flying south
& about 6 porpoises, near the lighthouse . Felicity Hansen &
Mary Sparrow
25th 1 Swift near Treshnish
cow-barn and about an hour later 1 (possibly same) at Haunn.
The Quail has not been heard
since the 21st and i have reliable report that it was first heard on 31st
May a week before i first heard it, Anand Prasad
25th Tiroran-Tavool: Butterflies;
30 common blue, 40 small heath, 20 pearl bordered fritillary, 12 meadow
brown, 10 speckled wood, 8 painted lady plus both burnet moths, Ruth Flemming
& Stuart Gibson.
24th, 2 black guillemot by
the pier in Craignure, easily seen from shore. Felicity Hansen
24th Uisken: Common Swift
at Uisken Bay along with a Sedge Warbler and male Hen Harrier. Ashley Saunders
23rd Tobermory: at least
12 Swift over the town. jenny & Chris Buckley
16th Kellan Lodge Mill (Loch
na Keal) a 1st year MALE COMMON ROSEFINCH, a very 'rare bird' indeed and
a first for Mull, previously one was on Iona in 1989. kindly reported
by Ben Dickinson
23rd Loch Buie: a LESSER
WHITETHROAT Loch Buie. The previous record was one on Iona in 1965,
Ashley Saunders Oriole Adventures
21st Glen Bellart:
heard Quail calling from grid reference NM455485, about 200 yards north
of the coniferous forest where the road crosses the cattle grid and disappears
into the wood on the road south of Dervaig towards Salen. It appeared to
be coming from an area between the fence line and the river. Between 17.00
and 17.25 it called about a dozen times in short bursts - the "wet-your-lips"
call being unmistakable. We scanned the area were it appeared to be located
but were unable to see it. also saw a Whooper Swan this morning on Loch
Pottie. Thanks to Peter Hodgson, Jim and Lynda Coyle
20th, Good day out,
60 species, including Bullfinch in Glen Aros and singing Wood Warbler in
trees alongside Salen Bay. Fragrant Orchids, amongst others, and
Chimney Sweep Moths also in Glen Aros. Mike Wagemakers
20th Whooper Swan on Loch
Frisa, Crossbills at the hide fragrant orchids, common spotted orchids,
small pearl bordered fritillaries, painted ladies just in front of the
loch frisa sea eagle hide hide. Debby Thorne
17th Garmony: a whooper
swan at Garmony and on 22nd 2 Turnstone. Dave Pieirce
15th Langamull: 600 Manx
Shearwater, 10 sand martin, 60 painted lady, 44 small heath,24 chimney
sweeps, 2 six spot burnet moth, pearl and small bordered fritillary, Ruth
Flemming and Stuart Gibson
15th Calgary: FEMALE HAWFINCH
seen 1.15 pm Frachadil House garden by Andy and Helen Mortley
14th Caliach Point: 500+
Manx Shearwaters on the water, 10 Goosander at Dervaig. Arthur Brown
13th Over 40 species seen
on the Cailaich road BTO sqare including lots of Meadow Pipits and over
30 Skylarks
12th Staffa: 7 Twite and
2 Wren on Staffa, 8 Manx Shearwater and a Corys Shearwater at very close
range together between Staffa and Lunga. I have seen Corys many times in
the uk and abroad and I am 100% certain of this sighting. Robert Hoare
7th Iona -on sea on west
coast nr. Stac Liath: Slavonian Grebe in summer pl. Bonxie past Port na
Curaich -south coast of Iona
10th Corncrake showed well
on Iona -in recently mowed field next to hotel. Whimbrel -Ardalanish beach,
Mull
12th Uisken beachHen Harrier
-female, Greenshank -Loch Beg. Neil Osborne + reports from Hayley
Tomlinson
10th male Hen Harrier and
Turtle Dove near the river aros just past the first cattle grid from
salen, summer plumaged Great Northern Diver in the sound of mull near the
pier at Craingure. Juv Great Northern Diver and 2 Summer plumaged
Black Throated Diver and Black Guillimot loch Buie also female Whinchat
on fence posts on the approch road. Robert Hoare
10th Calgary bay near beach:
5 female Eider ducks with 17 newly fledged chicks! One red-throated Diver
in bay.
At Langamull 92 Slender Scotch
Burnets and Frog Orchids. Anand Prasad
9th : summer plumaged Great
Norther Diver this evening on the sea near the fish farm from Garmony.
Robert Hoare
8th Treshnish headland: Quail
calling on Treshnish headland walk track . Anand Prasad
8th Craignure: 5 black
guillemots today just off Craignure (from ferry).Felicity Hansen and Peter
Verity
A few highlights from our
week on Mull.
Pair of Shelduck plus one
chick at Croig, with WTSE ominously overhead (6th), Wood Warbler on the
Tobermory Lighthouse walk 5th Loch na Keal: drake Tufted Duck at head of
Loch Na Keal on the low tide pool by the campsite at Killiechronan. Geoff
Pain.
(5th), Pair of Arctic Tern
on Langamull beach, with the male fishing for the female: plus a Swift
overhead at the same location (1st), Whinchat singing at Carsaig, and Treecreeper
in the woods at Carsaig (30th): Spotted Flycatcher in the woods at the
Calgary Hotel (2nd), Pair of Red Throated Diver at Calgary Bay (all week)
and a pair at Loch Tuath (4th): Bullfinch at Dervaig (3rd): Male Wigeon
at Aros (4th).
During the week, Cuckoo's
at Calgary, Ulva, Treshnish Pt, Ardmore (pair), Carsaig, Loch Don, Langamull
(on the telegraph wires on the way to the beach) and Otters at Calgary
Bay, Treshnish Point (x2), Flat Rock Glengorm (x2) and Loch Scridain
In all 89 species in a week
(mainly North Mull + Iona) - a record for me
Overall highlight was perhaps
a hugeBasking Shark in Calgary Bay on 1st - by far the biggest I've ever
seen
Matt Atkin
4th Ferry Crossing Craignure
to Oban: In the Firth of Lorn were 8-10 Pomarine Skua drifting west, excellent
views. Alan
4th Aros. 1 Dipper and at
least 5 Grey Wags on the burn. 1 male Wigeon on the sea in Aros Bay.1 male
Hen Harrier between Aros and Dervaig. Martin Sage
4th Loch na Keal: 2
red throated divers calling. greylags with goslings. On Scarisdale rocks
were 2 WTSE. RF & SG
4th Aros estuary: an
'out of season' Wigeon here today. Martin Sage
3rd between Iona and Mull.
Great Skua robbing 2 gulls between. also found Rooks on Iona
3rd Loch Buie: a pair of
summer plumaged Black throated diver have been giving excellent views here
for the last three weeks. WTSE flew over. several Swifts over Grasspoint
road. Alan
1st Lochdon. I watched stunning
whinchat in the mornings sunshine, and where was my camera, in my car 100
yards away. will I never leaarn ? Alan
1st Gribun: Lots of painted
ladies at Gribun. also peacocks. We have a resident tawny owl at gribun
this year , and the peregrines have moved to be replaced by a pair of kestrel
on the cliffs. Liz and Richard Hallam
1st Gruline Mausoleum. Spotted
Flycatcher. Eurasion Jay at Gruline., (scarce for mull) Martin Sage
Latest reports
for June 2008
29th Craignure: A Nuthatch
was found this morning on the nut feeder in Pete and Jan Halls garden,
This is only the second record of the species on Mull, the first ever being
only last month at Calgary & Dervaig.
28th 7 Hen Harriers seen
today:-male Grasspoint, Glen More, Killiechronan and Loch Beg, adult
female and two juveniles on the wing just east of Pennyghael before junction
of Glen More/Gruline road. 2 Short-eared Owls by this junction also Merlin
Glen More and pair of Golden Eagles there Ashley Saunders
27th Pennyghael: an adult
Long-eared Owl and two calling young in the wood behind the Kinloch at
Pennyghael. Common Crossbill flyover by the Glen Seilisdeir Sea Eagles,
and a Mistle Thrush there, Ringtail Hen Harrier Loch Beg and 3 Otters.
At Fionnphort, an adult Whooper Swan flying over, and two Bottle-nosed
Dolphins in the sound. On return crossings to Staffa, 3 European Storm-Petrels,
200+ Manxies, 100+ Arctic Terns, pale phase ad Arctic Skua, 2 Great Skua.
Ashley Saunders Oriole Adventures
26th Iona - Common Swift
and 2 Sandwich Terns fishing in the sound of Iona. At Fidden male &
female Hen Harrier. Ashley Saunders
24th a singing male
Mealy Redpoll at Loch Buie Also 3 Short-eared Owls in Glen More
25th a Black-tailed
Godwit in the bay at Dervaig, ringtail Hen Harrier by Loch Frisa, Tree
Pipit by Loch Ba and Wood Warbler at Knock Bridge. Ashley Saunders
Oriole Adventures
23rd Balmeanach Camp
site: Report from visitor," heard Nightjar again at Balmeanach , Fishnish
"
An update on the Long eared
Owls - (Pennyghael) they have fledged at least 2 young. We saw 2 young
birds and one of the adults late on Thursday night (19th).
Bryan Rains
20th 4 Whooper Swan at Fidden.
21st 2 Red-throated Diver
on Loch na Keal. Wild About Mull Bryan Rains
19th undiclosed sites. Another
good year for Barn Owls on Mull as young were ringed today
8 June: 1 Great Skua flew
south down the sound of Iona
9 June: 2 summer-plumaged
great northern divers close inshore at Ardalanish Bay (+2 black-throated
divers)
11 June: 1 Pale-phase Arctic
Skua from ferry to Iona
12 June: 3 Great skuas NE
over western Iona
13 June: 2 probable
Pomarine Skuas from the Mull-Oban ferry Geof Barlow
We found the road between
Torloisk and Dervaig excellent for hen harrier, s/eared owl, and had good
views of golden eagle, wtse and raven there as well.
10th June - a single and
very out of place Redwing was seen on the road from Dervaig to Loch Torr.
Meg & Stephen Davies
7th Calliach Point:
a Sooty Shearwater just off Cailleach Point on the afternoon of Saturday
7 June.
also two Great Skuas on the
headland itself - from their behaviour it appeared that they might have
been nesting there. (the first recorded nesting birds on Mull) George and
Anne Burns
11th Calgary Bay: a Hobby
was seen here this morning, it flew in from the north & circled the
bay before flying north again John Mason (visitor from Yorkshire)
10th Dervaig: Saw my first
Jay on Mull at the Glen Aros/Glen Belart watershed yesterday. Arthur
Brown
8th Pennyghael: We have Long-eared
Owls breeding in the wood beside the Kinloch -youngsters
calling every night for the
last 2 weeks. Also the Short-eared Owls at Loch Beg have at least 1 youngster.
7th there was 3 Whooper Swan (2 adults, 1 juv) at Fidden. Bryan
Rains
7th Loch Scridain 2
Red-throated Diver. Loch Beg 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Red-breasted Merganser.
Uisken 1 Short-eared Owl. Wild About Mull Bryan Rains
7th Loch na Keal: The Bearded
Seal is still there on the north shore and showing well, also there today
was a drake Teal, Excellent views of Sea Eagles by the camp site at Killiechronan.
Alan Spellman
6th Uisken 1 Short-eared
Owl, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Twite, 3 Cuckoo (female bird seen
laying egg in Meadow Pipit nest!). Beach 6 Lesser Redpoll. Bryan Rains
5th Langamull walk: 6 cuckoo's
sitting on telephone wires, both male and female. Langamull, in the
first clearing about 20 yards from the cart park, a family of Crossbill,
male, female and young, the female was feeding the young. Langamull beach,
2 Ringed Plovers. Pam Brown
3rd I have just received
a report of a probable Common Crane on Ulva on 29th May. Carl Winkley.
Any further information would be appreciated, to Alan please.
2nd Langamull - 6 cuckoos
perched on the overhead powerlines near the farm house, including a brown
phase female. This was the first time for many years that I have
heard the female call - sounds a bit like someone with catarrh clearing
their throat - a bit bubbly. Each bird was dropping down into the
bracken underneath the power lines and then resuming its perch while it
consumed a caterpillar. Shaun Mccullagh
1st Calgary Bay: a drake
Common Scoter here today. Arthur Brown. 'Discover Mull Tours'
Late May reports
24th Ulva Ferry: 5 Swift,
Lochdon 2 Whimbrel, 27th Lochaline ferry: a single Sandwich Tern, 28th
Iona 3 summer plumaged Sanderling, Corncrake at Fidden. Tony & Jan
Jenkins
Isle of Ulva "27th May
a Hoopoe in the rocks above Cragaig at about 13.45. It was perched on the
rocks above the path (there is only one path at Cragaig) but flew away
when I got nearer, the crest and wing markings were unmistakeable."
Mike Collins
There was also a Hoopoe at
Loch Buie (Laggan Sands area, near the Chapel) on 26th
31st May Loch Spelve: The
first returning Nightjar was seen at Loch Spelve today. Guido D'Isidoro.
Visitor from Manchester
25th May:Turtle Dove,
seen in flight twice and briefly at rest at Glas Eilean, South East Iona
Brian Stone
Latest Reports
for June 2007
24th Pennyghael: Hobby seen
at Pennyghael l chasing house martins. Maybe the same bird seen earlier
(14th) on Iona?
18th Ardalanish beach: a
party of 4 Little Stint at 0615am (you have got to get up to see thie birds)
19th Pennyghael: a single
Purple Sandpiper and 2 Whinbrel aropund Ardachy House. Robert Wagner
22nd Tobermory: a Turtle
Dove at the camp site, Glendarroch, Dervaig Road, Tobermory Sandra Davies.
21st Fionnphort: Heard a
Corncrake between 1 & 3 am, from bruach mhor B&B outside fionnphort.
On Ulva a Short-eared Owl, & twite Tony
Kennelly
21st Inverlussa: 2 female
Goosander fishing in the estuary Alan
21st Knock: a 'probable'
Goshawk was seen flying into Knock woods. Common Crossbills in the woods
at Knock.Irene Boston
13th Dervaig: 2 Common Swift
were flying in the village Irene Boston
15th Loch na Keal: Also 2
Swifts, Dave Sexton
14th Iona: An RSPB group
had a confirmed Hobby on Iona. Dave Sexton
11th Grasspoint road: a very
rare Red backed Shrike was spotted along the road just below the cottages,
this is the first record since 1998 when one was seen at Pennyghael.
Alison Borlase
11th Lochdon: Sea Eagles
tagged, white with black letters M and P, others to follow. Dave
Sexton
29th April-3rd May Balmeanach:
"I had the Nightjar on Mull calling over Balmeanach campsite (NM658415)
on 29th April - 3rd May (inc.) hawking over the site usually from 10pm
onwards. I guess this may be a female as I never heard any churring, interestingly
could be a returning bird as one was mentioned here in the Mull bird report
at this site on 25th & 26th May 2006." Keith Langdon
8th Eas Fors: Short eared
Owl above Eas Fors falls. Likely breeding site given its demeanor. D Sexton
11th Loch Scridain: While
watching a White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by Hooded Crow and Buzzard..
Two Swifts joined in the
fun Bryan Rains
10th Grasspoint: a pair of
Short-eared Owls along the Grasspoint road in the last couple of days,
Andy Oldacrer
10th Torosay: There was a
short-eared owl down by the railway at Torosay . (one of the very few reported
this year) Alan Schofield
8th Loch na Keal: at least
two Tree Sparrows in low scrubby bushes, feeding with chaffinches. By the
newly built house at Gribun. @ 5.15 to 6.30 pm. seen by Meg & Stephen
Davis
2nd Fidden: Corncrake callin
near the camping site. Tony & Jan Jenkins
4th Uisken Beach: 1 Pectoral
Sandpiper and 2 Curlew Sandpiper, in summer plumage, on the beach at Uisken
also 1 summer plumage Black-throated Diver on Loch Scridain. There are
12 Common
Terns on Scridain that look
like they'll settle down to breed
Bryan Rains
Holiday list 26th May - 2nd
June 2007. 2 x Juvenile Black Throated Divers - Calgary Bay, 1 x Canada
Goose with Grey Lags - Loch na Keil,3 x Sanderling with Dunlins - Iona
Golf Course Steve Follows
26th May Garmony: a Jay
on 26th May Canada Goose and goslings at Killichronan on 27th - Wood Warblers
at Glengorm (28th) and Ulva (29th) - 2 Bonxies and a Whinchat at Callaich
Pt (31st) - Pair of Bullfinch at Knock on June 2nd - Dipper at Calgary
on May 31st - Tree Pipit at Ardura on 30th Matt Atkin
3rd Loch na Keal: 2 juvenile
Black Throated Divers, dark phase Arctic Skua and Great Skua at Cailiach
Point also Reed Bunting and Whinchat here with Gannets, Manx Shearwaters,
Guillemots, Razorbills and Fulmar. Arthur & Pam Brown in
continuous rain
1st Glen Bellart: an Osprey
flying north west towards Frisa. 10.15 hrs. Andy Bayes & family
1st Killiechronan: Good news,
Canada goose seen with goslings. Bad new Ganada Geese. Arthur Brown
29th May Iona: Tree
Sparrow seems to have taken uop residence with House Sparrow on Iona near
Abbey.a Grasshopper Warbler and Whinchat just E of Pennyghael on the 28th,
2 singing Wood Warblers in Aros Park (31st) and a Pomarine Skua from the
ferry in the Sound of Mull on June 1st.
many thanks to visitors,
Jim Nicholson & Ali Nimmo
21st May Croig: a
report of a Lesser Yellowlegs has been received, if accepted then this
will be a first record for Mull. Peter Thompson
Thanks to: Peter Thompson,
Andy Bayes, Arthur Brown, Jim Nicholson & Ali Nimmo, Arthur & Pam
Brown, Matt Atkin, Steve Follows, Alastair Gossage, Alan Schofield, Meg
& Stephen Davis, Bryan Rains, Tony & Jan Jenkins , Alison
Borlase, Keith Langdon, Alan Schofield, Andy Oldacrer, .Irene Boston,
Tony Kennelly, Sandra Davies.
Latest reports
for June 2006
30th Lochdon. An Osprey spent
an hour fishing the loch and finally caught a fish only to be harrased
by a Sea Eagle which caught the fish in mid air when it was dropped by
the Osprey. D Woodhouse et al
28th Lochdon. 35 Whimbrel
at high tide 8.00pm on the spit of land along Gorten road. Alan Spellman.
Treshnish point a Great Skua: 1 flying from the southwest around Anand
Prasad
27th Killiechronan. Shaun
Mccullagh reports seeing a Goshawk whilst completing his BBS survey.
24th-25th Quinnish.
a Nightjar was heard "churring" near the house about 9.30pm.
and is certain that it was a Nightjar. Shaun Mccullagh (pp) Nick Reed
(this is the third bird heard
and/or or seen this year. Alan)
26th Loch Scridain. 2 Black
Scoter (Common) Richard Atkinson.
26th Grasspoint. 2 Swifts
flew over, Grasshopper Warbler, Craig Round, Speyside Wildlife, also Reed
Bunting, Whinchat , Blackcap and Whitethroat all along the Grasspoint road.
Lochdon a Green Woodpecker
was reported at a bird table Speyside Wildlife (pp) Jim Smith.
Early in June:
3 Sandwich Terns in Loch
Buie on 10th and an Osprey at Loch Buie on 13th.Mark & Helen Porter
25th Treshnish point:
one Swift flew passed Treshnish Point towards the north-east. Anand Prasad
Lochdon: a Velvet Scoter
and an Osprey during the week. Speyside Wildlife Tour
22nd Dervaig: Black-tailed
Godwit: at Dervaig. Anand Prasad
Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus
europaeus) : 22nd -23rd May. " I clearly heard his song 2 evenings
near the farm of Scoor (near the forest of conifers, where there is a broad
deforested band). Certainly, the same invidual. It was a surprise for me,
like you." Dr Jérôme Fournier..(fr)
We also have the now confirmed
record of Eurasion Nightjar at Balmeanach on 25th -26th May (also a male)
Dr Geoff Campbell..(Ireland). These sightings are encouraging.
20th Iona. Corn Crake. 20
calling males on Iona and circa 6 now establishing on Mull. Dave Sexton.
19th Cailiach Point Arctic
Skua flew across Calliach Point in strong north westerly winds giving
great views, also close Gannets and Auks including puffins. Yesterday possible
Jack Snipe at Gruline. Arthur Brown
20th - 27th May report. Whooper
still at Loch Assapol, Common Pochard on Loch Spelve, 3 Curlew Sandpiper
& White Wagtail at Scoor, Sandwich Tern at Uisken and a Nightjar also
at Scoor. Dr Jérôme Fournier..(fr) more information has been
received.
13th Ardachoil. a report
of a Garden Warbler in the garden. Pam Brown (we get very few reports
of this species)
11th Ulva Ferry. King Eider
drakereported at Ulva ferry. Flew into Loch na Keal.
Fiona Harmer
11th Tiroran: 2 chiffchaff
calling in Tiroran House garden. Shaun Mccullagh
10th 2 Swifts today
at Reudle this morning. a Red Kite was at Loch na Keal and a female
Ring Ouzel at Tiroran. Arthur Brown.
1st June. have just received
a report of a male summer plumaged Long tailed duck on Loch Ba at the Knock
end. Jenny & Chris BuckleyHelen & Colin Wilkinson have sent the
following report:
28th MayTurnstone: four on
Iona, Bay at the Back of the Ocean, 21st: Whimbrel: 4 on Mishnish
coast north of Glengorm Castle.
Snipe: probably 8-10
territories between Fidden and Kintra, Ross of Mull – many birds drumming.
28th:Great skua: two
offshore from Mingarry Point, Glengorm estate, one Sound of Iona,
20th: Arctic skua: 2 (dark-phase)
from Oban-Craignure ferry, 21st: 4 with great skuas and other seabirds
in major feeding frenzy off Mingarry Point, 1 light-phase flew east over
Glengorm Castle, 26th: 1 flew east, well inland just north of Mishnish
Lochs, 29th: 1 chasing Arctic tern in Sound of Iona, 2nd June:1 dark-phase
in Sound of Mull from ferry.
23rd May: Dipper: 1 on Mishnish
Lochs, Unusual - first I've ever seen 'dipping' in still water
20th+: Mistle thrush:
breeding pair collecting food at Sorne Cottage, Glengorm estate,
25th: Wood warbler:
singing males heard nr. Dervaig, Salen Bay, Flat Rock, Glengorm estate,
Chiffchaff: 1 heard
singing in oak woods nr. Loch Spelve, 24 May
Spotted flycatcher: 1 on
woodland edge near Flat Rock, Glengorm estate, Mull,
Chough: one flying over Oban
harbour, 20 May - disappeared over wooded hill/gardens on south side of
the ferry vehicle boarding area.
23rd -28thMay Twite:
four at Calgary Bay, 2 at Kintra bay, male near Iona marble quarry,
Reed bunting: several
males seen/heard, inc. two at Mishnish Lochs, 1 at Dervaig, 1 by road near
Bunessan, 1 at Loch Spelve, Helen & Colin Wilkinson.
6th-7th Port Haun.
one Great Skua in the evening chasing Herring Gull and 2 Gannets
then
resting on the water and
100 (hundred) Manx Shearwaters passing north passed Haunn in late evening
also 1 basking shark off Burg and another off Port Haunn Today Wednesday
1 basking shark off Port Haunn. Anand Prasad. 7th Loch na Keal
heard a Corncrake calling in iris beds near the old school house (with
the red roof) Pete Hall et al.
4th Fionnphort.
there were 3 Basking Shark in the sound of Iona just off the harbour. A
fantastic sight. Ardalanish beach had 15 sum plumage Sanderling (3rd).
There were at least 50 Manx Shearwater on the North side of Loch Scridain
on Friday morning heading back out to sea. Bryan Rains & Joy Hardy
4th This years WTSE tags
are 'custard' yellow and young birds will be tagged over the next few weeks.
A full list of Mull tags will be on the Sea Eagle page.
4th Loch Cuin/Dervaig. This
evening 9 (nine) male Goosander on the south shore roosting at low tide,
Quinish Woods a Wood Warbler in singing lustily and well seen .Langamull
- 3 Dunlin in breeding plumage and 1 pair Ringed Plover Shaun Mccullagh.
Treshnish Point. 3 Great Skuas over the cliffs . On Saturday (3rd) evening
one Basking Shark was in Calgary Bay, Anand Prasad
2nd, ' Kilbeg Cottage' Glen
Forsa. a singing Grasshopper Warbler at 04.15hrs in the garden, plus Woodcock
above the large pines at Kilbeg. Andy Bayes Treshnish point 2 Great Skua
.Calgary Beach 2 Red throated Divers and a Merlin. Tobermory.
Peregrine over Tobermory mini-roundabout/ temp traffic lights 3/6
Matt Atkin
1st Garmony. a male Hen Harrier
hunting along the coast by the picnic area. 4pm Alan Spellman
Croig. Wood Warbler Just
off main road going down to Croig, also along Aros/ Salen road opposite
the rocks where the seals are, and 2nd on road at Ardura in woods where
our nest boxes are. Andy Bayes Treshnish Point an adult WTSE attacking
the seabird colony. Matt Atkin
1st Islands. Heard a corncrake
calling from Taurus Mara on the small islands near Lunga Alastair
Gossage
29th-2nd Laggan/Loch Buie.
male Merlin on two separate days last week Alastair Gossage
31st May Croig Harbour. Magpie
seen at Croig harbour.Roger Wilson 30th May - Dipper at Eas Fors.
30th May an Osprey carrying
a fish was seen flying west around the loch Torr area. Dr Barry Prater
28th May Loch Buie on walk
to castle. Chiffchaff. Andy Bayes
25th-26th May. I have just
received a report of a Nightjar heard and seen at Balmeanach camp site
at around 11.30pm on two consecutive nights. Geoff Campbell.
Latest reports
for June 2005.
Loch Scridain gave us our
first Whitethroat on 5th in scrub by loch side.
Loch na Keal. (2nd) there
was a Slavonian Grebe in full summer plumage from boathouse, plus
7 Great Northern Divers, 23 Dunlin, (most in summer plumage) and
2 pairs of nesting Ringed Plovers. Also 17 Whimbrel in field by Kentellan
farm on 8th.
On 4th a pair Black throated
Diver and 2 Red throated Diver, 1 Common Scoter. Short Eared Owls have
been scarce this year and so at Dervaig, a pair displaying were a delight
to watch. Alan Spellman.
An Osprey flew over Torosay
- Lochdon on 6th but did not stay around, and another on 31st at Loch Frisa,
spent most of the day fishing in the loch unsuccessfully.
A pair of swifts were performing
a high speed acrobatic display at Ledaig, Tobermory and were the first
Swifts of the year on 10th. Lochdon had 4 Swifts feeding over the loch
on 24th briefly whilst on passage.
There were 3 Dotterel on
the stony summit slopes of Dun da Ghaoithe on 24th, I am sure there
must be many other migrating birds that are not recorded. On Iona (28th)
there was a flock of 12 Sanderling on the west side of the island. Ardalanish
beach is another good place to see Sanderling.
Corncrake are now establishing
on the Ross of Mull at 3 sites so far this year and Staffa have 3
calling males on the island again this year. At Fionnphort on 14th there
was a brief sighting of a Spotted Crake at Torr Mor by Mike
Wagemakers
On 16th by the Mishnish
Lochs area, a Knot in full breeding plumage, a scarce bird for Mull this
one, reported by Peter Gionannini
Caliach Point is excellent
for sea watching a male Black Scoter (Common Scoter), 2 Arctic Skuas 1
Great skua, diving Gannets, Guillemots, Fulmars and Kittiwakes plus Manx
Shearwaters were all reported off Caliach point. The first Arctic and Common
Terns were in the Sound of Mull on 5th & 6th at their usual site.
All three Divers have been
recorded on sea lochs this month, Red throated Diver and Black throated
Diver in summer plumage with Great Northern Divers in mid change (eclipse)
plumage
At Croig nr Dervaig
on 27th there was a single Magpie on the road to the harbour.
White winged Gulls have stayed
around this month with 1 Iceland Gull with other gulls just outside
Fionnphort. village, and also birds remained at Tobermory and Oban.
A Sea Eagle chick (Lochdon
) was wing tagged this month.
June 2005 At Lochdon
(3rd) there is a report of a male Ring Ouzel at Gorten turnoff. and Mike
Wagemakers reported “a brief glimpse of a calling Ring Ouzel, flying east
from Fionnphort” (28th). A Grey Pharalope was seen at Garmony picnic area
on 11th. And a Spotted Crake was heard calling in Dervaig reed beds on
16th. On 24th a late returning Waxwing was sighted at the Croggan/Lochbuie.
Information on WTSE is that
we have 8 chicks this year, the most successful year so far. Frisa Sea
Eagle chicks were wing tagged red with white letters I & S for
"Itchy and Scratchy", names by the school children. A Barn Owl hunting
along Gorten Road, Lochdon at mid day on 21st was encouraging as it would
have been feeding young. Another Osprey flew north over Loch Beg on 27th
and there were more. good sightings of both Short eared Owl & Hen Harrier
near the Crannog loch through Glen More.
Two juvenile Green Woodpecker
on 14th at Lochdon briefly visited John & Angela Prestons
garden and Great Spotted Woodpecker were bringing young to feeders. Len
White had a flock of 30 Long-tailed Tits feeding on tree in front
garden.
The lone Whooper Swan was
still on Loch Pottie on 28th, and on 24th at Knock there was a single Widgeon
at end of Loch Na Keal. Neither of these birds should be here at this time
of year.
On Lunga Corncrake were heard
on the Treshnish Isles. The Iona Corncrake survey counted between mid night
& 0300hrs had 23 calling males. (Dave Sexton RSPB)
Seen from the Craignure -
Oban Ferry (27th) were 300 Manx Shearwater off Lismore Lighthouse.
There were 2 Tufted Duck
at Aros Bay on 23rd near the Castle end, this is unusual as Loch
Pottie & Loch Assapol are the regular sites for these birds. At Lochdon
on 14th 9 Canada Geese (park geese) spent the day on the loch.
Divers have shown well with
2 summer plumaged Black throated Divers on Loch na Keal on 29th by
Inch Kenneth and a summer plumaged Great northern Diver (30th) Red throats
have been seen on all sea lochs and Loch Ba
Summary of
reports for June 2004
On 2nd Loch Tuath held
a pair of summer plumaged Black throated Divers and a single Great northern
Diver whilst Loch na Keal on the same day a pair of Red throated Divers.
Also on Loch Assapol and along the Ross of Mull were Red throated Diver
on 12th. Loch Buie is a good place for seeing divers and during the
month held all three species. .Breeding Greylag geese numbers have increased
over the years and several pairs with young were reported including, by
the golf course, 3 pairs with 14 goslings between them. The pair of Canada
geese at Bàn Eilean (Sound of Mull) attempted
to breed but no goslings have been seen, perhaps suffering from mink predation.
On Loch Assapol, a pair of Whooper Swans have remained, but there
is no confirmed breeding attempt at present.
The leucistic Willow Warbler
along the road to Grasspoint has been successful in raising young and one
appears to be a paler (leucistic) bird. A leucistic Siskin was regularly
seen in a Salen garden and in a Tobermory gardena young Leucistic
Blackbird was a regular visitor.
On 8th at Loch Spelve there
were four Swifts flying high, a scarce bird for Mull with only passage
birds being seen usually in late May, early June. Another very scarce bird
was a Magpie just south of Salen on 8th.
In the North of Mull at Calliac
point on 17th, a sea watch produced 100’s of Manx Sheerwater rafting between
Ardnamuchan point and Mull plus Gannets and several Storm Petrel with another
single bird at Fishnish having been blown in by gale force winds on 19th.
At Calgary beach Shaun MacCullag found a summer plumaged Sanderling with
Ringed Plover.
On 6th at Grasspoint an Osprey
was being mobbed by a pair of Sea Eagles, and on 15th in Glen More (east
end of glen) another Osprey. On 26th one was seen at Loch Frisa and again
0n 28th at Loch Uisg a bird was fishing before moving through Glen More.
It’s only a matter of time before we will have a breeding pair on the island.
On 15th a Peregrine Falcon was observed flying along the Grasspoint road
and other birds were reported from different sites. Hen Harriers have been
showing well at regular sites, with two visitors excitedly reporting seeing
their first food pass.
All Sea Eagle chicks are
now wing tagged, (both right & left wings) Bottle green with
White lettering with the following letters; A, H, O, X, Y, Z.
Barn Owls are not often reported,
but we do have a good population on Mull, on 12th a bird was hunting around
the Mull rail station at Craignure at 11.30pm and another on 15th was at
Lochdon. Short eared Owls, now busy feeding young, have been reported through
Glen More, Loch Frisa, Lochdon, Glen Bellart and several other areas.
 
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