female Merlin  (Falco columbarius) photopgraphed by Sveinn Jónsson.

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, Bee-eater at Loch na Keal, and from north America, a drake Surf Scoter in Craignure Bay. Pie billed Grebe at the Mishnish Lochs. 
On 6th 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 in  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 Eiderin Tobermory harbour. We had a Crested Tit feeding in a Tobermory garden. Birds can turn up at any time and in any place. 

More recently 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 and Pectoral Sandpiper at Uisken beach. 

In May 2009 an Ortolan Bunting was briely at Craignure, also in May a Scarlet Rosefinch visited Kellan Mill by Loch na Keal, and Lesser Whitethroat at Loch Buie plus a Hawfich was at Calgary, and another Rose coloured Starling was seen between Tobermory and Dervaig.

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 main land.
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
 
 

 

The 2008 Isle of Mull Bird Report is
available for sale  at £5.95  in
Tackle and Books Tobermory
Ferry Shop Fionnphort
Spar Shop Craignure
Post Office Pennyghael (next to Kinloch hotel)
Duart Castle shop
Post Office Salen

I will be pleased to send a copy by post as requested
cost including post is £6.50
cheques should be made payable to Alan Spellman

You can pay by Paypal here (£6.95) 

mullbirds  self catering

Code of conduct for bird watchers.    Points to remember:- Birds are protected and it is an offence to disturb nesting birds, never point out the nest of a bird of prey. If you hear distressed birds calling, retreat to a safer distance as you are probably too close to a nest site or to young birds. Use your binoculars or scope to get close to wildlife and birds.

         visitors  136115. 1st Jan 2008  (35394)
         visitors  171509. 1st Jan 2009  (45334) 
         visitors  213843  1st Jan 2010