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| 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 more Orchids here 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 May 2009Report from last week. Last weekend I took a photograph of a bird (Rose coloured Starling) taken on Friday 29th May, above Tobermory, on the Dervaig road, at approximately NM499551. Steve Brown Reports from last week: Uisken: Arctic Skua, dark phase adult flew south, Great Skua, 2 from NW beach Iona , 2 more on crossing between Lunga and Staffa. Whooper Swan & Tufted Duck on Loch Pottie , Golden Plover – summer plumage adult Pennyghael, 3 Whimbrel, 3 flew over Grasspoint, Merlin – Female/immature seen from road near Lochdon, W of Grasspoint, SE Owl also here, Uisken. Hen Harrier – males seen most days also W of Bunessan, Grasspoint, and Glen Bellart (between Salen and Dervaig), Barn Owl – East of Pennyghael, Peregrine at Calgary Beach , Corncrake, 5 males calling Iona. . Whinchat – stunning male Grasspoint and Twite – 2 Ardalanish Beach pm Sun 24th, 2-4 North end of Iona. David & Janet Franklin But the best sighting (in that it was alone of all we saw was a lifer for us) was several Narrow-leaved Helloborines in wood containing sculpture trail near Calgary Beach . Also 40 Early Purple Orchids near Ardalanish Beach. Reports from last week: 25th May – Otter north of Salen, reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the garden of our self-catering cottage seaview in Salen (also calling on 26th but not after) 26th May – Adult Long-tailed Skua close to Lunga , also Arctic Skua near Ulva 27th May – Great northern Diver (Loch Scridain), Slavonian grebe and Red-throated Diver (Loch Buie) 28th May – Male Hen Harrier east of Bunnesan, 5 or 6 corncrake calling around Baile Mor on Iona 29th May – Black-throated Diver, Bonxie, and 8 possible Pomarine Skuas very distantly (west end of Coll from the whale watching trip) Ben Lascelles Reports from last week: Sunday 24 May: Great Northern Diver, summer plumage at grasspoint. Also at Grasspoint was an Arctic Skua harassing an Arctic Tern. 2 Otters in Salen bay. Monday 25 May: Cuckoo, spotted flycatcher by Aros Castle Wednesday 26 May: 2 Great Skuas at Lunga. Thursday 27 May: 3 great northern divers, winter plumage on Loch Buie. Friday 28 May: Aros Mains: 2 Tawny Owl calling in the woods. Saturday 29 May: Grasspoint : Flock of 18 Dunlin, golden eagle. Reports from another holiday maker of 3 mink in the old pier (2 adults and 1 juv noticed significantly less calling cuckoos than last year. Carl Winkley Roding Woodcock over Laggan Lodge, Lochbuie, 10.50pm Friday 29th May. Shelduck drake, Little Laggan beach, Lochbuie.. Pair red breasted mergansers, Lochbuie end, Loch Splevie Common gull nesting colony completely crashed this year - Little Laggan beach, Lochbuie – not even one nesting bird. It used to team with nesting gulls. Alastair Gossage Latest reports for May 2009 31st An invasion of Painted Ladies. We had at leasdt 26 in 1km stretch Anand Prasad. one in Stuart Gibsons garden at Salen. Keep a look out there will be many more over the next week or two. Alan 30th Calgary Bay: a pair of long tailed duck at Cagary Bay, female Goosander at Mishnish lochs, Swift flew over Loch na Keal & s/p Golden Plover at Calliach Point. Arthur Brown Discover mull Tours 30th Lochdon: an Osprey stopped here this pm ,caught a fish and found a tree in which to eat it. Alan 28th Loch Buie: 3 Black Throated Diver (2 summer plumage, 1 winter plumage), 1 Red Throated Diver Loch Uisg: Golden Eagle, Common sandpiper. Jonathan Scragg 28th Iona: Great Skua flying North through the Sound, Male Peregrine circling Dun I (29th) Highlight was the s/p Slav Grebe (already reported to you) in the bay-at-the-back-of-the-ocean - sitting tight, out of the wind about 10 yards from the shore. Matt Atkin 27th Carsaig Bay: two summer plumage Black-throated Diver – Carsaig Bay – Carol Marshall 27th Iona: 5 rasping Corncrakes mid-day between ferry and 'Bay at the Back of the Ocean'; adult. s/p Slavonian Grebe giving prolonged views at Bay at the Back of the Ocean; migrant flock of ca. 20 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover and 6 + Sanderling on tide-line at Bay of the Back of the Ocean; 2 ad. ff Shelduck with creche of 8 recently hatched ducklings at Bay at the Back of the Ocean; 22 Eider (inc. 9 prs) at Bay at the Back of the Ocean; pair of Twite giving excellent views as they bathed in puddle along track to St Columba's Bay; pair of Ringed Plover, St Columba's Bay.3 Great Northern Divers (inc 2 in imm/non-breeding plumage), Loch Scridain. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 26th Loch na Keal: two summer plumaged Great northern Diver here today. We have a pair of Black Guillemot nesting in the old pier at Craignure. Peregrine on the north side of loch na keal Kevin Boothroyd 25th Loch Buie: all three divers here, including 2 summer Black throated divers. Jim and Linda Hurles 24th Quinish (by Dervaig): 3 singing Wood Warblers, White narrow leaved Helleborine near the path; Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Whitethroat, Wheatear, Stonechat; 2 singing male Reed Buntings; single Whimbrel and Red-throated Diver, along with Otter, near Quinish Point. Ruth Fleming/Stuart Gibson 23rd Haunn cottages, Treshnish: Saw my first Spotted Flycatcher here today. Anand Prasad 23rd Loch Ba: nesting Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Lapwing & Oystercatcher, RB Mwerganser. Grey Wagtail, calling Golden Plover. Ruth Flemming & Stuart Gibson. 20th had our suspicions about the swan on Loch Pottie, was certain we had a Mute Swan a few weeks ago, today I found Whooper Swan under the protection of a Canada Goose. Mike Wagemakers 20th Ardalanish beach: 6 Whimbrel and 3 Sanderling and Early Purple Orchids, (33 plants). Alan 19th Ardnalish, Ross of Mull: Great Skua and Red Grouse, Golden Eagle, Great Northern Diver and 2 Common Terns nearby at Traigh Gheal. Anand Prasad 19th Garmony picnic area: a group of 6 summer plumaged Ruddy Turnstone here. Dai Roberts & Andy 19th Laggan Bay: the White billed diver has been seen again in the bay. Alan Coles et al mullbirds self catering. 19th Track to Killean/Gualachaolish (Lochdon) Male Whinchat in song; Tree Pipit and Willow Warbler (2) singing at Killean Burial Ground; 2 Short-eared Owls hunting in late afternoon; Meadow Pipit nest c/5 found, Killean - Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 13th May along the Salen to Dervaig road (Glen Bellart) a Red Kite photographed. Zara Tivey. 18th Treshnish point: at dusk saw a Swift moving northwards over Treshnish House . Anand Prasad 18th Swift in Fionnphort area for it's second day yesterday also Merlin, fem Hen Harrier and 30 Dunlin. Uisken has 2 Common Tern, 2 RT Diver, Whinchat, Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler. Wild About Mull. 17th Iona Corncrake seen also Gannets in the sound with Arctic Terns, Summer plumaged Great northern Diver on Loch Scridain by Pennyghael. Felicity Hanson/Alan/Judith Spellman 17th Iona Corncrakes seen and heard and one Lesser Redpoll nr Tigh Shee.Later on Mull at Loch na Keal 6 Golden plover, and a Yellow wagtail (blue headed race) information to follow. Christine Rose and Bob Bailey 17th May - Salen fort/Glenaros farm Immature. WTSE over Salen; singing Redstart, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit, Glenaros track; Ad. s/p Red-throated Diver, Salen bay. Also, male Green Hairstreak butterfly and two Meadow Pipit nests, each with c/4, Salen fort - Ruth Fleming & Stuart Gibson 16th Duart Castle: a Corncrake was calling at Duart Castle near the car park.Also of note were 2 calling, summer plumage Black throated Divers on Lochbuie on Friday 15th, and on a walk from Pennyghael to Carsaig on Thursday was a Male Hen Harrier and at the beginning and later end of our walk were 2 Golden Eagles above the summit of the road. 3 Red throated Divers in Calgary Bay. 11th-12th. Vivienne Fish. 16th Treshnish headlands: Snow Bunting (male) and a Swift passing through. Ruthe Flemming & Stuart Gibson. 15th Sound of Mull: Terns over small island north of Craignure (18 counted airborne, as well as numerous small parties commuting south to fish in the confluence of the sound and Loch Linnhe. Both Common and Arctic seen fishing and resting on Lady's Rock? 2 Arctic Skuas seen off Duart point heading north up the Sound together, 1 pale phase and 1 dark phase. Richard Howells 14th Hawn Treshnish car park: a eurasion jay here John Mason 14th Fionnphort: 3 Dunlin (with black bellies) on the beach 14th Sound of Iona: Common Terns, Arctic Terns, Kittiwakes (inc one perfect 1st year plumage), Great Skua (around 1445, heading south, close inshore). 13th Ishriff Glen More: Male Merlin south across road. 14th May - Loch Beg 1 Greenshank and ca. 10 Golden Plover - Stuart Gibson 13th May - Ulva Ringtail' Hen Harrier, 2 Cuckoo; singing Tree Pipit, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wood Warbler, Goldcrest, Redpoll and Siskin; also 1-2 calling Crossbills - Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 13th May - Salen Local Barn Owl hunting in gardens along old road (may be seen in general area opposite Salen Hotel/Post Office from 19.00 hrs) - Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 10th Burgh off the Treshnish road: a beautiful male summer plumaged Snow Bunting. Photos to follow Eddie & Josie Gibson. see photographs here. 10th May - Salen Hunting Barn Owl and 3 - 4 prs Goldfinch and large nos of singing Siskin during 'Wild Isles' birdsong evening walk - Stuart Gibson 13th Ulva: Above the ruins of Ormaig: Peregrine Falcon hunting - adult male. Adult male Hen Harrier - excellent views as it came over a ridge and was surprised to see us there. Earlier on Ulva - adult male Sparrowhawk. 15th Laggan Bay: White billed diver here this afternoon, Pam Brown et al Discover Mull Tours 14th Off Grasspoint: a summer plumaged Pomarine Skua flew past. Marcus Conway 13th Report from visitor of two Brent geese on lagoon below Glen Forsa Air Strip 13th Loch na Keal: 5 Great northern Diver & 6 Red throated Diver, Black Guillemot, an Osprey flew over yesterday. Red breasted Merganser, Eider. 6 Golden Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, Goldies+WTSE. Alan 13th Craignure: An Ortolan Bunting seen & photographed at Craignure camp site on 9th. This very scarce migrant has a very distinctive and diagnostic eye ring and is a first for Mull and Argyll. I Hope to have images on site and a more detailed report soon. Alan 12th Fidden 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel. Loch Pottie 1 Mute Swan.Uisken 1 Whinchat, 3 Sedge Warbler. Wild About Mull. Bryan Rains You can buy the latest bird report at the Pennyghael post office. 12th :There are several pairs of Canada Geese noe breeding around the island, at Garmony, Loch na Keal and Ulva Ferry. Threee years ago there were none staying to breed. Alan 11th Ardrioch Farm Dervaig: 8am Barn Owl. Corncrake seen on Iona on a Corncrake walk for Wildisles week. Pam Brown. www.discovermull.co.uk 11th heard greenshank on moors off A 849 Glen More 12th May Calgary Bay - 3 Twite on footpath beside bay north side. Had a great time - and found the Mull Bird Report very interesting and helpful. Chris Roome 11th Loch Frsa: WTSE, Goldie and Osprey flying south down loch. Dave Sexton 10th Pennygowan: at 1230 a Long eared Owl sitting on a roadside fence post at Pennygown, nr graveyard. It was jumping from verge to post clearly trying to hunt. May well have been sick or just very hungry after the recent weather to have been out in the day. Dave Sexton 10th Iona north beach: 70 Dunlin plus 16 Sanderling & Ringed Plover. Ruth Flemming & Stuart Gibson 10th Oban Bay: 10 Black Guillemot in bay, viewed from Ferry. Judith Spellmman 9th Lochdon: 20.00hrs 10 Whimbrel, 5 Shelduck, Short eared Owl, Grasshopper Warbler (heard). Alan 9th Gamony: 23 summer plumage Dunlin, 3 White Wagtail, 2 singing Redpoll. Ruth Flemming/Stuart Gibson 7th Langamull: 6 Arctic Tern, 1 Great Skua and 1 Arctic Skua, 15 Dunlin, 1 Black throated Diver. David Hatfield. 7th Calliach Point: a trip here produced 5 Whimbrel, Fulmar, Shelduck, Shearwater, Cormorant, Shag, Auks, Wheatear, Wagtails, a SparrowHawk and Sea Eagle and lots more. Phillip Gatley/Alan 7th Grasspoint: an Osprey at Grasspoint whilst watching WTSE. We were in the car park bit & the Osprey flew over as if from Lochdon, heading seawards, then we lost it. One WTSE on the shore at Lochdon; a couple of GNDs in Loch Scridain at Pennyghael & a couple of Goldies at the top of Glen More. Edwina & David Sharp 7th Tobermory Harbour:1st summer Iceland Gull still hanging around the area. Stuart Gibson 7th Langamull: 6 Arctic Tern and an Arctic Skua here this morning. David Hatfield 7th Loch Beg: Peregrine hunting waders, loch na keal: Goldie,Uisken: Ringtail Harrier. Rick Thornton 6th May ’09 – Iona – 6 Purple Sandpipers on rocks on North Beach. 2 Arctic Terns. Whimbrel. Fidden – 7 Whimbrel. Lochdon (Eagle Watch caravan) – 3 Hen Harrier (adult male, female and 1st Summer male) at dusk. Craignure – Wood Warbler in song behind Craignure Inn. Also plenty of Black Guillemots, G N Divers, etc at various locations. Ross Facer 5th Loch Na Keal – male Whinchat. Iona – at least 5 calling Corncrakes (1 seen very well in the open). 3 Twite, female Hen Harrier offshore flying North over the sea at North Beach , Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the Organic Garden in the evening. (late reports just received) 4th Grasspoint – WTSE, Golden Eagle (ad), 2 S E Owl (viewed from the car park area ), 1 Hen Harrier. Lochdon – 1st summer male Hen Harrier from Eagle Watch caravan at dusk. Grasshopper Warbler (heard). 4th Calgary: 3 Twite and 1 Linnet here. Havid Hatfield. 4th Garmony: a pair of Goosander in the estuary. David & Edwina Sharp 3rd Loch na Keal: a trip round loch na Keal this morning found us 1 WTSE. 5 Golden Eagle , 2 Great northern Diver and Black guillemot. Phillip Gatley/Alan.............(3 life ticks for Phillip) 2ns Glengorm: 2 Whinchat, 37 Raven north of the waste dump. David Hatfield 2nd a Whinchat (only second so far) reported by David Hatfield 2nd Ardrioch by Dervaig: a singing Redstart and another by Killiechronan. David and Edwina Sharp 1st Langamull beach: Great Northern Diver in full breeding kit offshore .David Mellor April 30th Haunn: first Whinchat was on 30th April at Haunn seen by Nick Evans a guest at Haunn cottages, cheers, Anand Prasad 28th Calliach Point: 5 Great Skua, at Dervaig 6 White wagtails. David Hatfield 27th Dervaig Two male Hen Harriers dancing in the twilight , Long eared owl hunting , Barn Owl present ... 28th Dervaig Sea Eagle came thru, radio and wing tagged . Woodcock roding late in the day ... Quinish Point: Great Skua on its travels.Taighe Sithe area: six lapwings and 16 Sand Martins present ... Latest reports for April 2009 30th: Just a note to let you know that on my trip today, (in the pouring rain this morning!) we spotted both Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler on the Grasspoint road . Pete Hall 28th Iona: the first Wood Warbler in the organic garden. David Allan 28th Glen Forsa shoreline: 1 Whimbrel, 6 Wheatear, 12 Meadow Pipits and 25 White Wagtai. Stuart Gibson. Croggan 30+ Pinkfoot flew north over Crogan flying north. Alan Spellman/Athur Brown also here a Common Whitethroat heard. Pam Brown 27th Dervaig reed beds: a newly arrived Sedge Warbler heard mimicking the call of a Spotted Crake. Is there one hiding somewhere in the reedbed ? Alan 27th our first Sedge Warbler & Cuckoo at Haunn, Treshnish farm.Also today 2 Great Skuas off the North of Treshnish Isles, Anand Prasad 27th Salen Bay: 2 summer plumaged Black tailed Godwits here this morning. Stuart Gibson 27th: 1st summer Iceland Gull still present at Tobermory harbour, also, 2 singing male Blackcaps, Back Brae, Tobermory, including one mimicking song of Garden Warbler - Felicity Hansen & Stuart Gibson. 24th Loch Buie: 6 Great northern Diver,, 1 Red throated Diver. Salen Bay a Whimbrel. Stuart Gibson 24th Tobs: First cuckoo heard at Viewmount today. Pair of siskins on the peanut feeder this morning, and a pair of grey wagtails seem to have taken up residence in the garden as I've seen them most days for the past fortnight. Sheila Barnard 24th Tobermory: The Iceland gull is in Tobs harbour this morning, close to wall, very easy to see with naked eye, preening, standing with several herring gulls. Felicity Hansen 24th Loch Scridain: 1 Black-throated Diver.Uisken 3 Dunlin, 1 Red-throated Diver. Fidden 1 Purple Sandpiper, 50 Dunlin, 300 Golden Plover, 23 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstone. Bryan Rains 23rd: 2 Short Eared Owls on Dervaig to Torloisk hill road, also 3 Bar Tailed Godwits and a Greenshank at Dervaig and we had our first Yellowhammer of the summer in the garden yesterday and now have Siskins in good numbers here. Arthur & Pam Brown 22nd Glengorm - A flock of about 25 Raven around lambing sheep at Glengorm. - Shaun Mccullagh 16th Fidden: 2 Ravens, 8 Tufted duck on Loch Pottie, Peregrine at Tiraghoil. Tony Jenkins 17th Scoor to Shiaba: 2 Golden eagles, 2 Hen Harriers, 5 Buzzards and single Kestrel, plus Song Thrush, 12 Sand Martins over Loch Harrison.Tony Jenkins 18th Rossal: Cuckoo in woodland, 6 Twite at Fidden, Canada Goose flying towards Kinloch, Woodcock flying over Bunessan, 2 Gannets offshore south of Iona 19th Fidden: 2 Bar tailed godwits, 120 Golden Plover, several Dunlin, 20+ Ringed Plover, Little Stint, 6 Curlew and single Whimbrel. Greenfinch & Rred Throated Diver off Iona. Tony Jenkins 20th - Up to 12 Great northern divers on Loch Scridain, plus single Black throated Diver & several small parties of razorbills, Twite still present at Fidden Tony Jenkins 21st Oban Ferry: a Manx shearwater seen from Oban ferry. Felicity Hanson. Caliach Point: Manx Sheerwater watched from here, between Coll and Mull. 21st Dervaig/Loch Cuin: 20 summer plumaged Bar tailed Godwit stopped here to rest & feed en route north Arthur Brown. 21st Tobermory:The Iceland Gull was still in Tobermory harbour today around the chip van. Two Peregrines were circling over the town for a few minutes. Anand Prasad 20th Fidden:a flock of circa 100 Golden Plover plus Skylarks, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits all over the place and at least 7 White Wagtails amongst them. Alan 20th Salen: Stuart Gibson reports a male Orange tip butterfly in his garden today. 18th Bird Club Field Meeting Duart and Torosay. Total of 45 species seen. The main highlight was at least 7 singing male Blackcaps in Torosay Woods.. Today 20th - Male Long Tailed Duck still showing well at Lagganulva. On Ulva there is a male Canada Goose paired with a female Grey Lag. Pair of Black Guillemots seen close to the ferry. Shaun Mccullagh 13th Dervaig: Andrew Mortley reports seeing a Male Marsh Harrier on the Dervaig-Tobermory road near Dervaig. A close sighting along the side of the road. A very scarce passage migrant, usually seen between April—June A female Marsh Harrier was seen on the 27th April 2007. The sighting was at Grasspoint at around 19.00hrs, and the bird appeared to come in from the coast and flew within about 50 yards of our group Malcolm Taylor In 2006 an immature female was seen flying along the coast at Salen 7th May. Possibly the same bird that was reported on Coll on 8th and Tiree on 9th. 19th: The long tailed Duck showing very well and very close at lagganulva bay. 18th 42 Meadow Pipits, 16 Skylarks, 12 Wheatear, 2 Linnets, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Golden Eagle and a Peregrine Falcon amongst 24 species seen on the Gribun Tetrad. Arthur Brown 19th Tobermory: Iceland Gull in the harbour with other gulls. Alan 14th Treshnish: first Manx Shearwater for this year, 2 birds between Treshnish Point and Treshnish Isle and another about an hour later. Anand Prasad 12th Laggan Bay: 5 Great northern Diver, single male Long Tailed Duck, Razorbill. Karen and Dave Leeming 13th Torloisk-Dervaig: male Hen Harrier seen at 11.00 am. Callum McEwan (aged 12) and Dad 16th Craignure Golf course: White Fronted Goose along with 13 turnstone. 4 ringed plover on shore near airstrip and chiffchaff heard near Glenforsa hotel. Razorbill in Loch na Keal - Griburn end. - Iceland gull still present in Tobermory. 17th Mick & Sylvia Brennan. 15th Housemartin with Sandmartins on airstrip along with several wheatears. 14th Single Redwing with two Mistle Thrush, male Merlin hunting meadow pipits also over Glen Forsa airfield. 13th - Iceland gull in Tobermory. Dave Pierce 12th 4 whooper swans on loch in the wilderness along with 6 golden eagles in the air together and 4 short eared owls around the same time in the early evening. Common Sandpiper near pennygael along with single greenshank. Really good otter sightings near griburn rocks. Mick and Sylvia Brennan 18th Dervaig: The first Grasshopper Warbler seen and heard at the reed bed, also a Reed Bunting and Common Sandpiper. Pam & Arthur Brown, 16th Loch na Keal/Scarisdale: Cuckoo calling on & off for the 1.5 hrs. Dave Pierce 17th Loch Frisda: a summer plumaged Black throated Diver here. Debbie Thorne. 17th Iona: I have a report of Corncrake being heard on the island. 13th Salen: a singing Blackcap, Stuart Gibson, also Loch Frisa produced 7 Raptors, Golden Eagle, WTSE, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel & Hen Harrier plus Crossbill and singing Goldcrests. 13th Kiloan: 1 Common Tern seen from the Kiloan ferry. Swallow seen regularly by Loch Frisa since 8th April. 4 House Martins seen by Loch Frisa on 16th April. Felicity Hanson 16th Lagganulva: first reported House Martins at Lagganulva Bay today. Arthur Brtown 15th Fionnphort: a Chiffchaff singing here. Bryan Rains 14th Loch Beg: 1st summer Ring-billed Gull. Bryan Rains. www.wildaboutmull.co.uk 13th Ardness: 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Uisken 4 Linnet, 4 Twite.14th Glen More: a cracking female Merlin perched at the roadside. Lots of Swallows and Sand Martins. Bryan 12th Aros Estuary: first Common Sandpiper here this afternoon. Stuart Gibson 12th Dervaig Arthur Brown reports 2 Lesser Black backed Gull here. 12th Salen: 3 Short eare4d Owls and 2 Hen Harriers over this morning. Stuart Gibson 12th Lochdon: 2 Swallows reported by Own Tyson. 11th Knock: There was the first Cuckoo calling today.Colin Moody 10th Loch na Keal: Grey Wagtail, 15 Eider duck, 3 Great northern Diver, lots of Meadow pipits & Skylarks. AS 5th top of Beinn a' Graig. (behind Scarisdale Point, Loch na Keal): a Ring Ouzel here today by visitor, Peter Holmes. 9th Lochdon: Siskins and a male Blackcap on my garden feeder today. Alan Spellman 9th Craignure Golf course: a single White fronted Goose and a Willow Warbler. Andy Oldacre 8th Scoor: Four Yellowhammers at my feeder at Scoor this afternoon Scott Scott & Dianne Gates 7th Loch Beg: 4 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 female Goosander. Bryan Rains 5th Dervaig: a second Willow Warbler here today. Shaun & Elizabeth Mccullagh 4th Croig: Our first Willow Warbler sighted by Shaun Mcccullagh 4th Tobermory: 2 Iceland Gulls in harbour, 7 Slavonian Grebes on Loch na Keal.20 Sandmartin at Killiechronan, 20 Skylarks at Kellan. Stuart Gibson 2nd Knock: group of 6 redshank on the shore. Colin Moody 2nd Loch Buie: first swallow today down at Loch Buie - has summer arrived? Debby Thorne 2nd Tobermory: Three redwings in the garden this morning. Sheila Barnard. 1st Laggan Bay: a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, one on Loch Cuin. (by Dervaig) plus Greenshank, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon. At Caliach Point were 3 Lesser black backed Gulls. Steve Kirk/Alan Spellman 1st Loch Torr: 2 swallows over Loch Torr. Had a close view of WTSE just over my garden wall (Viewmount Tobermory). Sheila & Tim Barnard 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 May 2008 25th Crossbills in forestry walk at Glen Shillister, Rock Dove at Ulva Ferry. 26th Black-tailed Godwit non-breeding bird at Lochdon, 2 Rooks at Pennygown Farm, Glen Forsa, 2 Wood Warblers singing also. in Ardura woods, Andy Bayes, Natalie and Hanna. 27th Slavonian Grebe, Loch Na Keal, Crossbills again in Forestry as above. 28th Canada Geese & 7 goslings Craignure Golf Course, 29th Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kilbeg cottage garden. Sand Martins round the cottage also, 30th Sedge Warbler, Killiechronan camp site, 5 Red Throated Divers, Loch Na Keal just past Knock, 4 breeding plumage and one not Andy Bayes, Natalie and Hanna. 31st Loch Spelve: first report of our returning Nightjars here today. Guido D'Isidoro. Visitor from Manchester 30th Caliach Point: Pair of Bonxies displaying at Cailaich Point near the trig point this afternoon. Shaun 30th Loch na Keal: Summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe showing well (see pix here) Alan 29th Lochdon: Our Osprey was over again this morning fishing the loch at 0900hrs. Lionel Whitehead 26th The Osprey has made an appearance at Lochdon for the third day running and there is a Hoopoe at Loch Buie (Laggan sands area, near the chapel) Guido D'Isidoro. Visitor from Manchester 26th Fionnphort: an Osprey over Fionnphort yesterday morning about 10ish. Came from Iona direction and carried on east. Janis & John Allen 25th Lochdon: an Osprey fishing the loch 1215hrs today (same bird as yesterday?) Alan Spellman see Osprey images here A Goshawk was reported over Salen Forest by visitor Derelk Lister. 24th Fishnish: a Cattle Egret in the area on the left as leaving the ferrry. Richard Atkinson guests Week 18th-23rd: 2 Summer plumage Purple Sandpiper on Staffa 19th .Male Goshawk over Salen Forest time 08-01 chased by passerines 18th. 3 Black throated Divers in Display on Loch Scridian 23th. Derek Lister 24th Calgary beach: 2 summer plumaged sanderling on beach early this morning, Arthur Brown 24th Lochdon: an Osprey fishing the loch this morning at 10.00 hrs Alistdair Purfitt, Andy Oldacre 22nd Summer plumage Slavonian Grebe - Loch na Keal, west of Scarisdale Point, Swift - Grasspoint Road, Woodcock - Grasspoint Road, Greenshank - Loch Beg. Mike Wagemakers Isle of Mull Experience. Report from guest 20th 2 Corncrake calling Fidden Campsite 21st Killiechronan Male Merlin, one seen earlier in the week in same area. Arthur with Discover Mull Tour. 11th Loch Beg: Golden Plover a flock of 8 birds in breeding plumage. 15th Ardnacross Farm: Turnstone Flock of 5 on the Sound of Mull Flock of 10 at Calaich point on 16th May. 13th. West Shore of Iona Sanderling a single bird with a flock of 10 Ringed Plover, then a flock of 8 birds in varying stages of moult (3 at least in breeding colours) 12th Fingal’s Cave on Staffa, Purple Sandpiper, 6 near the and a single on rocks off Fladda 13th West Shore of Iona on Dunlin Single bird in breeding plumage, 3 at Dervaig on the 15th 12th Fladda Great Skua. Three birds around Caliach Point on 15th and 16th May. We thought these birds were passing when we saw them on the 15th. However, they were still around on the 16th and appeared to be displaying and were landing on the flat top of the highest area of the point. On both days they were seen to be pursuing Gannets and GBB/Herring Gulls for food. 16th Caliach Point Arctic Skua Single pale phase bird over. Nick & Stella Laughton 13th LochBeg/Scridain area: a passage Osprey was seen flying North West David Mann 17th Fidden: Breeding bird survey & BTO tetrad at Ardalanish, 30 Linnets in total, 8 Twite, 21 Dunlin and 50+ Lapwings. 2 Turnstone at Ardalanish also 1 calling Corncrake at Fidden. Arthur Brown 14th Glenforsa Hotel. a flock of 17 Crossbills in pines close to the Glenforsa HoteL. Most were females and juveniles with two males. The pines were close to the Forsa river on the hotel side. Chris Roome 15th A Whooper Swan on the Mishnish Lochs this evening, great views of 3 Short Eared Owls At Loch Frisa this morning. Probable Great Grey Shrike ai lagganulva 14th landed in a tree then flew off with bounding flight. The Shrike seen by Martin Dyer a very good photographer staying with us. Arthur Brown 13th all over the island: The Isle of Mull Bird Club, birds race found 102 species in the day. 12th Treshnish Isles Lunga: a small party of Purple Sandpiper here today. Nigel Matthews (visitor) 12th Loch Beg 2 Greenshank, 3 Golden Plover, 10 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck. Uisken 3 Red-throated Diver, Whinchat, Stonechat, 3 Dunlin, Cuckoo, Sparrowhawk. Fidden 2 Corncrake, 2 Whimbrel, 20 Golden Plover, 3 Snipe .Bryan Rains Wild About Mull. 12th Iona a very late Iceland Gull by the north beach. Fidden 2 Corncrake calling. visitor 4th Fishnish 1st Summer Iceland Gull off Fishnish. 3rd Iona: a single Tree Sparrow, with sparrows on feeders in the nunnery gardens. Several Grasshopper Warblers singing at various locations between Lochdon and Loch Spelve. Ray & Ross Facer 11th Common Scoter still at killiechronan, at least 6 Red Throated divers today Loch na Keal, Loch Tuath and Calgary. Slavonnian Grebe in partial summer plumage still on Loch na keal also lapwing with chicks and ringed Plover here. Short Eared Owl and Hen Harrier Loch frisa, Whinchat and Whitethroats everywhere. Goldeen Eagle at Ulva gave spectacular views . Reed Bunting at Dervaig reed bed with at least 5 Sedge Warbler. Cailiach Point 100's Manx Shearwater, kittiwakes, and all 3 Auks which could be heard from land never known it to be so busy fantastic feeding frenzy.70 birds seen in the day Arthur Brown. 9th Loch Beg: Shoveler (very scarce for Mull) by the Kinloch. Short eared owl showing well opposite the deserted farm between the eagle watch caravan Pete Hall Mike Richardson 105 species for the week. staying at Mullbirds self catering 8th Loch Buie 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 9th Lunga: passage Swift. Mike Richardson 8th Breeding plumage Great Northern Diver Loch na Keal (close to Inch Kenneth salmon farm); PairGoosander Ishriff/LochSguabain, GlenMore - Mike Wagemakers,Isle of Mull Experience 8th Calgary: a drake Pintail here and at Killiechronan Canada Geese with 5 goslings 8th Lochdon: a Garden Warbler along the Gorsten road Mike Richardson 6th Loch na Keal: Common Scoter; female, over the week 15 Great N orthern Divers. Mike Richardson 5th Loch Beg :Pink-footed Goose; 1 with Grey-lags Mike Richardson 5th Obvan - Iona: on the Waverley cruise from Oban to Iona on Monday 5th May and we recorded some intresting sightings a breeding plumaged Black-throated Diver and 5 Arctic Terns plus 3 Harbour Porpoises halfway between Oban and Mull. On Iona there were 5 calling Corncrakes, a singing Cuckoo, 6 Wheatears, a Twite, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Willow Warblers around the village/abbey area and a Great Northern Diver and 21 Arctic Terns in the Sound of Iona. On the way back we recorded a Whimbrel, a Puffin and 3 Harbour Porpoises along the south coast of Mull and 10 Swifts over Oban Allan Russell 6th Iona Sound - 2 Black Tern in amongst many Common Terns and Gannets, from the Iona Ferry - John Almond, visiting from Lancashire 6th Glen Bellart: Grasshopper Warbler on the glen roadside near crannich. Duncan Hall 5th north end of Loch Frisa: May Grasshopper Warbler & 3 Cuckoos, 6th, 4 Dunlin Craignure and about 15 Arctic Terns in the sound feeding with gulls, 4 Wood warblers singing in and around the Hedgehod Wood, Torosay.Andy & Hazel Kirkham 2nd May Loch Beg 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Woodcock, 1 Common Whitethroat. Fidden 8 Common Tern, 1 Dunlin, 2 Twite. Wild About Mull 4th May Loch Beg 1 Short-eared Owl. 5th May Loch Beg 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler. Uisken 8 Dunlin. Fidden 6 Common Tern. Wild About Mull. Bryan Rains 5th Fionnphort, Corncrake heard near Catchean this evening - Mike Wagemakers 4th Bottom end of Glen More: on the hillside; Ring Ouzel.Several Corncrake seen on Iona. Two female Hen Harrier near Loch Beg. Barn Owl just along the Grasspoint Road. Ray & Ross Facer 2nd Killiechronan: a Black tailed Godwit was here today by the camp site. Richard Atkinson 2nd Dervaig: The female Pintail was seen again in the freshwater by the reed bed 1st Hen Harrier and Short eared Owl now regularly seen at the Dervaig end of Loch Frisa. Arthur Brown 30th Iona : a Magpie was reported here in a local garden Michael Timms 29th April two Corncrake heard calling on Ulva Tony Fearn Latest reports for April 2008  
Nuthatch by Andrew Mortley Lapland Bunting by Mick Brennan 30th Loch Scridain: a pair
of Shelduck this morning at Kilfinichan Bay, also cuckoo at Tavool on Sunday
and here (Glen Seilisdeir) yesterday. Good to see our nesting swallows
back. Michael & Lynda Hadow
29th Golf Course: Canada Geese
in Bowmans field opposite golf course. Clare Fellows
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 www.wild about mull tours 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 Discover Mull Tour 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 April - June 2005 from Alan Spellman Migrants arrived or passed through. On 1st, a fall of some 60+ Redwings in a local Tobermory garden stayed until 7th. Returning Whooper Swan were at Lochdon with 30 birds on 4th for an overnight stay before moving north again. The first Cuckoo was heard on 6th at Calgary by Andy Mortley. On 8th an Osprey was reported at Loch Frisa, the first of the year where it rested, fished and moved on the next day. Excellent views of Merlin at Loch Beg & Killiechronan on 8th as they arrived following Meadow Pipits moving north, and a single Red Kite flew over Garmony heading north. Spring migrants arrived on 10th the first Willow Warbler was reported from Aros Park. A displaying male Hen Harrier was also watched at Lochdon – Grasspoint area. On 14th a pair of newly arrived Short eared Owls were displaying in the Lochdon area at a regular site. And the first Common Sandpiper was seen on Loch Cuin shoreline on 14th by Shaun Mccullagh. There was a singing male Blackcap 20th along the Grasspoint road and a singing Tree Pipit (23rd) in the forestry plantation. But it was 25th before our first Whinchat and Sedge Warbler were picked up in Glen Aros and Dervaig. On 26th Corncrakes were heard for the first time this year on Iona, (25th last year). The first House martin was at Killiechronan on 28th and Grasshopper Warbler at Fionnphort on 30th. A rare passage migrant on 27th, being 2 Wood Sandpiper along the north shore of Lochdon were reported by visitor Stan Midgley. At Caliach Point on 19th was a female Snow Bunting. Other interesting birds on the move were summer plumaged Golden Plover at Loch na Keal (26th) a pair of Scaup at Pennyghael, Loch Scridain (27th), by the golf course on 18th 40 migrating Ruddy Turnstone were resting and feeding on the shore line. In the Glen Aros Forestry area were a flock of 30 crossbills reported by Dave Sexton RSPB and flocks of up to 30 Yellowhammers have been visiting local gardens. At Balmeanach, Sound of Mull a pair of Canada Geese appear to be nesting again this year Throughout the month White winged Gulls were two 1st W Iceland, A bleached and worn 1st Summer immature Ring-billed Gull in Oban harbour and Iceland also in Tobermory. Up to 300 Eider spent most of the month by the mussel farm on Loch Scridain. May 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. Summary of reports for May 2004 May was a month full of surprises, not least was the return, on 7th, of a Leucistic Willow Warbler to exactly the same area it was at last year, along the road to Grasspoint where it was again breeding successfully. A Leucistic Siskin was seen visiting a Salen garden by bird club member, Angus Slorach. A very rare visitor to Mull was a female Smew on Loch Pottie on 17th. This bird stayed for one day and is only the third ever record for Mull.The first record being in December 1982 at Aros Park and again in January 1983 and on the Mishnish in March 1983. Loch Uisg on 11th held a single Greater Scaup, a very late bird, we usually have only a few reports in winter months from Loch Torr, but nothing so late as May. The first recorded Reed Warbler at Ardalanish reed bed on 16th singing in competition with a sedge warbler and a Little Stint was among feeding Dunlin on the beach at Ardalanish, also on 16th The last few spring migrants arrived with the first Blackcap and first Wood Warbler on 6th seen along the walk tp Tobermory lighthouse A pair of late Snow Buntings were at Iona, then Fidden and Uisken beaches from 1st to 11th, the male in summer plumage. Also on Iona Corncrake have been showing well with several visitors reporting their first ever sighting of this elusive bird. And a real treat for one visitor who reported “On 5th May whilst on the 4pm crossing from Oban to Mull, the boat disturbed a flock of about 125 Pomarine Skuas rafting on the sea, at about the half way point. The flock all got up and flew alongside for a while then gradually wheeled around the bows and headed off back towards the general direction of Oban” A Purple Sandpiper was at Staffa on 3rd May and there is a pair of Great Skua nesting on the island. There was a report on 11th from Craignure Golf course. of 48 pinkfoot geese, (not usually seen in these numbers). There is a pair of breeding Canada Geese at Bàn Eilean for the second year. At Loch Assapol is a pair of Whooper Swans plus 6 Tufted Duck and a pair of Little Grebe. Ospreys have been reported from these locations, Mishnish Lochs (21st), Salen Bay,(25th), Loch Frisa (28th) and Loch Assapol (29th), whilst some of these birds may be the same bird, I think it is only a matter of time before we have a pair stop off and breed .on the island. Both Common and Arctic Terns returned to the Sound of Mull area around 2nd of the month. Calliach Point is an excellent area for sea watching and on 21st 200 plus Kittewake with 100 plus Manx Shearwater also Guillemot and Razorbill in groups of 20-30 regularly passed through very close. Gannet feeding in Calliach Bay daily giving spectacular diving displays. 23rd Great Skua off Caliac Point close to shiore gave great displays. A few Whimbrel were still passing through with 4 on Iona (5th) 2 at Salen (9th) and 4 birds at Ardalanish beach on 15th. There was a flock of 87 Golden Plover at Fidden on 5th in a field on the road to Knockvologan.. Dervaig reed beds on 8th produced 8 calling Sedge Warblers and 3 calling Grasshopper Warblers and 3 Whitethroat there were 8 half grown Mallard ducklings 4 Common Sandpipers 4 Redshank and a tree pipit In the early part of the month there were good numbers of Great Northern Divers about, most in various stages of summer plumage but as the weather warmed up by the end of the month many had moved north and were getting hard to find. Red throated Diver in summer plumage are to be seen on Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain, whilst Loch Frisa on 16th briefly held a Black throated Diver, also in full summer plumage.. The month ended with the report of a Kingfisher at Bunessan and a single first Swift was at Croggan on 25th Summary of reports for April 2004 April is the month when most of our spring migrants arrive, and so they did, having heard earlier reports of Swallows at Portland Bill in January it was no surprise to record our first arrivals with, Sandmartins at Gorsten and Tree Pipit at Lochdon on 1st of the month. And a Garden Warbler on 4th (often missed) at Loch Frisa. A few days later on 11th the first Osprey on passage was seen first at Calgary and the Loch Frisa. Also on 11th the first Chiffchaff was heard at Loch Spelve. The first report of singing Grasshopper Warbler of the year, and a very early bird, was on Seil Island by Bill Jackson who had two birds in his garden on 12th of the month.. The first Cuckoo of the year was first heard and seen at Loch Uisg and at Loch Buie on 16th. Other new visitors were Corncrake which arrived on Iona on 25th (3 days earlier than last year). A Corncrake was also heard calling at Bàn Eileenan, north of Garmony point on 27th, but had moved on by the following day, in the same area the first Whitethroat of the year was found also on 27th. At Dervaig 10 newly arrived House martin were feeding over the reed beds with swallows and a Reed Bunting was heard singing. A male Redstart was heard singing in Quinish woodland, eventually being spotted it high up in an oak tree. A flock of very late Redwings of about 60+ birds were at Salen, Tobermory and Dervaig between on 12th -15th stripping trees of the few remaining berries and moving north. On the beach near the Glenforsa Hotel a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was found by the Speyside Wildlife Group on 15th. This group also spotted up a single Purple Sandpiper at Grasspoint (on passage) and a male Goshawk, gave a brief display over woodland, whilst chasing Raven. Plantation Road NW of Kilfinichen Bay. There were other very scarce birds for Mull seen this month, being a pair of Northern Shoveler at Fidden on 13th and at Garmony were a pair of Pintail by the picnic area on 13th and again seen at Lochdon the following day. On 20th at Loch Scridain area a very rare Black Kite was seen on the north side of the loch by the Heatherlea Birdwatching group At Loch na Keal on 20th, a 2nd summer Iceland Gull was following trawler in the loch. There was a flock of 40 twite here feeding on the Iona shore on 11th. Two male and one female Goosander were seen at Loch Torr on 28th and two on Loch Frisa with four, (two pairs) at Lochdon on 16th. Reports of Divers have been fewer but those Great Northern Divers that have stayed have shown spectacular summer plumage, on 16th - 17th Loch Spelve. Held 8 Great Northern Diver (3 in summer plumage) plus 1 Black throated Diver. Whilst on 18th at Ledmore end of Loch Frisa. Rod & Gill Little reported ……“3 red throated divers in scope field at one time. Also and most exciting one Black throated Diver, at one time alongside red throat, wonderful comparison to confirm identification”. Loch na Keal. held 8 Slavonian Grebe, plus a Red throated diver in summer plumage. At Lochdon, (14th) a passage of 36 Whimbrel, were recorded plus 6 Redshank, 8 Red breasted Merganser, and on 15th a further 16 Whimbrel feeding frantically on the Lochdon shore line.4 Whooper swans flew north over Lochdon on 14th and also Loch Pottie held 4 Whooper swans on 13th, (possibly the same birds). Croig on 8th held eight Comon Sandpiper at Eilean Bàn Bullfinches have shown well this month with 2 pairs regularly coming to a Tobermory garden at at Bàn Eileenan, north of Garmony point and also at Loch Buie and Torosay woodland walk, And a pair of Linnets also in a Lochdon garden. Yellowhammers have been reported from many garden sites with a peak of 11 birds in one garden at Lochdon early in the month. Short eared Owls arrived with three at Lochdon on 12th and in Glen More a prospective pair were displaying on 15th. There have only been a few Merlin sightings at regular spots and finally its good to be able to report that we now have White tailed Sea chicks.
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22nd
Killiechronan: 14 Black tailed Godwit some in summer plumage feeding in
field. Arthur Brown
