Mayl Thanks to|:
Bryan Rains, Dave Sexton, Tim and Rebecca Barnard, Stuart Gibson, Arthur Brown, Barry Bishop, Pete Hall, 
Anand Prasad, Andy Oldacre, John & Jackie Edwards, Callum Entwistle, Ross Facer,  Clive McKay, Phil Woollen, Dr J Law SOC, Sylvia Swift, Graham Shortt, John Dowson. Clare Fellows, 

19th Cailaich Point :7 Lesser Black-Backed gulls and a single Knot , also Tree Pipit in garden. A Brown
19th At the EagleWatch caravan [between 08.00 and 12.00 hrs] I Swallow, Sand Martin,Male Hen Harrier
Siskin & Redpoll. Andy Oldacre.
11th Tobermory : a group of 20+ migrating Redwings feeding in our garden in Erray Road ,  at around 7 p.m, presumably on their way back to Scandanavia. Monica & Ian Wilson Creagorry B & B Tobermory
18th Dervaig : a female Pintail (scarce) at Dervaig reed bed area this morning. also for the wqeek, 7 Greenshank at Lochdon, 5 Slavonian Grebes (Summer plumage) Loch na Keal, Water Rail calling and Reed Bunting at Dervaig, David Hatfield
16th Iona. First Corncrake heard by local resident. Sr Jean Lawson
7th -14th Mull & Iona:  100 species recorded which was most satisfying.some of our more interesting sightings being:-
Slav Grebe Summer plumaged birds- 2 Sound of Mull, opp. Golf Course. Redwing 10+ Salen Airfield, also at  Killichronoran fields, t Croggan, and Calgary hotel , Black-throated Diver Pair. Loch Ba, & 1 off Penyghael, Gooosander  Drake on Aros river & Loch Torr, Canada Goose, 2 Craignure golf course, with Grey-lags on the Salen Airfield, Barnacle Goose, 50+ visible on Inch Kenneth, Crossbill at Aros bridge,
Golden Plover  15 on fields at Fidden, 64 over Iona. On 13th  First Common Sandpiper, Kinloch  hotel shore, Pink-footed Goose, c160 flying high north up Sound of Mull, Salen on 14 th & c120 flying high north over Loch Don, from Grasspoint on same day, David Clugston et al.
17th April, flock of Golden Plover on the moor behind the house (Bunessan). Male Hen Harrier hunting on the seaward side of the road. Pair of Canada Geese still in Bunessan Bay. Callum Entwistle
17th OBAN: The Ring billed Gull was showing extremely well this afternoon (14.30 hrs on 17th) on the George street foreshore, OBAN, quite literally strutting it's stuff, in it's own inimitable way. S Gibson
16th Devaig:  saw a pair of Bullfinches yesterday on the road to Quinish. Also sandmartins in the big layby where the nestholes are, where the logs are stored (Glen Bellart) a pair of Goldeneye on Mishnish Lochs Louise Fellows, Clare Fellows.
14th Croggan / Loch Spelve    3 Great Norther Divers together one in summer plumage, 4 Black Guillemot  (pair & 2 singles), Raft of 105 Eider by the fish farm, 2 Swallows and several Willow Warblers. Shaun Mcc:
14th Tobermory: a male Hen Harrier on our way to  Tobermory,  Also a pair of Crossbills in light wood between Balmeanach tea room and Jimmy the vet.  Also a Leucistic Chaffinch at the feeder in our garden. Lynda and Miachael Hadow,  Tigh na Con, Tiroran.
13th Treshnish : Heard a Chiffchaff yesterday (13 April) in the wood byTreshnish House. Prasad
14th Lochdon:2 Greenshank still on the pools above the bridge, plus two Snipe. The latter given away by their calls. Five pairs of Red-breasted Merganser too. Plenty of Willow Warblers in evidence now and a Swallow  up by Ardnadrochit Farm.Andy Oldacre
Loch Torr 2 male and a female tufted duck Duncan & Sue Hall
13th OBAN: The Ring billed Gull appears still to be present at the George Street foreshore,seen in gathering gloom at 20.30 hrs this evening. Stuart Gibson
13th Willow Warbler in woods around Aros Loch and single GSWP, single Little Grebe on Mishnish Lochs.
12th Adult Golden Eagle, single male Goosander on Loch Torr, Quinish Heronry - 8 nests with hatched young. Shaun Mccullagh
11th Loch Frisa: Peregrine (Male) flew past Loch Frisa WTSE hide. also one here about 10 days ago, single Red Throated Diver at Loch Frisa Fish Farm. Shaun Mccullagh
For the last 3 or 4 years there has been a small rookery near Tobermory Golf Course, but no sign of any birds or nests this year.  Shaun Mccullagh
13th Scoor: Sandmartins and Bunessan Redshank   Tony Jeffree
13th Loch Beg: First Common Sandpiper seen here today. Bryan Rains
12th TIREE: First Corncrake of the year reported today.  John Bowler
11th Bunnessan: This morning was 'busy' in the bay opposite the house, at one time I had the following in my scope - 2 pair Canada geese, 2 pair Greylag, 2 pair Red Merganser, one pair Eider and a seal swimming about in the middle of them. The Gadwall drake was at Bunessan Bridge at midday, unfortunately he still seems to be a bachelor! Callum Entwistle
10th Killiechronan: 35-40 Redwings at killiechronan today, Red throated Diver at Lagganulva. Arthur Brown
9th Loch Torr: Male Goosander on loch Torr  also a Redwing At Gribun. 8th Merlin Female at Cailiach.AB
9th Coll: first Crex Crex seen and heard today on Coll. Simon Wellock RSPB
8th Lochdon: The Swallows have returned today seen by Andy & Diana Oldacre and Pam & Len White.
9th Tiroran:A pair of Bullfinches are busy destroying our plum blossoms but they're so handsome, who can begrudge them?  Sheila Barnard
8th treshnish Point: first Great Skua of the year today off shore from Haunn, Treshnish towards Treshnish Isles. Several Manx Shearwater also seen today but they have probably been around for a few days judging by the numbers. Also seen today, 2 Twite at treshnish cowbarn. On 3rd April there were two Merlins huntingtogether above Ensay Burn, Treshnish and on 5 April 21 Whooper Swans flew noth over Treshnish Lochan, sometimes they land there.We have a pair of Redwing still at Haunn cottages,Treshnish as of yesterday 7th April, they have been heard singing. 
Last night a female Emperor Moth came to a light trap and layed eggs on the funnel of the trap! It has been moved to safety in the heather. Anand Prasad
8th Lochdon: On Eaglewatch, Owen Tyson saw our first Willow Warbler.
7th Various places: Dippers at Aros bridge and Eas Fors, A female Merlin at Ulva Ferry and at Tobermory Lighthouse walk a Treecreeper and female Bullfinch, Yellowhammers in the garden Arthur Brown.
6th Tobermory: A very noisy flock of redwings spent a short time resting in our tall spruce trees this evening.  Too many to count (and some well hidden in the trees) but they certainly made their presence known! Sheila Barnard
5th Treshnish lochan. 21 Whooper flying north over Treshnish lochan Anand Prasad.
5th Ensay Burn 2 Merlin,  hunting in cooperation over Ensay Burn , 9 singles on other occasions.Anand Prasad
5th Ledmore: We saw 2 female crossbills on conifers above Ledmore. Duncan & Susan Hall
4th Dervaig: Flock of about 50 Redwing over the garden this morning. Shaun Mccullagh
4th Lochdon:l Sandmartins over the Eaglewatch Caravan, plus Reed Bunting. Andy Oldacrem, 
3rd Inch Kenneth: a single Black throated Diver, 6 Greenshank resting before moving north again. A Brown
3rd Lochdon-Craignure: a single Housemartin flying along the road. Andy & Diana Oldacre
3rd Killiechronan: 3 newly arrived Sandmartins at Killiechronan camp site today. Arthur Brown

April thanks to:-
Arthur Brown, Andy & Diana Oldacre, Stuart Gibson, Shaun Mccullagh, Duncan & Susan Hall, Sheila Barnard. Owen Tyson, Anand Prasad, Pam & Len White, Callum Entwistle, John Bowler,Tony Jeffree, Duncan & Sue Hall, Lynda and Michael Hadow,  Louise Fellows, Clare Fellows, Callum Entwistle, David Clugston, David Hatfield, Monica & Ian Wilson, Alex Nicol, Adam Walmsley, David Jowett, Roger Johns, Sue Dewar, Nev Paterson, Andrew & Hazel Kirkham, Coombes & Robin Harvey,  Carol Marshall & Mike Wagemakers, Norma Dowling, 

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. Listen here

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 Buckley

Helen & 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.

30th a summer plumaged Great northern Diver in Sound of Mull at Garmony picnic area & summer plumaged Golden Plover on the golf course this evening.  Alan Spellman
30th Loch Cuin-Dervaig. one female Crossbill feeding in the scots pine trees on the Dervaig/Cuin road.  Bird was very green, possibly about 7 others, but I didn't get a good look at them, although it's more than likely that they would be in family parties at this time of year. Shaun Mccullagh.

14th-15th Strathcoil (Adura turn off)  Redstart  & Wood Warbler  singing in woods near Strathcoil (NM6829). Sedge Warbler - singing, Pier Road, Salen on 15th-17th May. Jim Guthrie
Pairs of Bullfinches at Tobermory Distillery (27/5) and Calgary (28/5) Matt Atkin.

29th Loch Tor. 2 male Goosander on Loch, plus an Osprey fishing there pm   Barry Bishop
29th Loch Ba. a single Osprey over the fish farm. Richard Atkinson
28th Treshnish Point within 15 minutes at 9pm.105 Manx Shearwaters passed
19th Loch Frisa. 1 Bullfinch near Lettermore farmhouse, Loch Frisa 2 Red-throated Divers flew over the fish farm at Loch. Frisa, Anand Prasad

21st Bunessan/Fionnphort. a Turtle dove at the side of the road between Bunnessan and Fionnphort 11.00am. Julia Holmes
27th Loch Cuin-Dervaig. 1 Greater Scaup plus 2 Tufted Ducks. Loch Beg. 20 Manx Shearwater.4 Goosander. Artuhr Brown.

20th April. A female Black Redstart  was photographed (see above) on 20th April at Kilbeg in Glen Forsa by Sylvia Brennan. This is a first record for Mull.
24th Iona A Jack Snipewas flushed whilst looking for Corn Crake from the iris beds on the shore by the Abbey  (visitors)
23rd Loch Buie. 3 Red throated Divers.  male Hen Harrier in Lochdon area.   Chris More

22nd Loch na Keal. 3 Little Stint on loch shore near Dhiseig Farm area. John Suckley. 
Salen : Spotted flycatcher on wires at roadside near boat wrecks at Salen, Rebecca and David Waterhouse
21st Fidden. two Pale bellied Brent at Fidden.  Carol Marshall.
Iona. Corncrake.  6 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin  in bloody bay. 8+ Gannets at Fionnphort, Ian Woosey

19th Fidden. Corncrake calling this evening near Fidden, in rushes a few hundred metres Fionnphort side of the new bungalow, before Fidden Farm - Carol Marshall. Corncrake still calling at Bruach Mhor, Fionnphort. Mike Wagemakers

18th Oban-Craignure ferry. a Great Skua.  Ian Woosey
17th Loch Ba. a scarce male Ring Ouzel was found on the scree slopes in Glen Ba, Grid Ref NM549383  by visitor Richard Lunardi 

14th Iona.  A Rose Coloured Starling was rescued from a cat on Iona.  Gareth Knass 
12th "whale watching boat" today and saw 2 Great Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua, 80+ Arctic Terns in a feeding group, 100+ Manx Shearwaters, All the usual Auks including several Puffins, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Shags. Arthur Brown

11th Treshnish. "We have a Turtle Dove here at Treshnish. (it is rare on Mull but  has been seen here last year and possibly the year before that". Somerset Carrington, Anand Prasad
10th. Treshnish point: best birds.a 'raft' of 33 Manx Shearwtaers off Treshnish Point &1 Reed Bunting near Haunn. Anand Prasad

7th May. "I had excellent views of an imm female Marsh Harrier flying over Salen Pier yesterday morning (7 May) at 8.30 am. The bird then flew along the coast heading towards Fishnish and Craignure." Ross Facer

9th  Lochdon. an early morning walk produced a  Garden Warbler plus Whitethroat, Redpoll & Siskin.  Eddie Crabtree (visitor) Craignure/Lochdon Housemartins are more numerous now.
There is also a report of a Reed Warbler heard on Staffa,  ( a very scarce bird for Mull) 
9th Quinish Point/Dervaig. a single  Pomarine Skua  seen very close in (almost across the rocks) also a Peregrine, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and 4 Puffin, at the Point. 5 Manx Shearwater quite far out, off Quinish Point. A male Blackcap  near Quinich House and Wood Warbler Quinish woods, at least 6 heard. 2 drake Goldeneye still present on Mishnish Lochs. Anand Prasad

7th Treshnish Farm. 12 Arctic Terns (First) (later a group of 6) 1 Great Skua off Treshnisn Point, headed towards Treshnish Isles, 1 Sedge Warbler, 6+ Whitethroat (first for here) 1 Spotted Flycatcher ( in adifferent area from yesterday) 3 Manx Shearwater 5 Great Northern Diver 2 Puffin.  Anand Prasad.  Salen. Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling (evening) Norma Dowling. Merlin at mouth of Ensay Burn, Treshnish. Anand Prasad.  off Glengorm - A Great Skua was harassing the gulls that were following a fishing boat  off Glengorm. Peter Stevick

6th Haunn cottages, Treshnish Point. asingle Common Swift seen here today (see table below of 
previous sightings of pasage birds) plus  3 Twite and a single Merlin. Treshnish Woods ,a first Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff in the evening. Anand Prasad
6th near Fidden, evening.  30+ Whimbrel  Carol Marshall. Iona. 2 Spotted Flycatchers. A Greenshank on Lochdon and  2 Puffins on Loch Scridain. Ross Facer.  Calgary Bay 3 Great northern divers, 4 razorbills, two gannets and five common terns were in the bay. A sedge warbler was in the reeds nearby. The area with scattered trees to the north of the beach held a whitethroat, and a goldfinch. Peter Stevick HWDT

5th Loch na Keal. A pair of Twite at Dhisaig we followed them up Loch Na Keal for about a mile this afternoon. Arthur Brown.  (note: there was a breeding pair along the loch last year) AS
Iona. a group of 6 Golden Plover were on Iona North Beach. Ross Facer

5th Haunn cottages, Treshnish Point. Merlin, Twite, a group of two and a group of three on Treshnish farm, also two Twite on the 4th May, 2 on the 2nd May and 1 on the 27th April the first sighting of the Spring here. Anand Prasad

3rd Griburm: first Whitethroat also Whimbrel at Langamull & Loch na Keal. Pam & Arthur Brown
Calgary Bay: 3 Gannets, 5 Great northern Divers, 1 Red throated Diver, Manx Shearwater and
first Common Tern. First Winchat there (Treshnissh Farm) was on May 2nd and that individual is still around. Anand Prasad

1st. Loch na Keal: Black throated Diver & 2 Great Northern Divers  in summer plumage.
Arthur & Pam Brown. Discover Mull Tours. AS, Edwina & David Sharp.
Aros esuary: Single Whimbrel amongst 3 Curlew. Loch na Keal Common Sandpipers singing all
along the shore. Jenny Reddaway.
Loch Scridain:  Great northern Diver 'almost'  summer plumage AS, Edwina & David Sharp

29th April. Bruach Mhor, Fionnphort:  Corn  Crake has returned to the croft at Bruach Mhor,
calling only spasmodically and weakly at the moment but reportedly first heard/arrived on Saturday     Derek Crook