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     latest reports - september 

Latest reports for September 2012
 
 
 

Latest reports for September 2011 

juvenile Pallid Harrier                                                         Rose coloured Starling

30th 2 Greenshank at Ulva Ferry, Merlin hunting along the road between the Ulva school and ferry. Martin Mull Charters
29th: Calgary beach, 1 Rook, 1 Sanderling. Port Langamull, 1 drake Common Scoter. Prasad. Prasads Blog
27th Calliach Point: 7 Brent Geese flew into Calliach this afternoon. Arthur Brown
26th Fidden: Juvenile Rose coloured Starling amongst flock close to farm on recently sprayed field. David Wright
25th Lochdon: Despite the rain, 6 Sea Eagles (2 ad mid morning over cottage then over loch, 2 juv later over cottage, one juv over loch late pm, one adult perched in tree on W side of loch), 5 Greenshank, 20 Wigeon, numerous Curlew, 10 Red-breasted Merganser, Buzzards and Kestrel. Great start to week.  Martin Honey
24th Loch Ba:-Entrance plantation - 2 tree creepers, gold crest, blue tit, great tit, coal tit. herons, 10 merganser, mallard, 2 whooper swan.  - curlew, lapwing, adult sea eagle, golden eagle, buzzard, kestrel, 2 hen harrier. David and Felicity Pollard
24th: Lainne Sgeir, Calgary, 1 Red Knot and 1 Wheatear. Calgary Bay, 400+ Kittiwakes, 1 Great Skua Prasad. 
24th Lochdon: 3 Greenshank and 14 Wigeon from our holiday cottage overlooking Loch Don. Martin Honey
24th Fidden: another (or more likely the same bird) Juvenile Pallid Harrier at Fidden this morning. Bryan Rains 
22nd  - Loch Ba: Flocks of 10 Mistle Thrushes, 10 Siskins and 15 Crossbills, 2 Whooper Swans and up to 5 Hen Harriers
22nd  - Single Greenshank at Aros Estuary
21st  -  Craignure/Loch Buie: Four Golden Plover, Craignure Golf course and party of 8 Yellowhammers at Lochbuie village
Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
20th Todays tour turned up a Juvenile Pallid Harrier which is a new species for Argyll & Mull. Bryan Rains
21st: Calgary beach, 2 Sanderlings, 3 Ruddy Turnstones and 30+ Greenfinches. Prasad
Just a note to say that David Hatfields  records of Scandinavian Rock Pipit at Langamul Beach on 13th May 2011 and 30+ Common Redpolls (probably Mealy) at Bunessan were accepted by the Argyll BRC.
20th – Loch Ba: Two Whooper Swans, 3 Hen Harriers, flock of 20 Siskins and single Wheatear. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
20th Loch Frisa: 5 Little grebe in front of the hide at Frisa today. Debby Thorne
19th Salen Bay (Aros end) 5 Sandwich Terns here this morning Arthur Brown & Alan & Prasad
17th Lochdon: nr Gorten Farm  1 Pink Footed Goose (with Greylag Geese) and a pair of Stonechat. Richard & Liz Airey.
18th Salen: We've had a flock of long tailed tits in the garden this morning - a first for us here!  At the same time we were watching a Tree Creepertoo. Debby Thorne
18th Been out every day this week on tours. thought you might like to know that by the side of the golf course yesterday (Friday) I sighted 9 whooper swans, several Wigeon both of which are firsts for me this autumn. Also on Loch Beg of all places a pod of Bottle nosed Dolphins (near two otters). Pete Hall  Mull Wildlife Tours
16th 4 Arctic Skua and Storm Petrel off Glengorm today. Ewan Miles  blogspot
16th Lagganulva: 2 Sandwich Terns and Goosander. Calgary an Arctic Skua. Arthur Brown
15th – Quinish: 1 Greenshank and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
14th – Calgary Bay/Tobermory There was a Little Tern fishing at Calgary today and a skein of Pink-footed Geese were heard overflying Tobermory in the dark Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
15th: 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Merlin at north side of Calgary bay, Prasad. 
13th  a Dipper on burn running into Fishnish Bay, a female Hen Harrier at Craignure Golf Course & 2 Wheatear Glen More.
15th  Whooper Swan on Loch Ba and there were 4 Bar Tailed Godwits at Killiechronan.  Richard & Liz Airey. 
15th Lochdon mouth:2 Ruff, 7 Whimbrel, 1 Black tailed Godwit  32 Curlew, 20 Ringed Plover. Alan + Judith & Eddie Smith
14th  Bunessan: A couple of good ones from yesterdays tour. 1 juv Little Gull, 1 storm wrecked Manx Shearwater.
14th Loch Ba:  Party of 7 (seven) Ruff on the Cannel River floodplain, along with 60 Lapwings and two Golden Plovers; three Hen Harriers  two hunting near Gortenbuie and single . Whooper Swan on loch. Ruth and Stuart. 
14th Lochdon: 2 Ruff in pool in field along the Gorten road.  Judith Smith (staying at mullbirds)
12th Loch Beg 4 Curlew Sandpiper still present. Fidden 3 Golden Plover and 3 Ruff. 
13th Calgary bay, 1 Arctic Skua. Lainne Sgeir, 1 Ruff, 1 Ruddy Turnstone. Calgary beach, 9 Red Knot, 3 Ruddy Turnstones and 1 Arctic Tern. a flock of 38 Greenfinches on the beach, Prasad 
13th Calgary: 9 Red Knot  on the beach this morning at10.30am Arthur & Pam Brown Discover Mull
12th: In Calgary bay during a storm there were 3 Arctic Skuas together, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Eider and only about 10 Kittiwakes, no Manx Shearwaters and amazingly no Gannets. On Calgary beach there was 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Arctic Tern and 4 Dunlin and on Lainne Sgeir, Calgary there were 3 Ruff. Prasad 
12th Calgary: 2 Purple Sandpiper on the machair at Calgary. Arthur Brown 
11th Loch Beg 2 Hen Harrier, 10 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 6 Dunlin,10 Ringed Plover, 5 Golden Plover, 8 Turnstone, 4 Curlew Sandpiper. Uisken 1 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 2 Knot. Bryan Rains 
11thTreshnish Point, 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flying south low over the water (photographed).Prasad.  Prasads Blog
11th Calgary: single Ruff & Arctic Skua at Calgary  Judith & Eddie Smith (staying at mullbirds)
9th Killiechronasn: Sanderling, Black tailed Godwit and Wigeon here today, Arthur Brown 
8th We saw about 10 Sanderling and a Rock Pipit at the Bay at the Back of The Ocean. Mrs. K. Sztanko
8th Calgary bay, 2 Wheatears, Prasad
7th From Treshnish Point, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Black-throated Diver, at least 2 Great Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua(coming out of Calgary bay), 5 Fulmar, 3 Arctic Terns, only 6 migrating Manx Shearwaters  Prasad. 
7th Lochdon: an Osprey over Lochdon this morning and again this afternoon. Jill & Howard Everett
6th an hour and a half of sea-watching off Haunn.  2 Fulmars, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Great Skuas, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 divers, at least 10 Manx Shearwaters (they were flying both directions), 50 probable Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 1 tern which was probably an Arctic Tern and many Kittiwakes (all but one or two were immatures),   Prasad
6th Tobermory: : Blackcap in Mull Magic garden, Ruth and Stuart
30th Lower Ensay Burn, 1 Osprey (possibly the same bird as the one at Loch Spelve on the 31st) Prasad 
5th Treshnish: 1 juvenile Willow Warbler. Prasad
5th  Loch Frisa: we had a Jay at the hide at Loch Frisa on Friday. Debby Thorne
5th Tobermory: Peregrine flew over Main Street at 18.30 hrs before alighting on Scots Pine above Distillery. The Tobermory Peregrines frequently use this perch when not on the spires of the Old Free Church. Ruth and Stuart
5th Loch Ba:  4 eclipse-plumaged Wigeon and 30 Siskins. Ruth and Stuart. 
For those interested the European Roller that was on Mull on 16th May this year. It was the second record for the island, the previous Mull record was 123 years ago, of a bird being shot on Loch Buie estate in 1888, there is another record, also of a bird being shot, at Adrtornish estate on Morvern in 1927, the skin of this bird is in the museum in Glasgow.
4th Loch Spelve: Single Red-throated Diver, 14 Turnstones, 5 Twite and 1 White Wagtail Ruth and Stuart 
4th:Haunn: 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler (my latest dates for both). Prasad 
4th Lochdon: A male Blackcap in the garden here at Wild Cottage in Lochdon this afternoon. Andrew Oldacre
4th Lochdon; a few returning Wigeon and Teal are on the loch now. Ringtail hunting this morning. Alan
3rd Treshnish Point: about 100 Golden Plovers flying south, high up over Treshnish Point Prasad
1st Ardness 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Fidden 3 Twite, 20 Skylark, 16 Linnet. Bryan Rains
1st Loch Spelve: an Osprey on loch Spelve at 14.15pm. We were able to watch it for 10mins. Andrea Mackenzie (visitor)
28th Aug – Langamull/Croig: Two White-tailed Eagles, single Whimbrel and Great Skua. Ruth Fleming
Other highlights around the island were 3 golden eagles near the Gribun pass all observed flying to a possible eyrie location high on the cliff face
29th :Dipper spotted on the burn a hundred yards or so beyond the Mackinnons cave parking area but more surprisingly another bird spotted high on the waterfall before Mackinnons cave , it appeared to be feeding on insects in the moss.12 twite also near the farm buildings near Mackinnons cave car park. 20 teal at Loch na Keal also 1 slav grebe  plus 31 Red Breasted Mergansers
WTSEs spotted at Loch Spelve – near Portfield, Loch Na Keal, Loch Scridain & near Loch Beg. 2 Red Throated Loch na Keal and 2 birds on Scridain Tony Jenkins
25th Loch na Keal: Velvet Scoter was seen on 25/8 at Loch na Keal sightings from Ann & Noel Hand, Sally & Gray
Latest reports for  September 2010 
30th male Hen Harrier flying over Suidhe, Ross of Mull, despite the awful weather. Tony Jeffree
30th Loch na Keal: Pete Hall reports several Slavonian Grebes this week on the loch. Pete Hall   Mull Wildlife Tours
28th in the evening there were 2 Grey Plover on Calgary beach.  & 1 by the new boathouse on 29th.  Anand Prasad
27th Lochdon: 1 Greenshank, 4 Wigeon, 10+ Bar-tailed Godwit, Loch Buie: Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone and 3 Black throated diver in winter plumage in Laggan Bay.  Steve Chapman
27th Calgary Bay: Great Northern Diver in summer plumage in Calgary Bay. (28th) our last family of Swallows are still around the farm buildings and wood. This is the latest date so far (previous being 26th Sept 2008). Prasad's Blogspot
28th Loch Cuin: 5 Dunlin and a Greenshank. Glen Bellart: 12 Mistle Thrush with Starlings. AS
27th Garmony: a suicidal Barn Owl on the road almost got itself killed. Helen Spellman
26th Salen Pier:  2 Black Guillemot in winter plumage, 5 Turnstone, 2 Goldcrest Gordon and Sylvia Crawshaw 
25th Grasspoint: small flock of Twite at Grass Point, male Hen Harrier Gordon and Sylvia Crawshaw 
26th Knock:  a Dipper by the bridge. Loch Beg: A Pinkfoot with two Greylags. Alan
23rd Calliach: Pair of Merlin hunting together over moorland at Sunipol on the Cailaich road. Male Hen Harrier at Grasspoint on Friday 24th September and 4 Bar Tailed Godwit and a Peregrine at Duart Bay on same day. Gordon and Sylvia Crawshaw 
23rd Treshnish Woods: a Swift over Treshnish wood,  Prasad 
10th-11th Iona: a Lapland Bunting on the NW coast of Iona,  Joyce Watson
22nd there was 1 Turnstone and 1 Dunlin at Lainne Sgeir, Calgary. Prasad
22nd Loch Frisa: A pair of little grebe on the loch  today. Yesterday large numbers of geese flying  (?) over along with 3 juvenile golden eagles and 3 sea eagles, one being a 3 yr old.  Debby Thorne (Sea Eagle RSPB warden)
20th there was 1 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin on Calgary beach. also 90 Kittiwakes and 1 Dunlin roosting on the rocks at Lainne Sgeir, Calgary. Anand Prasad 
20th Killiechronan: amongst the large flock of Greylags are a single Pinkfoot , four Canada and a hybred Canada/Greylag. Alan
19th There are 24 Pink-footed Goose on Loch Beg today. Also had a leucistic Song Thrush at Ormsaig. Bryan Rains
18th Loch Harrison  Moorhen. this is a rare bird for Mull, the last record was also on this loch in October 2009. when a Coot was also present, (which is another 'rare' bird for Mull) Bryan Rains 
17th Killiechronan: a Sandwich Tern in field with Black headed Gulls  Alan Spellman
16th Calgary beach: there were 6 Sanderlings on Calgary beach  and 3 Crossbills on main road to Glengorm in Ardmore forest, Yesterday the first successful House Martins fledged from Treshnish farm buildings
Anand Prasad
13th Greenshank at  Lochdon, five Sanderling at Calgary and 60+ Redshank with Dunlin at Croig Harbour, AB/AS
13th Sound of Mull south of Salen area: a beautifullty marked Northern Wheatear here this morning. Alan
12th Lochdon: Osprey again present at Lochdon this morning at 06.50 am. Circled around over loch attempting to fish tide very full around this time. No direct fishing attempt made then headed SE off and no doubt now on its way to Africa, ahead of the weather front coming in this evening. Alan.         Michael Leigh Mallory 
11th Lochdon 1700hrs Osprey fishing again on the loch as tide coming in.Alan
11th Calgary:  Red Knot  this morning with 70 Oystercatchers as well and 2 Rock Pipits. Cheers Arthur
10th Killiechronan: A Sandwich Tern by the Killiechronan boathouse, also Bar-Tailed Godwit and juvenile Black Headed Gull Arthur and Pam Brown
10th Lochdon: Osprey still here this morning, fishing at 0900hrs and chasing Sea Eagle at 1100hrs. 
10th Glengorm: today in the forest on the opposite side of the road to the track up to the Wireless station at Glengorm
2 Common Crossbills and what i am pretty sure were Jays calling  Anand Prasad.
9th Lochdon fishing Osprey at 1030hrs, and again at 1700hrs.     Alan
8th Lochdon: Osprey over fishing, being harrassed by our local Sea Eagle, dropped its fish (which the sea eagle then ate) Osprey then returned to fish again. Alan Spellman, Ros and Rosie Sallzman (neighbours)
7th Reudle: 2 Swifts and a single Lapwing in field at Killiechronan, 4 Goosander and 2 Wigeon in the Lussa estury Arthur and Pam 
7th Calgary beach: 1 Sanderling on Calgary beach and 1 Swift over Treshnish House. then 2 Sanderlings at Calgary), Anand Prasad, Andrew Mortley
7th Lochdon: Osprey again this evening at 1630hrs, resting on a post opposite the eaglewatch caravan area. Pete Hall et al
7th Lochdon: 12 Bar tailed Godwit & 7 Whimbrel on the move, but resting up at Lochdon. 1630hrs AS
7th Lochdon; at 0930hrs this morning an Osprey fishing successfully, (a different bird we think) . Rosie Salzman (neighbour)
6th Ardtun: from July 2010  2 Nightjars at Ardtun  Callum Entwhistle (an excellent record)
6th Treshnish Haunn: Just had a possible Hobby flying over Treshnish wood. Anand Prasad
6th Lochdon: a male Hen Harrier hunting along bthe shore line in front of the house. Alan Spellman
5th Lochdon: If yiou were up early this morning you would have seen our Osprey return to catch yet another fish at 0730 hrs. AS
3rd Loch Scridain: There were 30 Common Dolphin in Loch Scridain today.Bryan Rains 
3rd Lochhdon: an Osprey was over Lochdon this morning as the tide was coming in at 1015 hrs.  At 1900hrs the Osprey returned and caught a large sea trout and flew off being harrrassed by a Sea Eagle. The Osprey out manuvered the Sea Eagle quiet easily. Also on the loch were 3 Whimbrel and a Greenshank. Alan on Osprey watch
an Osprey fishing over Lochdon September 1st-9th 2010
2nd  Cailaich, Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Minke Whale, Basking Sharks, 2 Mink, Manx Shearwaters 16, Fulmar 14, Kittiwakes to many to count, 2 Cormorants with the Shags and lots of Meadow Pipits going through We were only there for a couple of hours but it was great fun Arthur and Pam Brown
2nd Balmeanach area: There is a Leucistic Hooded Crow hanging around, I saw it at Fishnish bay on the shore with gulls earlier today., it's rather smart being almost all grey. I will try get a picture. Alan
2nd Treshnish: There was a Dunlin at Treshnish lochan which is a first for Treshnish and for our 10x10km square.
A a possible Glaucous Gull flew south passed Lòn Reudle, across to the coast of Ulva and long the coast to Gometra. I was looking through a telescope and I could see no black on the wing tips. Anand Prasad 
1st Crannich: I was very surprised today, when I was driving to Salen, a couple of miles before Crannich, a Jay flew across the road in front of me, as clear as anything. Clare Fellows 
1st Lochdon: an Osprey was successful, fishing on Lochdon and caught a large sea trout. D Bennett. 
1st  Ardalanish: two basking sharks feeding for well over an hour just off Ardanalish Beach around 2.30pm-- once they had left their place was taken by two (male and female) Black-throated Divers. One of the sharks then returned around 6.00pm.
Bob Wagner
Latest reports for September 2009
 

Hummingbird Hawk Moth at Craignure and Salen on 17th September 2009 

30th  Fionnphort -  parties of geese, mainly Barnacles,  over all day, yesterday 30-40 Whoopers touched down on Pottie before going on again.  Loch Pottie - 36 Tufted Duck (including two showing a lot of white and pale patches on head Scaup/Hybrid?), a few Teal, 1 Little Grebe and 4 (2 pair) Gadwall.  One party of Barnacles (about 40) had 18 Brents flying in company.  Looking for first Long Tailed Duck – thought had one last week but light bad for definite identification but diving in typical style (open wings)! Mike Wagemakers

30th: I had 5 Barnacle Goose flying West yesterday at Bunessan. Bryan Rains 
29th  Salen:  A Ringtail Hen Harrier flying low over Mediterranea in Salen.  Ruth and Stuart
29th Loch Cuin by Dervaig: 15 Tufted duck here (unusual) almost all our Tuftted duck are usually on Loch Pottie. Arthur Brown
25th Glen Forsa Airfield: 7 Brent Geese on Glenforsa airfield - yesterday evening Debby Thorne
23rd September - Aros Estuary 5 Brent Geese Ruth and Stuart
20th a Red Kite soaring overhead. in the company of 2 Ravens which were giving it a bit of a hard time. This all happened at 14.20 hrs. means it was born on Black Isle in 2000, unfortunately I could not get it's number.  Bob Hastie 
check out Bobs website, 
"Sorry for this late report sighting but I thought you'd like to know of a Glossy Ibis I found, NNW of Knocklovogan near Fionnphort (NM312 203) on the 16/09/09.  The bird was refound on the 17/09/09 down on the estuary between Fidden campsite and Erraid Island. I have only just submitted my sighting to birdguides as I've just come back off the Island and had very little signal on my phone at the time of finding the bird, then it decided to die! Unfortunatly the bird was not photographed. "      Alein Shreeve
(a full detailed descriptive report is required for the extremley rare bird,  the last Argyll record was in Oct 1958 on Tiree. (only 6 records in the 20th centuary) lets hope this can be achieved - Alan
18th Glen Aros House: Party of 5 Crossbills nr Glen Aros House; further 3 over Killiechronan spruce plantation. 20 Wigeon and single Whimbrel, Salen bay. A Small Copper butterfly nr the recumbent standing stone at Killiechronan was the observers' first of the year
Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
18th Ardura: River walk area: a small party of 10 Crossbills flew over. Dai Roberts
17th Loch Scridain: 11 Brent Geese flying south over loch scridain Bryan Rains
17th  Iona:  Single Wheatear and (at least) one White Wagtail in group of Pied Wagtails feeding  at the Bay at the Back of the Ocean
Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
17th Killiechronan. a very late Common Whitethroat on the campsite in the gorse showed  well. five Golden eagles together through Glen More.    Alan Spellman - Dai Roberts
15th: Langamull area 2 Jays flew across road into plantation nr Langamull car park;  Jay(s) heard but not seen in Killiechronan spruce plantation on 7th Ruth Flemming & Stuart Gibson
14th Salen and Craignure: a Hummingbird hawk moth by the Salen shop, feeding from honeysuckle and another by the Spar shop Craignure feeding from the flowers for sale just outside the shop. Alan Spellman
13th Loch Beg: 20 Golden Plover,15 Turnstone, 5 Greenshank,  ++ Redshank,10 Teal, 4 Knot and Dunlin.1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Hen Harrier. Kevin Boothroyd. Bryan Rains
13th Fidden area: Merlin chasing Meadow Pipits, 2 Sparrow Hawk and 2 Kestrel. 2 Hen Harrier. Kevin Boothroyd
11th Marble Quarry, Iona - Female/First Year Pied Flycatcher (possibly two) doing their 'thing'  from the boulders in the Marble Quarry.  Viewing against the light so colouring not perfectly clear - on returning home and checking the book - picturing the white wing markings  - Mike Wagemakers
10th Croggan: 2 Wheatear and 5 House martins in area.Black throated Diver in Loch Bui. Kevin Boothroyd
10th  Killechronan. 4 bar-tailed godwits, 2 blackheaded gulls, 1 dunlin, a dozen or more ringed plovers and a WTSE flying around in front of us as we ate our lunch. Pam Brown and Felicity Hansen
9th Sept - 2 Bar-tailed Godwits still at Killiechronan , a very good Red Throat in Calgary Bay showing red throat well and great Golden Eagles and Hen Harrier at Reudle. There was a Arctic Skua in Salen Bay giving very close views chasing a gull. Arthur & Pam Brown  Discover Mull
9th Fidden: a Wheatear, Bar tailed Godwit, juvenile Ravens, lots of Greylags and Pied and White Wagtail all over the place. Kevin Boothroyd-Alan Spellman
6th - 7th Sep - Aros Estuary  2 Bar-tailed Godwits, with 3 there at HT roost on latter date
6th - 7th Sep - Loch na Keal (Killiechronan) 2 Bar-tailed Godwits; 2 ad. WTSE nr camp site on 6th; Peregrine being chased by Oystercatcher nr Kellan on 6th; 20+ Mistle Thrushes nr camp site on 7th; party of 8 Siskins and 5 Bullfinches in woods above Killiechronan on 7th; 14 Kittiwakes roosting at burn mouth nr Ben More car park on 6th   Ruth Fleming, Stuart Gibson, Tom & Barbara Bettley
7th Salen Bay:A Whimbrel, also Wigeon here and a Great Northern Diver in the Sound. Arthur & Discover Mull
7th Loch na Keal: 4 newly arrived summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, here to spend winter with us. Arthur Brown
3rd Ferry Oban-Craignure: up to 12 Manx Shearwater seen flyiong west. Alan, Tom & Barbara Bettley, Pam White.
2nd Lochdon: Sheila Weir reports an Osprey over Lochdon this morning.
2nd Dervaig: An Osprey flew over my house again around 9 am.It came from the direction of the tree's to our left and flew directly towards the house then turned and flew off towards Loch Cuin. Pam Brpwn
31st Aug Dervaig/Loch Cuin:3 groups of Crossbills in forest nr Standing Stones, totalling 27 birds - largest flock was of 21 individuals; 3 Little Grebes and single Greenshank at High Tide on Loch Cuin  Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
30th  Killiechronan:  15 Mistle Thrushes on dead tree opposite camp site  Stuart Gibson
29th Aug Tobermory: Peregrine viewed from service bus, approx. 2 miles E of Tobs at 09.35 hrs.  Stuart Gibson
28th Loch na Keal: 2 dark phase arctic skuas at the head of the loch na Keal in very wet & windy weather David and Felicity Pollard
27 August. Family of three woodcock took to the wing by Loch Uisg road, Loch Buie. July/August. House Martin successfully nested Laggan Lodge, Loch Buie. This a first.     Alastair Gossage

Latest reports for August 2009
30th Aros Estuary: first returning Wigeon (4 birds) and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits; Crossbill heard over plantation near Aros Castle
Loch na Keal:5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 75 Ringed Plovers and 7 Dunlin at High Tide near Killiechronan camp site; single late Common Sandpiper along south shore of loch and 24 Kittiwakes roosting and bathing at burn near car park for ascent of Ben More - Dhiseig.  Ruth Fleming, Stuart Gibson, Tom & Barbara Bettley

16th 2 Woodcock and 1 Tawny Owl near Kilbeg Cottage Glenforsa.  Sparrowhawk seen daily hunting around cottage and 28th Killbeg Cottage: 2 crossbill in conifer in garden of cottage .  Male Hen Harrier hunting during a dry spell on 23rd
17th - Family of spotted flycatcher on walk from Craignure to Torosay through forest.  Razorbill, Guillemot and 2 Black Guillemot close inshore near pump house at Duart.  Also excellent views of a whole family of lizards on corrigated sheets near pump house - very reliable place to go and see lizards as they were there each day we looked (If the sun was out)
22nd - 60+ dunlin came in to land along with 16+ ringed plovers in estuary opposite Aros Castle.  Also one  Sanderling 
23rd - 2 Golden Eagle and 2 Sea Eagle feeding on a sheep in a field opposite Pennyghael stores heading around loch just before turn off to Tirroran House. Sylvia Brennan 
24th - Single swift at Loch Buie flying over cottages also a  Dunlin here. Sylvia Brennan 
Otters - Salen Bay - single.  Craignure pier - 3 together one evening.  Tobermory - Single in bay. Sylvia Brennan 
Basking shark - 1 very close inshore at Craignure Pier at high tide one evening.
27th Glengorm Minke Whale seen when sea watching from Glengorm Castle  Sylvia Brennan 

27th Dervaig: An excited Pam Brown phoned to tell me that she had just watched an Osprey from her kitchen window, her first Osprey on Mull. Pam Brown Discover Mull Tours
25th Lochdon: two Osprey fishing successfully in the loch and feeding at the Gorsten end on a dead tree by the side of the loch which is used regularly. Rosie & Rod Salzman.(neighbours)
15th - 22nd :  1 immature white tailed eagle  over Glen Bellart, Tail was brown and the bird looked like a young immature. it was this years chick from Loch Frisa just over the ridge, birds not tagged this year. Peter Smith
16th - 1 corncrake!! - Was just walking down the road  (just above Killiemor on north side of Loch na Keal)  On view for about 30 seconds before it crossed the road and disappeared into bracken.  Peter Smith
17th - 1 adult white tailed eagle sitting on ridge of "A Mhaol" (460327) as viewed from the B8035 at about 4pm.  After about 15 mins took flight and was chased by 2 golden eagles for about 1 minute!  The white tailed eagle had a blue tag on its right wing, but none on the left wing.  Unfortunately I could not read the number. Peter Smith
19th - 1 Bonxie chased a Herring Gull and then carried on south past the North West end of Iona,  Peter Smith
22nd Ben Buie: 3 Ptarmigan just below the north summit of Ben Buie.  Fidden - Approx 20 Bar T Godwits,  several Greenshank amongst good numbers of Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher and a few Dunlin - Mike Wagemakers
12th Mishnish lochs: at least 10 Little Grebe on the loch including 2 juveniles. Andy Bayes
11th, adult Twite feeding young in the middle of the road under Gribun cliffs  Andy Bayes
3rd Uisken: 10 (pure bred) Rock Dove plus 4 Twite.
4th Kellan Mill: Golden Eagle - 2 adults together plus a Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail over Kellen Mill. Arctic Skua - 1 dark phase off Duart point
5th Loch na Keal: 25 Red breasted Merganser 
6th August: two golden eagles on the road to Loch Buie. Adan Hartley
6th Glen Aros: Hen Harrier  - 1ad male, Great Northern Diver - summer plumage adult at Laggan Bay 
Golden Eagle - 1 over hills above Laggan Bay. White tailed Eagle - adult over Kellen Mill in morning, another adult high over Torosay  heading towards Grasspoint, Salen Bay: Greenshank, Whimbrel 
7th August: basking shark at Grasspoint in the morning , Great Skua soaring high over Iona, Bay at the Back of the Ocean: ~20 ringed plover, ~10 dunlin, 1 turnstone. Good numbers of porpoises and dolphins in the Sound of Iona. AH
7th Loch na Keal: Red throated Diver - 1 ad summer, Laggan Bay Golden Eagle - 2 together over hills. Ian Hartley
1st highlights last week: 4 Peregrines hunting over Tobermory Bay. Basking shark on the sealife adventure tour plus manx shearwater guillemots, razorbills , gannets. Otter on 3 occasions in Tobermory harbour.Sea Eagles on loch Frisa, absolutely amazingplus a bonus of Golden Eagle.flock of Common Scoter from Calgary. Common Sandpiper at Dervaig, at Craignure: Common Tern, Black Guilleomot  plus White throat from train.  The Harber Family
8th Penmore: this afternoon I had a juv.Golden Eagle in my garden for over an hour..it sat on a large tree stump, preened itself, relieved itself (I have the evidence!), flew to another perch, back to the stump then swooped into my wild bit, then back to devour ts catch then away. 8.00p.m a White Tail flew low over the garden. Friday a Merlin and ...I kid you not, Wednesday a juv.Peregrine harassed my bird table for about 10 mins. Could it be my Chanel No.5 attracting them? or my surname?   Cheers,  Sylvia Swift
8th Balmeanach, Griburn:  Colin Moody saw a Swift here : Grasspoint Adam Hartley found a Whinchat: at Loch Assapol Bob Hastie found an early drake Golden Eye plus Yellowhammers, Adults and juveniles.
Whilst cleaning out a nest box today I discovered a second nest containging 3 eggs underneath the one that had been used successfully this year. ALan
Last week an injured juvenile Hobby was found at Glen Forsa, it was taken to 'wings over mull' but late died.
6th Grasspoint: Red throated Diver, 2 Porpoise and 1 Dolphin. Adam Hartley
5th Iona: Perigrine falcon, 6 Twite, 10 Rock Doves Andy Bayers
4th Grasspoint: Twite, female Hen Harrier and Arctic Skua out at sea from Grasspoint.  Adam Hartley
4th Grasspoint: a male Hen Harrier and 2 Short eared Owls. Jim & Linda Hurles 
3rd Loch Beg: Greenshank, 10 Golden Plover & 6 black bellied Dunlin Andy Bayers
3rd Laggan Bay: At least 5 Twite in a mixed Finch flock including Linnets, Greenfinch and Goldfinches Arthur Brown
3rd Loch Scridain: Common Scoter. 4 Porpoise at Grasspoint this evening. Adam Hartley
2nd Lochdon/Grasspoint road: 2 Greenshank in the bay above the bridge. Jenny Smith
2nd Glen Forsa: a male Hen Harrier Andy Bayers
2nd Grasspoint: 2 Knot there this evening. Adam Hartley
2nd Tobermory: juvenile peregrine screeching at its mum from tall spruce tree in our garden (Viewmount).  Very, very noisy - could hear it through double glazing! Last Saturday: whitethroats (possibly feeding young in brackeny area as there was a lot of noise and activity), Bloody Bay.  Sheila Barnard
1st Dervaig: 2 Black tailed Godwits, 6 Bar tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 4 Curlews and a Redshank at Dervaig this morning also 9 goosanders here. Arthur Brown
Latest reports for September 2008
30th  Tobermory, Sgriob Ruadh  - 6 Rooks  Shaun Mccullagh
30th Loch Spelve: 45 Eider duck by the fish farm, Juvenile Wheatear still hanging around. Alan
28th Reudle: 1 Immature Peregrine & 1 Wheatear, Dervaig garden - 1 Willow Warbler
27th Lochdon: 4 Juvenile Whooper Swans have arrived overnight. Alan
25th Lochdon: 50+ Wigeon arrived overnight to spend winter here. Alan Spellman
25th Bowmans field by 'Craignure' Golf course. 17 Canada geese with Greylags. Alan
22nd Caliach Point: 60 Brent Geese flying south   at Killiechronan Camp site, Black throated Diver visitor Brian Anderson & Alan Spellman
19th Killiechronan: a female Gadwall present this morning. Arthur Brown. Discover Mull Tours
17th Lochdon: An Osprey over Lochdon this morning. Alan Spellman 
16th Aros :2 Bar tailed Godwit, On Loch na Keal a single Slavonian Grebe in eclipse plumage. Arthur Brown
15th Craignure Golf course: Little Tern. We had one hovering close in at the lay by just past Craignure golf course. Dennis Morrison
15th Bunesssan: 2 Common Swft seen by Bryan Rains Wild about Mull Tours
15th Treshnish: Just now (Monday) had a Swift fly by my house at Treshnish, Anand Prasad
14th Knock Fish Farm: Iceland Gull at Knock Fish Hatchery Outfall.  Perhaps the same one as last year returning for another winter of rich pickings.  Also large numbers of Mallard, Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls, 2 Greater Black-backs and a few Teal. Shaun Mccullagh
11th Sept Loch Beg 3 Goosander, 1 Greenshank, 4 Turnstone, 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe. 
11th Craignure Golf Course: up to 32 Canada Geese in fields with Greylags. Alan/Kevin Boothroyd
11th Caliach Point: 30+ Pied Wagtail, amongs them 2 White Wagtail. Alan/Kevin Boothroyd
9th  Loch Scridain 5 Black Guillemot, 2 WT Eagle hunting the Gannets. Bryan Rains Wild about Mull Tours
9th Fidden: 1 single White Wagtail, Skylarks and Twite, 150 Greylags Kevin Boothroyde/Alan Spellman
7th Loch Harrison by Loch Assapol)  1 Whooper Swan, 3 Tufted Duck. Fidden 1 Peregrine.
Northern Bottlenose Whale. Loch Scridain 9th Sept 2008Two Northern Bottlenosed Whales in Loch Scridain 9th September 2008
Northern Bottlenose Whales by Chris and June Banks
8th Loch Scridain:  A very Rare sighting of two Northern Bottlenose Whales. very close inshore, just south past the Kinloch Hotel, Loch Scridain. Normally a deep water Whale from the Arctic and they can stay under for up an hour.  Kindly reported by Chris and June Banks  visitors from Dronfield in Derbyshire. 
9th Loch na Keal: 5 Velvet Scoter on the loch today. Alan Heeley (visitor)
7th Lochdon: 50+ Ringed Plover plus a few Dunlin on the mudflats. 2 male Hen Harrier. Kevin Boothroyd
4th Tobermory: Approx 120 Brent geese flew over tob bay nw-se this pm. Jenny Reddaway
2nd Sept Loch Beg 2 Little Grebe, 1 juv Hen Harrier, 4 Turnstone, 4 Greenshank, 1 Northern Wheatear. Beach 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Black Guillemot, 200 Eider. Ardchrishnish 4 Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Uisken
1 Northern Wheatear, 3 White Wagtail, 3 Yellowhammer. Fidden 1 fem Sparrowhawk. Young Adders are delighting the guests and they are out in good numbers at the moment. Wild About Mull. Bryan Rains
2nd Loch Frisa: Chris Griffin reports a Hobby briefly at Loch Frisa yesterday. It flew up with one of the Frisa juvs and 2 peregrines. went off towards Dervaig.
2nd Lochdon: an Osprey flew over Lochdon today at 1550hrs. Alan Spellman
Latest reports for September 2007
28th Lochdon: "........regularly had two 'Marsh Tits' on our bird feeders since July.  The birds were still there yesterday.   Sue Dewar 
(a photo is required to confirm Marsh or Willow but either would  be a first record for Mull)
27th Tobermory: It has been an amazing day up here at Tobs for geese!  On a faily frequent basis since about 8am we've had flocks of graylags, usually in skeins of between 17 and 25 birds flying in from the north.  At 4.00pm circa 150 Pale bellied Brent geese flew in from the north-west.  landing on Calve island and Bay.  Jenny Reddaway.
27th Loch na Keal: Slavonian Grebe  adult and two juvenile also juv Black Guillemot and a Black throated Diver. Alan Spellman
26th OBAN: First returning (2) w/p Black Guillemots back in Oban Bay today, after ca. 6 week absence for post-breeding moult. Stuart Gibson
25th Fidden - 8 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Northern Wheatear, 60 Skylark.  Bryan Rains, 
25th  N. Connel-Loch Etive,  12 Whooper Swans (all adults) that have been on Loch Etive, opposite Achnaba, today. Graham Brennan, Stuart Gibson
25th Finnphort:  100+ Barnacle Geese over Fionnphort, heading south-east, lunchtime - our first sighting of  returning birds this year.  Mike Wagemakers
20th Killiechronan:  200+ Greylags plus a single  Black tailed Godwit.  K Boothroyd/Alan Spellman
19th Loch Beg : 6 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone. At Fidden 5 White Wagtails with Pied plus Skylarks and 8 Twite. Kevin Boothroyd/Alan Spellman
19th Loch Pottie: Juvenile Moorhen, in reed beds North West Corner (this may be a first breeding record for Mull) - Mike Wagemakers
8th-15th Grasspoint 6 Twite, 9th Pale bellied Brent at Garmony, Slavonian Gebe Loch na Keal. Merlin hunting Meadow Pipits along Loch na Keal and at Dhiseig. 12th Leaches Petrel off Tobermory, Red throateed Diver with Juvenile at Loch Spelve, a juvenile Black Tern at Ulva Ferrry & 5 Pink footed Geese flew south over Craignure (15th) Andrew Gouldstone, Area Conservation Manager, RSPB 
17th OBAN: Aduilt. Ring billed Gull at roost on George Street foreshore, Stuart Gibson
17th Lochdon: 2 Whooper Swans & up to 4 Goosander with juveniles. Discover Mull
4th Glengorm: Goshawk 4th Sept Road between Glengorm Castle Road where it forks to the Dervaig road 
5th Loch Frisa: an Osprey at the Farm ( not fish farm ) end of Loch Frisa 
7th Loch Ba: an Osprey at the head of Loch Ba  in the trees before the House that sits on the Loch 
14th Salen Bay: An Arctic Skua and a 'rare' juvenile Little Tern  Pam &Arthur Brown. Discover Mull 
12th OBAN: The adult (or 4th W. if still the same bird as originally seen in Spring 2005) Ring billed Gull gave superb, close-up views (down to only 3 metres !) on the George Street foreshore, 
10th Lochdon-Grasspoint. female Hen harrrier with young on the south side. David & Felicity Pollard
10th Burgh:8 Buzzards circling over the house at Burgh. David & Felicity Pollard 
5th-6th Lochdon 5 Wigeon, Loch na Keal Black throated diver, 60+ Meadow Pipits at Grasspoint , Willow Warbler at Grasspoint. Michael Richardson
7th Griburn road by Loch na Keal: our spot of the week was a Goshawk  It flew across the road from the shore to the hillside in front of the car. We followed it as it flew along the hillside chasing small birds  Gordon and Sylvia Crawshaw 
8th Lochdon: An Osprey at Lochdon this morning briefly and then flew south. Charlie Weir
6th Sept - Uisken 2 Whitethroat  Bryan Rains
4th Aros Park:  a Kinfisher was spotted here  Visitor pp Jenny Reddaway
4th Sept - Killunaig 1 Turnstone, Loch Scridian 1 RT Diver (sum pl).
4th  Aros Castle: 3 Widgeon at Aros castle today my first this autumn.
2nd Calliach Point: 60 Manx Shearwater through Cailiach Point in 15 Minutes. Arthur Brown
3rd Sept - Loch Scridian 1 BT Diver (sum pl), Loch Beg 1 Hen Harrier, Fidden 6 Twite.
2nd Sept - Loch Beg 1 Hen Harrier.
1st Sept - Loch Beg 1 Knot (sum pl).Bryan Rains
Latest Reports for September 2006
30th Lochdon : 5 Greenshank feeding on the loch shores at 3 pm in the afternoon. Alan Spellman
30th Lochdon : 5 Whoopers on the loch this morning Alan
28th Lochdon: 3 Whooper Swans flew in this evening at 17630.hrs Alan Spelllman
27th Kintra : a Water Rail by her garden pond, near Kintra, heard calling in the night and seen at close range from her kitchen window, possible injured wing.  Seen briefly by myself. Elvyn Blomfield, Mike Wagemakers
25th  Ulva Ferry :    Single Spotted  Flycatcher.   Pair of Black Throated Divers,  6 Dunlin,  10 Oyster Catchers and a single Long Tailed Duck in Calgary Bay.    4 Little Grebe at Dervaig.     One White Tailed Eagle (adult) flying overhead on the back road from Dervaig to Salen         Kevin Lock and Paul Harwood        Nottingham
23rd  Loch Spelve 14 Turnstone on the shore of Loch Spelve (near Ardnachoil farm)   Pair of Hen Harriers (Male and Female) in Glen More 10.40 am
23rd  Grasspoint : Ringtail Hen Harrier, near bridge on road down to Grasspoint. 4 Golden Eagles: all Adults. Two at West end of Loch Spelve and two at Glenmore, displaying!  Trevor Donaldson et al, Aberdeen  Bird Club group
 Loch Beg :We had an unusual wader at Loch Scridain, turned out to be Eclipse plumage Sanderling, associating with two Dunlin, one Knot ( winter) and a Golden Plover. Trevor Donaldson et al, Aberdeen  Bird Club group
26th Killiechronan campsite:   1st Little Gull of the autumn at Killiechronan campsite today .  Arthur with tour
25th Cagary Bay :  a juvenile Sanderling with 4  Dunlin at Calgary Bay,  Anand Prasad
18th Sept – Merlin, Fellonmore.  19th Sept – 2 Sooty Shearwater, Loch Scridain – 1 Little Grebe, Loch Beg
20th Sept 3 Pale-bellied Brent, Fidden        Bryan Rains & Joy Hardy
23rd Lochdon : at 1900hrs 30 Turnstone, 75 Golden Plover, 97 Whimbrel, 20 Dunlin, 30 Bar tailed Godwit,
35 Oystercatcher. Alan Spellman
22nd Laggan Ulva. a single Brent goose. Arthur Brown Discover Mull Tours
21st Lochdon at high tide 1900hrs. 115 Whimbrel, 8 Redshank, 4 Bar tailed Godwit, 20 Golden Plover, 50+ Wigeon. Alan
17th  Glen More :Possible juvenile Goshawk in Glen More opposite the quarry, Buzzard size but like Sparrowhawk, did not hover but held on wind when not circling kept diving short and fast darts to ground before rising again. Arthur Brown
16th Salen : male blackcap in my Salen garden yesterday  David Sexton RSPB Officer
16th Killiechronan :   I Got my Black Tailed Godwits at Killiechronan in a small bay to the left of where we were this morning. A little later both birds, there was 2 of them, flew off showing white wing bars and black tail.  Arthur and Pam
16th Caliach Point : 50 Twite and a single White Wagtail amongst a few Pied Wagtails. Pat & Bob Stone & Alan
12th Fidden : 3 White Wagtails with up to 50 Pied Wagtails on the shore near Farm. Also Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Twite all busy feeeding in the field and on the  shore line.  A Merlin flew past. Alan Spellman & Kevin Boothroyd
12th Loch Beg  : 5 Greenshanks were presant opposite the Kinloch Hotel, plus Redshank, and Golden Plover. Kevin B
11th by Ulva Ferry. Flock of 30 Eider by fish farm. David & Felicity Pollard
11th Lagganulva: 2 Black throated Divers, Dipper on aros river, 120 Greylag Geese put up by WTSE great noise and spectacle off Killiechronan campsite, also there 60+ Ringed Plover at high tide. Arthur Brown.
10th Loch Beg : 2 Knot g, 2 Red throated Divers and a Great Skua Loch Scridain also my 1st Teal of the autumn on the 8th. Great Golden Eagle everywhere at the moment a lot of them juveniles.   Arthur Brown.
7th Carsaig. Nuns Cave. flock of 16 Twite on shore. David & Flicity Pollard.
10th Lochdon at high tide, (20.30hrs) I counted 136 Whimbrel and 23 Bar tailed Godwit, plus a few Dunlin. Alan
10th Killiechronan. 8 Black tailed Godwits in field . Alan Spellman
9th Lochdon. : at high tide on a small spit of land.(0900hrs) 34 Whimbrel, 37 Golden Plover, 20 Bar tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and 4 Wigeon plus 6 Herons.       Alan Spellman
8th Killiechronan.1900hrs 15  Black tailed Gowits in field counted.  Alan Spellman
7th Lochdon :  Osprey over Lochdon this morning 08.20 hrs. Andy Oldacre
6th Grasspoint : 2 Red throated Divers - Osprey - Mussle Farm  Loch Spelvie - Redwing - Loch Spelvie. Jan & Pete Hall
6h Killiechronan. 189 Greylag Geese in fields (no tags) plus 25 Black tailed Godwit in partial summer plumage. By the Camp site were 37 Ringed Plover and a single juvenile  Knot.  Alan Spellman
5th Fidden : 100+ Meadow Pipits feeding on the shore near the farm.20 Pied Wagtails and juveniles alos 4 Alba race Wagtails. 16 migrating Dunlin on shore and 120 Greylags in fields. Alan Spellman.
5th Lochdon: Bar tailed Godwits and an Osprey also  Crossbill at Garmony.   David & Felicity Pollard
4th Calgary Bay:  best bird was one Great Skua flying into Calgary Bay also one Basking Shark in  Bay.Anand Prasad
3rd Aros Bay:  2 Black throated Diver & Bar tailed Godwit in the bay. Arthur Brown  Discover Mull Tours
1st Loch Beg: 80+ Golden Plover plus Ringed Plover, Redshank and Greenshank. Pam & Arthur Brown
Summary for July to September 2005 from Alan Spellman
A long staying 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Bunessan Pier from 17th July to 19th August.
Calliach Point has been excellent all through this quarter with up to 130 Manx Shearwater, Gannets, Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots and Black Guillemots all being sighted. Both Great Skua (Bonxies) & 8 Arctic Skuas were seen on 23rd August. Further out to sea on the Oban to Coll ferry (22nd Aug), a Great Shearwater, 6 Sooty Shearwater & 2 Cory’s Shearwater were recorded plus 45 Storm Petrel & a Grey Phalarope (all in the mouth of the Sound of Mull) Simon Welloch RSPB Coll
In the calmer waters of Loch na Keal on 29th Aug, up to 10 Manx Shearwater were skimming across the loch and 6 Gannets were busy plunge diving for fish.
Summer plumaged Divers with juveniles included, on 22nd Aug, a Red throated Diver off Bunessan pier, and various dates in Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain. An adult summer plumaged Black throated Diver with a juvenile in Loch na Keal on 22nd and in Calgary Bay 2 summer plumaged Black throated Divers. There was even had a summer plumaged Great northern Diver at the mouth of Lochdon reported on 12th Aug
As we moved into August there were signs of waders on the move, 12 Sanderling recorded on 29th July in Calgary Bay and later (19th Aug) 2 birds at Ardalanish beach. At Langamull, Shaun Mccullagh reported a summer plumaged Sanderling on 2nd with Ringed Plover.
24th Aug, and  Lochdon  briefly held 24 summer plumaged Bar tailed Godwit, resting and feeding with 27 Golden Plover, 18 Whimbrel, 8 Curlew and 20 Dunlin on the spit at high tide.
On Ardalanish beach on 21st Aug there were 37 Dunlin, 15 Oystercatcher, 40 Ringed Plover, and Loch Beg, opposite the Kinloch Hotel, there were 71 Golden Plover & 40 Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone, Greenshank, Redshank and a single Bar tailed Godwit. At Lochdon on 10th Aug.The Discover Mull Tour reported 12 Greenshank at Loch Don, (an unusually high number of birds)
A single Magpie was seen on the road to Croig on 7th Aug close to the Dervaig Road.
Ardalanish beach area ‘came up with the goods yet again’ with a flock of 40 Linnets feeding in the fields.
Meadow Pipits were on the move, 60 plus birds flew in from the north at Caliach point on 21st Aug and at Killiechronan there was a male Redstart by the camp site at 12th. A Wood Warbler was heard calling in the sunshine as late as 1st Aug at Craignure.
Ospreys were recorded on 5th Aug; two birds perched together at Knock by Loch na Keal. A  single bird was fishing over Lochdon on 7th  and  another migrating bird at Craignure over the Sound of Mull. A female Merlin was seen at Fidden (always a good bet) and at Grasspoint  a hunting male, and scattered sightings were reported during Aug & Sept. Peregrines were still around regular sites and  on  11th Aug newly fledged Peregrine Falcon were giving very good views.
Corncrakes on Iona 2005: 25 minimum calling males are recorded. On Mull there were 5 confirmed calling
males spread from the Ross of Mull to Calgary, Torloisk and Treshnish Point. Staffa had two, Treshnish had three.”We have a very encouraging corncrake recovery underway on Mull”. (Dave Sexton, RSPB)
A Red breasted Merganser with 7 young was in the pool bridge at Lochdon on 20th Aug and there were 10 birds on Loch Cuin by Dervaig on 27th, and on Loch na Keal birds can always be found, I counted up to 25 during most of August. Large rafts of up to 300  Eider by the mussel farm and a single male Goosander on Loch Scridain.
Loch Pottie still has its single Whooper Swan on 19th Aug plus Little Grebe and 5 Tufted Duck
September brought two first records, both from north American with a rare Sabine’s Gull between Lismore point and Duart Castle, seen from the Oban-Craignure ferry on 23rd & reported by Bill Jackson. And earlier from 3rd-4th at Loch Beg by Kinloch, an American Golden Plover with other Golden Plovers, reported by Bryan Rains & Joy Hardy. Yet another rare bird from north America was a 2nd winter Ring billed Gull which spent most of the month at Oban Harbour, George Street foreshore, giving outstandingly close views & joined by a second 1st winter bird. The Glaucous Gull was again at Bunessan Pier and a Little Gull was at Loch Beg  on 18th. A Sooty Shearwater was spotted from the Craignure to Oban ferry near the lighthouse on the last day of the month by visitors John Evans & Paul Bridges.
Large movements of migrating waders continued through the first two weeks of September tailing off as the month ended. Including  peaks at favourite sites, Loch Beg, 90 Golden Plover, 39 Ruddy Turnstone, 100+ Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Lochdon, on a spit of land at high tide on 1st-3rd were 55 Whimbrel, 47 Oystecatchers, 64 Golden Plover, 40 Ruddy Turnstone, 8 Knot & 20+ Dunlin plus 8 Redsahnk & 2 Greenshank. (I looked very hard but could not find another American golden plover.)
At Calgary on 9th, a single Curlew Sandpiper was reported by Shaum Mccullagh, also 4 Sanderling. Dervaig Bridge site briefly held 15 Dunlin and had regular influxes of Snipe, indeed this area is perhaps the best for getting close to Snipe. Bill Jackson reported and photographed a Grey Phalarope flying over the seanear Duart Castle on 28th return ferry trip
A few returning winter ducks,Teal & Wigeon flew into Lochdon on 5th, and Red breasted Merganser in family parties were regularly fishing the loch. On 14th at Caliach point,a female Long tailed Duck was present.  Caliach point in September gives excellent sea watching with large movements of birds including 300+ Kittiwake, 100+ Gannets, Great Skua and large numbers of Manx Shearwaters. Duart Castle sea watching highlighted 50+ Arctic Terns on the move south plus Gannets aerial acrobatics as they hunted fish close inshore. 18 Pomarine Skua flew through on 29th at Caliach.
The first returning Slavonian Grebe was back on Loch na Keal on 2nd and a scarce Black necked Grebe  was there on 4th.
On 6th along the old Glen More road a Pied Flycatcher, a first year bird was found by Chris & Tony Johnson. Along the river Lussa near Ardura there was a Kingfisher on 19th. A lone single House Martin was still about on 20th in Glen Seilisder. At Ulva Ferry (6th) a Corncrake ran across the road in front of a tour bus.
Barn Owls are not often reported but Shaun Mccullagh watched one for several minutes along the Grasspoint road on 26th. Short eared Owl have been scare this year, on 24th visitors David & Felicity Pollard were lucky enough to see a single owl at Ease Force on 24th.








 

 
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