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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 www.wildaboutmull.co.uk
 
Red Kite over Ormsaig heading towards Bunessan (Bob Hastie) "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
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
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
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
27th Off Grasspointl: a drake
Velvet Scoter here, also an Osprey passed over Lochdon. David Woodhouse
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 Have you seen Saturdays (27th) Telegraph ? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/26/eaeagle126.xml 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 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 August 2008 30th Loch Frisa: The Osprey still hanging around the loch having spent most of the summer in the area 29th Craignure: a Magpie was heard but not seen this evening. John suckley from Bradford. 28th Kingfisher Salen Bay, mid afternoon, flying past the view point towards the fishing boats. MW 27th 5 Teal - North shore Loch na Keal Mike Wagemakers 27th 300+ Greylag Geese at Killiechronan 50 more at various spots, 6 dunlin flew over Aros Bay, 20 Ringed Plover at killiechronan with 10 Redshank. Ring Tailed Hen Harrier at Lagganulva and Linnets and Meadow Pipits here in good numbers. A Whinbrel flew over Salen calling and the dipper are back at Aros Bridge Great Skua seen regularly at Cailaich this week. Arthur and Pam Brown 25th Loch Scridain 1 dark phase Arctic Skua, 20 Common Tern, 30 Kittiwake, 100 Manx Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater. Bryan Rains 24th Loch Beg 4 Turnstone. Uisken 40 Manx Shearwater, 1 Basking Shark. Fidden 10 Twite, 1 Tree Pipit in a field looking a bit lost! Wild About Mull. 20th Aug Uisken 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Yellowhammer. Loch Scridain 20 Manx Shearwater, 3 Porpoise, 1 Minke Whale. Loch Beg 50 Redshank, 40 Dunlin, 50 Golden Plover, 6 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank, 1 Knot, 15 Turnstone. Wild About Mull. 19th Aug Loch Beg 2 Little Grebe. Loch Scridain 11 Red-throated Diver,2 Guillemot, 30 Common Tern. Fidden 3 Whinchat, 8 Ringed Plover. Bryan Rains 21st Loch Frisa: an Osprey flew over Loch Frisa. Caroline Davies 18th Loch Cuin: 12 dunlin & 2 Greenshank on Loch Cuin. Pam Brown 14th Lochdon: The Nuthatch was seen again this morning in Phil McDermotts garden at "Twlelve Oaks" Phil also reports a Turtle Dove in the garden earlier in May. AS 13th Craignure: The Nuthatch has again been seen in Pete Hall's garden this morning, it was seen here in June. Presuming it to be the same bird, it was first seen at Calgary in April and was the first ever record for Mull and then in Dervaig a few days later. images here 11th Killiechronan: a summer plumaged Black tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank and Redshank. Arthur Brown 8th Bunessan: a Rose Coloured Starling at Mill Bray, just N of Bunessan village, has been feeding in a local garden since 4th. Jack Degnan. Alan Spellman. Bryan Rains, Andy & Diana Oldacre.more images here 4th Loch Assapol: 1 Whooper Swan, 2 Tufted Duck. 5th Fidden : 10 Dunlin, 4 Twite. Uisken 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Basking Shark. 6th Uisken 4 Basking Shark. Bunessan 4 Black Guillemot, 200 Manxies offshore. Loch Beg 4 Greenshank. Loch Scridain 6 Goosander. Wild About Mull Bryan Rains 4th Killiechronan: Richard Atkinson reports a male Pied Flycatcher on the wires at Killiechronan 3rd Bunessan: a Turtle Dove photographed in a local garden a mile outside Bunessan. Pauline Reid. 3rd Lochdon: An Osprey fishing in the loch. Dokie Bennettt 3rd Fidden 24 Dunlin, 70 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose. Loch Beg 60 Golden Plover, 1 Hen Harrier, SE Owl, 4 Greenshank. Glen More 1 juv Sparrowhawk. Lots of Lesser Redpoll in various places showing well.Also had 8 Basking Shark and 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphin today! Wild About Mull. Bryan Rains 2nd Loch Beg 1 Knot, 16 Dunlin, 70 Golden Plover. Killunaig 6 Goosander (1 fem, 5 juv). Fidden 70 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose. Bryan Rains Wild about Mull Tours 1st Lagganulva: A single Common Swift seen here. Alao at Caliiach Point: 50+ Manx Shearwaters in a 30 minute sea watch. Red Throted Divers and lots of Black Guillemots. Finally Kestrels with young at several spots on the tour at the moment. Arthur Discover Mull Tours. Latest reports for July 2008 30th Dervaig by the sub station. At 0800hrs, a Rose Coloured Starling Pam & Arthur Brown 31st Dervaig: There was a male Rose coloured starling feeding on the side of the road at Dervaig on the 28/08/08 at 11:00hrs. Regards Maurice Webber 10th Croggan: A Jack Snipe was flushed from the roadside at Croggan on two occasions. Andrew Carey 25th Salen Bay: Sandwich Tern sheltering on island in Salen Bay - Mike Wagemakers 24th A juvenile cuckoo sitting on a fence post, we watched it for some time whilst a Meadow Pipit come to feed it, sometimes when it brought food it sat on the cuckoo’s back and the cuckoo turned it’s head to take the food – amazing. Pam Brown & Discover Mull tour 23rd Pete Hall Craignure reports the return of the Nuthatch to his garden feeder this morning. Pete Hall 21st Lochdon: An Osprey attempting to fish , being harassed by Sea Gulls. Alan, Jean and John Burnham 1st-14th: Excellent sightings of Hen Harrier at- road to Ardmore, Loch Beg, Glen Seilisder (Gribun end), Carsaig, Ardalanish, Ardtun they're doing well very well tjhis year. Ulva female Merlin & Griburn Rocks a Peregrine, also Short eared owl at Loch Beg area. Twite - Balmeanach farm (Gribun) Dark Green fritilary butterfly (Ardtun) 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 7 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin amongst the usual L Beg evening wader roost on 10th July Alex Carlisle 15th A pair of Arctic Skua South West Iona Morven Petrie & Joyce Watson 16th Balmeanach Camp site: Nightjar heard churring last night . Alex MacFadyen 15th Lochdon: 2 Greenshank, 2 Bar tailed Godwit, Looks like there are a few birds on the move at last. 15th Calgary Bay: 2 Red Throated Divers in the bay. and 2 adult Shelducks with 9 well grown ducklings AB 15th Garmony: Family of Greylags with 6 large Goslings in tow, also 2 Canada Geese. Alan 11th Loch Tuath: 3 Red Throated Divers together on Loch Tuath. Arthur Brown Discover Mull Tours 8th Loch Beg 3 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin, 12 Golden Plover, 10 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 3 Red-breasted Merganser. Bunessan 1 juv Whinchat, 3 Stonechat. Loch Scridain 4 Red-throated Diver. Bryan Rains 7th Fidden 1 juv Twite, 6 Skylark dust bathing, 1 fem Hen Harrier. Uisken 1 Yellowhammer, 3 Twite, 6 Linnet. Bunessan 1 Whimbrel. Loch Scridain 70 Kittiwake, 3 Puffin, 100+ Razorbill, 3 Guillemot, 30 Eider. 3rd a Short eared owl chase away a Hen harrier, the harrier was then chased by a Lapwing, across the loch north of Aird of Kinloch. 6th Saw a Hen harrier chase a Kestrel at Ardtun. Colin Moody 4th evening,an Osprey was back over Lochdon. Seen by Len & Pam White, Diana & Andy OldacreI. 4th saw 2 Swifts flying west over Haunn, Treshnish Point, Anand Prasad 3rd Loch Beg: 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 1 Short-eared Owl. Loch Scridain 4 drake Common Scoter still present, 1 Red-throated Diver. Beach 25 Swift, 2 Sparrowhawk. Ardalanish 1 Basking Shark, 1 Red-throated Diver. Wild About Mull. Bryan Rains www.wildaboutmull.co.uk 1st July: Loch Scridain 4 Common Scoter. 70 Siskin, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Golden Plover and 4 Dunlin 2 Black-headed Gull Loch Beg. 1 Common Tern, 1 Black Guillemot, 30 Manx Shearwater,150 Kittiwake, 5 Cormorant Bunessan. 6 Linnet, 2 Snipe Fidden. Bryan Rains 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 August 2007 26th Lochdon bridge poo:l a Kingfisher by the bridge on the grasspoint road, and a second bird was at Aros 28th. Peter Hall, Andy & Diana Oldacre & visitors Mr & Mrs No Name 9th to present Loch Beg 1 Black throated Diver and 1 juv Black Guillemot. Also up to 6 Crossbills seen in trees behind the shop. Barn Owl has been seen or heard most evenings this month. The Golden Plover flock has been between 70 and 100 birds most of the month. 6 Greenshank all month. Up to 3 Turnstone during the month. 14th Loch Beg 1 Swift. 17th to present Loch Beg 1 Knot. 24th Fionnphort 2 Bar-tailed Godwit. Bryan Rains 23rd Pennyghael had c130 Golden Plover, along with a solitary Turnstone, as well as about 10 each of Redshanks, Greenshanks, Ringed Plover. Finniphort ? had c200 Shags, which impressed me. Sam Forest 23rd Oban foreshore: a Ring billed Gull was on the George Street foreshore this evening Stuart Gibson. 18th Tobermory: A Black Redstart was spotted in Tobermory in the Ledaig car park area. this is only the third record for Mull. Vaughan Evans 17th Loch Cuin: 3 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Shaun Mccullagh. 5th Oban-Craignure Ferry 50+ Manx Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua (dark phase) and 1 Storm Petrel 9th Ulva, House Martin/Swallow Hybrid just behind café. Dr Martin Fowlie 19th Kilfinichan Bay: up to 8 Common Scoter in the Bay David Stafford. 15th Loch Tuath: a very scarce Velvet Scoter drake seen very close in shore by David Stafford 20th am 'Erraid Estuary', Fidden - 2 Juvenile Knot East of Erraid Log Pile - Carol Marshall 8th Glengorm Castle: sea watching at Dun Ara close to Glengorm Castle .I was watching a gannet fishing just off the shore when a Great Skua briefly attacked the gannet before flying out to sea. 9th Caliach Point: about a mile inland from Caliach Point a peregrine falcon flew over us. Trevor Walker 14th Griburn Rocks area: a 'probable' Goshawk Arthur Brown Discover Mull Tours 13th Loch Buuie:3 WTSE at Gull Point ( south side) Lochbuie Bay. I adult plus two juveniles. Alastair Gossage 10th Oban:31Swifts feedingover Oban at 21.00 hrs Stuart Gibson 9th Oban: 4 Swifts feeding over Campbell Crescent/Oban High school Stuart Gibson 9th Griburn: 5 Twite at Gribun on 8th also saw the B.T. Dive. Arthur Brown Arctic Skua (dark phase) seen daily on Loch Scridain chasing the CommonTerns. Bryan Rains 8th Aug - 2 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 1 Black-throated Diver and 30+ Golden Plover on Loch Beg. 6th Aug - 1 Peregrine, 1 Sanderling at Fidden. 2 Great Northern Diver at Uisken. Bryan Rains Wild about Mull tours. 6th Loch Na Keal: 4 Whimbrel on the south shore, also a Red Throated Diver the Usual Gannets Kittirwakes and guillemots and a black guillemot. Arthur Brown Discover Mull Tours 5th Aug - 2 RT Diver on Loch Scridain. 1 Sanderling at Fidden. 2nd - Probable Goshawk gliding from Quinish Woods south across Loch Cuin.Shaun Mccullagh. 1st August - 3 Peregrine and 1 Hen Harrier at Loch Pottie. 6th July: late report of a Nightjar at Dervaig by the Heritage Centre. P A Robinson Thanks to: P A Robinson, Shaun
Mccullagh, Arthur Brown, Carol Marshall, Bryan Rains, Debby Thorne,
Latest reports for July 2007 White tailes Sea Eagles tags for this year are white with black lettering and there are 8 chicks on Mull. 6 have been tagged with lettters A E G L M P and two will not be tagged. Dave Sexton 28th Loch Pottie :8pm - Pair Arctic Skua, one light morph, one dark morph over Loch Pottie heading towards Fidden - Carol Marshall 27th Loch Beg: Arthur Brown reports a single Sanderling here (rarely seen at this site) 20th Loch Buie: Red throated Dive, 2 pairs in bay at Lochbuie, pair of Canada Goose: pair at Garmony, Peregrine: 1 at Lochbuie, Dunlin: small group at Grasspoint, Greenshank: 1 Dervaig 18/7, 1 Garmony 20/7.Bonxie: group of 3 buzzed Staffa querulously 17/7; 1 off Grasspoint 16/7. briefly glimpsed in Dervaig reedbed 18/7 appeared to be Reed Warblers, but no song and they never re-appeared to provide a decent view. Sedge Warbler at Garmony, Redpoll: Garmony, and in trees beyond carpark at Grasspoint, 20/7 Anthony Cheke July 2 to July 5. Short-eared Owl, July 2: fence post at the side of the road in Glen More, Merlin, July 3: adult male, Fionnphort, Twite, July 3: Iona, near Sligneach, Hen Harrier, July 3: adult male, between Fionnphort and Achaban House. Golden Eagle, July 4: Killiechronan, also the Loch Scridain. Manx Shearwater, Gannets July 5: ferry from Craignure to Oban. Mark Kulstad 22nd Loch Beg - 72 Golden Plover, 1 Grey Plover(juv), 6 Greenshank, 24 Lapwing and 8 Dunlin(3 juv). Bryan Rains www.wildaboutmull.co.uk 20th Family of Peregrine 2 Adults and 2 Juvenile - Gribun; Black Guillemot, Red Throated Diver - Loch na Keal Mike Wagemakers records from visitor John Beal : Already showing signs of wader movements with 14th, 1 Greenshank Lochdon, 13th 1 peregrine Bameanach, 14th male Wigeon Dervaig, male hen harrier Glengorm, 15th 2 twite Staffa, 1 red grouse near Eas Fors( in grassy woodland, not on moors) and 16th 9 Swifts between Lismore and Craignure. 19th Loch Scridain - 5 Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Puffin,1 Black Guillemot, 40+ Common Tern. Loch Beg - 4 Greenshank, 15 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Black-headed Gull. Fidden - 3 Dunlin (juv), 4 Black-headed Gull. Bryan Rains 17th Fidden: Greenshank Fidden pm today - Carol Marshall 15th Fidden - 2 Great Skua, 1 Dunlin and 1 Corncrake heard. Loch Beg - 1 Greenshank, 3 RB Merganser, 1 Peregrine. Loch Scridain - 1 Puffin, 3 Manx Shearwater, 40 Common Tern, 1 Black Guillemot. Bryan Rains 15th Loch Scridain: Pair Red Throated Diver Mussel Farm, ; 8 Crossbills from forest track bridge Gleann Seilisdeir. Michael Wagemakers 13th Garmony: 100+ Arctic Terns, 20 Turnstone, Ring Plover with 3 chicks. Alan Spellman 13th Loch Beg: 3 Greenshank on Loch Beg and 1 Great Skua on Loch Scridain. Bryan Rains 11th Loch Scridain: .c100 Manx Shearwater, 1 Black Guillemot, 1Red-throated Diver Bryan Rains 10th Balmeanach Camp site. A Nightjar heard and seen over last couple of nights, very clearly seen at Garmony picnic area early this evening having been disturbed (1640hrs) Tony & Sylvia Holmes. 7th Loch Cuin Dervaig: 13 immature Goosanders on north shore of Loch Cuin.Shaun Mccullagh Corncrakes on Iona: one of 17 calling males on 14/6 and one of 27 calling males on 23/6. Total figures will be worked out in due course. Mull records appear to be 7 calling males, at Kintra, Fionnphort, Knockvolagan, Fidden. Staffa. and Treshnish (2) 9th Tobermory: Jenny Reddaway reports two Tree Sparrows in her garden. Jenny Reddaway 9th Salen Bay:an Osprey over salen Bay now, heading to L n Keal.Later seen at Loch Frisa. Dave Sexton 9th oban bay: For the past four weeks, up to 40 Arctic and Common Terns have been opportunistically feeding on the large shoals of fish ('fry') that are present this Summer in Oban harbour. Stuart Gibson Pair Shelduck with youngster at Fidden, Pair Canada Geese and single youngster Loch Pottie - Carol Marshall 6th Lochaline: Off Mull but a suspected hobby just north of Lochaline .pp Dave Sexton 4th Balmeanach camp site: a Hobby hunting insects at the back of Balmanach camp site also 2 woodcock over same area that evening other birders on site had a female merlin at Gamony Point same day David and Lorraine Marsden 6th Quinnish Estate: a Nightjar heard one morning last week at about 4am whilst out with the dog. same area as last year (Quinish eatate) at about this time. Suggests possible breeding. Nick Reed 8 Barn Owl chicks from 2 nests were ringed by Sue Dewar a few days ago, one near Croig and one near Calgary. 2nd July, Oystercather with her chick very visible on little grassy Island off Ardtun road. Female Hen Harrier getting an aerial bombardment by Lapwings on old peat moor behind house. Callum Entwistle 1st July, Pair of Tufted Duck and Great Northern Diver in Bunessan Bay. Callum Entwistle, July Thanks to: Callum Entwistle, Bill O'Neill, Nick Reed , Shaun Maccullagh, David and Lorraine Marsden, Carol Marshall, Stuart Gibson, Dave Sexton, Jenny Reddaway, Simon & Helen Duckworth, Tony & Sylvia Holmes., John Beal, Carol Marshal, Mark Kulstad, Anthony Cheke, 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 Latest reports for August 2006 30th Treshnish Point. one Great Skua at Treshnish Point and about 6 Common Scoter flying around the Point. Anand Prasad 30th Black throated Diver at Dhisaig on Loch Na Keal Also Slavonian Grebe by outfall from hatchery at knock Arthur & Pam 23rd Cailiach point. 8 Arctic Skua were seen off the point today. Anad Prasad 21st Loch na Keal. A Slavonian grebe from the boathouse also a Great Skua at Croig and 20 Kittiewakes at Lagganulva. Yesterday 20th 150 Golden Plover Loch Beg Arthur & Pam Brown 5th-12th Loch Scridain. Great Northern Diver (2nd summer) between Pennycross and Killunaig. Oban-Mull ferry crossing. c 200 Manx Shearwater 5th Aug, 9th Loch na Keal Arctic Skua - single dark phase adult plus 3 adults on Loch Scridain opposite Killunaig (1 dark , 2 light) and one there on 12th Aug. 8th & 11th Loch Scridain/Loch Beg opposite the hotel at NM5328, single Greenshank 10th Killunaig. a single Merlin - 1 fem/juv and Hen Harrier Ad male on 6th and 9th Loch Don 11th over Killunaig. Red Kite - (blue wing tags) comes from the Black Isles population: 1 was seen over Killunaig 18:30h, heading slowly west. 6th Grasspoint: 2 Twite, flock of 40 Siskin at Killunaig on 11th Aug . flock of 50+ Rock Doves on Iona (8th) Ian Hartley 16th Ross of Mull 'Ormsaig' a Merlin from the window of the bungalow. Tony Jeffree 10th August, 5 Wheatear near to Fionnphort, 11th, Actic Skua in the Sound of Mull. Martin Izzard Canada goose was confirmed breeding this year on Mull at Garmony/Scallastle. At least one pair. Brood of at least 3 seen. Dave Sexton 10th Loch Beg. 30 Golden Plover along with 6 Dunlin flew into Loch Beg Arthur Brown 9th Oban Ferry. 200 Arctic Terns around Ladyrock, also 5 Gannets.3 Shearwaters. Alan 8th Oban Ferry. 3 Manx Shearwater, 1, Black Guillemot, 4 Little Tern, Diana & Andy Oldacre/Pam Brown. also a Little Gull briefly at Lochdon. (circa 12.00hrs) Alan 6th Loch na Keal. Black throated Diver in summer plumage, Pam Brown. 17 Whimbrel, Gannet, .Black Guillemot, 100+ Greylag, Eider. Alan 5th Croig. a single Goldeneye, this is very early for this 'winter species' Arthur Brown 2nd. Ben Buie. a covey of eight ptarmigan, in summer plummage, just below the summit of Ben Buie, put up by the dog below us. Also Sea Eagle across Loch Buie. Alastair Gossage 1st Loch na Keal. 5 Whimbrel along south shore. Alan Latest reports for July 2006 Dervaig - 22nd to 29th July; mainly from area of tidal pond Red-breasted Merganser - max 18 together on sea loch on 25th Sparrowhawk - a female and a male on 23rd Peregrine - 1 flew E on 23rd; 1 flew W on 27th Dunlin - max 5 on 23rd; 1-3 regular Snipe - 4 on 23rd and again on 26th Black-tailed Godwit - summer plumage adult present 22nd, 23rd and briefly on 25th Whimbrel - single on 23rd and 24th Greenshank - max 5 on 24th; 1-4 regular Common Sandpiper - max 3 on 23rd; 1-2 regular Tawny Owl - 2+ calling after sunset on 25th and 28th David Williams 28th Loch na Keal (Knock end) a Great Skua seen by Colin Moody, also a 'probable Little Gull isreported from Ulva Ferry 27th Fionnphort a single swift reported by Mike Wagemakers 26th Treshnish Isles. three Great Skuas over Treshnish Isles Anand Prasad 25th Croig. 30 returning Dunlin at Croig today Anand Prasad 22nd Ardnamurchan. I have just received a report confirming the sighting of a Bee Eater at Arnamurchan, near Killchoan Village on 8th May. July 10 Little Grebe:at Loch Peallach (Mishnish Lochs).12th Great Skua: 1 chasing a Gannet and flying southwest around Treshnish Point 18th Great Skua: 1 at 19.40 of Port Haunn. Prasad Loch Frisa sea eagle hide now closed for 2006. Both chicks fledged successfully. The hide still there so people are welcome to watch from there but it is now locked. Chicks and adults will be visible in the general area for several months to come. Please still read wildlife law notices and do not hang about on the track as it may stop adults bringing in food LAST WEEK. circa 10th. A drake King Eider was seen around Ulva Ferry it may still be around. Fiona Harmer 17th Lagganulva. a single Little Auk was here this morning. Arthur Brown. A summer plumaged Great northern Diver in the Sound of Mull this morning. Peter Bradley 16th Lochdon. 37 returning Whimbrel at high tide (9pm), 12 Golden P[lover Alan Spellman 10th Lagganulva. 3 Common Scoter close in shore and 1 Red throated Diver. Arthur Brown 5th Killiechronan. a Reed Bunting also on 7th 3 male Goosander at Garmony. S & H Duckworth 1st Lochdon. Yesterdays Osprey returned to fish lochdon, (pm) only to be chased off by the Sea Eagle. 30th June. Garmony: Jay in woodland (this is a first 'summer/breeding season' record? We normally only get them in winter months) Dave Sexton 30 June/July Iona. midnight to 3am corncarke survey : 32 calling birds; 1 also at Fidden. 30th June at 10.00 am a Goshawk flew low across the Dervaig - Salen road about 200m North of the hill fort/ abandoned village in a NE direction. Andy & Chris Marshall 29th June Craignure Golf course. 3 swift flying south along the shore line .Pam Brown. Discover Mull Tours. 27th June, 2 Twite on the raised beach between Port Haunn & Crackaig. Andy & Chris Marshall 22nd June. a late report of a Black tailed Godwit at Dervaig. from Colin Sedgewick Thanks 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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