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| Latest reports for December 200930th Salen:
Had a Tree Sparrow at our feeder today. Helen and Iain King
Salen
29th Fidden: A couple of good ones from the tour yesterday....1 Grey Plover and 1 Pink-footed Goose. Bryan Rain 28th December : Loch Ba: Single Slavonian Grebe and 5 (one drake) Goldeneye on loch; 10 Redwings, 7 Long-tailed Tits and solitary Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit along south shore was sum total of birds seen on an afternoon that made Jack Frost seem warm and inviting. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson22nd Knock: Among the birds at Knock today were. 54 Teal, 38 Goldeneye, 22 Oystercatchers, 6 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1 Peregrine, 1 Grey wagtail and 1 Stonechat. Colin Moody 18th Loch Pottie: 5 Lesser Canada Goose at Loch Pottie . They didn't hang around for me but they could still be in the area. Bryan Rains. 15th December - Loch na Keal/Loch Scridain10 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red Throated Divers and at least 9 Slavonian Grebes between Knock and Inch Kenneth. Pair of Golden Eagles soaring over the hillside above Knock Farm. Dipper at Knock Bridge. 100 + Barnacle Geese on Inch Kenneth. Black Throated Diver and single Red Throated Diver on Loch Scridain. Single Dunlin with 15 Ringed Plovers on Loch Beg where Greenshank heard. 2 Whooper Swans on Loch Sguabain. (the loch through Glen More) Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson during Isle of Mull Bird Club Field Trip 16th Lochdon: I am going to have to move my feeding station, every morning I find the nuts on the ground because the deer come along at night and attempt to knock the nuts to the ground with their antlers so that they spill open and then they can eat them. It's costing me a fortune. I'm a Yorkshireman and that hurts. Alan 11th Knock: Dipper on the river by the old bridge this afternoon. Alan 11th Killiechronan camp site: 30 Oystercatcher, 35+ Ring Plover, Iceland Gull. Alan 10th Oban harbour: group of 13 Eider (6M, 3F, 4juv). Felicity Hansen 10th Lochdon: a Great Spotted Woodp[ecker visited my bird feeder again today. Alan 10th Achnacraig on the Salen side: 5 Crossbills giving great views in tree tops up the forest track h. Waders at Dervaig this morning were 3 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers, a single Snipe and a Curlew. There were also 12 Teal and 6 Red-breasted Mergansers there. Arthur Brown 5th Oban:Adult Ring-billed Gull, CommonGulls,Herring Gulls, George Street foreshore at 15.15 hrs. Stuart Gibson 8th Oban harbour: 5 eider (3M 2F). Felicity Hansen 7th Ad male type Great Grey Shrike this pm (found by Brian John)on private land in Kilmartin Valley north of Lochgilphead. (3rd Argyll record in last 13 years) 6th Lochdon - Grasspoint: Goldeneye, Teal & Wigeon on the loch and a female Hen Harrier at Grasspoint. Alan 4th Calgary beach: 10 Reed Buntings were flitting about in the Marran grass on Calgary Beach. Pam Brown 4th Tobermory: male Blackcap on the brambles behind my flat. Felicity Hansen 4th Loch Cuin 4 Little Grebes, 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 5 Teal and 2 Wigeon. Immature Sea Eagle (two wing tags visible : White ,'E') sitting on rock. Calgary Bay: Three Great Northern Divers present . Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 4th Aros river: White throated Dipper showing well today. Alan 2nd Knock: the first white winged gull arrived with a 1st winter Iceland Gull at Knock hatchery. Bryan Rains Latest reports for November 2009 30th female Merlin at Loch Beg also 5 Goosander, Loch na Keal Great northern and Red throated diver, juv Black Guillemot, Red breasted Mergansers 20+, and Slavonian Grebe. 2 male Hen Harriers today. Pam-Arthur Felicity and Alan 29th Ardnacross: Barn Owl perched on roadside fence-post at approx. 19.00 hrs. Ruth Fleming, Robbie Fleming and Stuart Gibson 28th Sound of Mull: four Great northern Diver west of Fishnish Ruth Flemming et al 29th Quinnish 1 Black throated diver, 5 Great nothern Diver and a Jay in Quinnish woods. Pam & Athur Brown Late reports: 23rd Oct; female Siberian Stonechat at Ardvergnish and on 5th Nov a Siberian Chiffchaff at Macdougalls Garage at Pottie Reports have been sent to ABRC. Bryan Rains 18th OBAN: Immature Swallow flying South over Station Square, Oban was a rather incongruous sight given that local mountain tops were clothed in the first real snow of Winter. Stuart Gibson 19th Nov : a single Little Auk between Mull and Coll.John Bowler 19th Glenforsa beach : 40 Greylags, 2 Pinkfoot amogst them, 12 Curlew, 20 Turnstones , 2 Rock Pipits. Buzzard, 3 R B Mrgs, Great northern Diver, 12 Wigeon, 30 Oystercatcher. Debbie Thorne 18th Aros: three Goosander, (2male & 1female) plus Whimbrel, Wigeon and Teal. Alan 16th Garmony: Single Great Northern Diver in Sound of Mull; Woodcock flushed from roadside ditch; 2 Crossbills calling over Sitka Spruce plantation; Two parties of Long-tailed Tits, totalling 14 birds, plus 3 Bullfinches seen along shore path to Fishnish; also drake Goosander at Aros Estuary. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 15th: A Red Grouse on the walk from Loch Tor to Loch Frisa on the Dervaig side on the 14th, 3 more Red Grouse on the same side but nearer Loch Frisa today the 15th. Woodcock in the wood above Loch Frisa today seen doing more BTO tetrad squares. Arthur Brown 15th Lochdon: Our Greater Spotted Woodpecker back again this morning Alan 12th Lochdon: Greater Spotted Woodpecker at my bird feeder this morning. Alan 11th Lock na Keal: Black throated Diver, Great northern Divers and Slavonian Grebe, R B Mergansers, Goldeneye. Alan 9th Lochdon: a wintering male Blackcap in my garden this morning Alan 9th Loch Frisa: a pair of whoopers on the Loch (Ledmore end) and female hen harrier Dozen wigeon, male and female at Glenforsa Debby Thorne. 9th: 2 Common Scoters in usual place off 'pink' pier and 1 Purple Sandpiper in late afternoon on Calgary beach, Anand Prasad 8th a great day out on Mull today, seeing 65 species of birds and here are the highlights: 5 Goosander at Aros Bay, 4 Slavonian Grebes showing well by Scarisdale rocks, 6 Greenshank at Dervaig along with 3 Snipe, 8 Greenshank seen during the day, 20+ Greenland White-fronted Geese at Fidden, 3 Reed Bunting south of the Eagle caravan going towards Loch Spelve, a fantastic total of 30 Great-northern Divers all over the island and also 20 Common Buzzards were seen during the day. Arthur & Pam Brown Discover Mull 7th Killiechronan: There were 3 bar tailed godwits at Killiecronan today. Cynthia Grindley 7th from the Dervaig end of the Loch Frisa to a quarter of the way along the Loch: The highlights were 3 Reed Buntings, 4 Crossbills, a single Dipper and a flock of over 30 Goldfinches, 12 wrens, 3 Goldcrests 8 Dunnocks, 10 Robins and 3 Cormorants with 22 birds seen in total Arthur and Pam Brown 6th Salen: we heard the distinct call of Water Rail in the swamp at the botton of our garden this morning. Richard & Debby Thorne 5th 5 Whooper Swans flew Over Calgary Bay this morning, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black Throat there this afternoon along with the 2 Common Scoters still there. At Dervaig this morning were 8 Teal, 2 Greenshank, 4 Little Grebe and 2 Goldeneye a female and drake. Arthur & Pam Brown 4th on 1st winter Tetrad from Glenghorm Castle to Mingary 2 Great Northern Divers, a single Snipe and 2 White-tailed Eagles. we saw over 30 species in the square. Arthur & Pam Brown 5th: those two Common Scoters still in Calgary bay today (5th) opposite 'pink' pier, Anand Prasad 4th Loch na Meal (2 miles south of Tobermory, just left off the main road) 3 Crossbills. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 4th at Calgary bay: near the 'pink' pier: 2 Common Scoters, 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red-throated Diver. Anand Prasad 4th In the last few days up to 25 White-fronted Geese at Fidden, quite a few Snipe and a Woodcock out on the moorland. Today, after the bad weather, variety of birds around the house including 3 Yellowhammer and a single female Brambling (white rump, black-tipped yellow bill) amongst Chaffinches – Mike Wagemakers & Carol Marshall 2nd Calgary: 2 Common Scoters to west of the 'pink' pier Calgary bay. Also 24 Whooper swans flying west over the cliffs above Lainne Sgeir, Calgary bay and a Greenshank at Lainne Sgeir, Calgary bay. Anand Prasad 2nd Nov Fidden; 25 Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 ad fem Peregrine, 1 male Hen Harrier. Bunessan 1 male Hen Harrier being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk. Killunaig 1 juv Peregrine. Loch Beg 9 Whooper Swan. Loch Scridain a group of 6 GN Diver close to shore and a good number more further out!. Bryan Rains. (enjoy a winter tour with Bryan) 1st Aros Park: 200 Fieldfares and flock of 30+ Siskins, Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 29th & 31st October - upper Tobermory: 50 Fieldfares Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 29th. We watched a Merlin scatter a flock of 20+ goldfinches near Ardmore Point. It flew in fast and low to the ground, making an unsuccessful strike before disappearing behind trees. It was very small and agile. Also 2 Woodcock spotted on the Grasspoint Road Carolyn Whenman 28th loch na keal campsite: Adult & juvenile Sea eagle in conifers above loch, single Whimbrel on shore line, single Barnacle in with group of Greylags also single Magpie in bushes near ulva ferry Albert Halfpenny Latest reports for October 2009 31st Loch na Keal by Inch Kenneth: 100 Barnacle Geese + on the north side of Inch Kenneth. An impressive sight. Pete Hall 31st Fionnphort: Female Blackcap in the garden today – Mike Wagemakers & Carol Marshall 26th Loch Pottie 4 Whooper Swans, Fidden 5 White Fronts – Carol Marshall 26th Fidden: 16 Whimbrel in fields with 100 Greylags. Alan 25th Fidden: 6 Greenland White-fronted Goose. Loch Beg 5 Whooper Swan, 3 Little Grebe, 6 Wigeon. Uisken 1 Great northen Diver. Loch Scridain 7 Great northern Diver. Bryan Rains 23rd Ardvergnish: 1 female Siberian Stonechat with 3 Common Stonechat, 30 Goldfinch and a good gathering of winter thrushes - Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush and Blackbird alll present. Bryan Rains 22nd Lochdon: 4 Goosander above the bridge and 28 Whoooper on the loch overnight before flying off early next morning. Ken Tate 22nd Loch na Keal: 6 Great northern divers, 2 in s/p - 1 in w/p - and 3 in eclipse plumage 21st Oct 2 Greenland White-fronted Goose at Fidden. Bryan Rains 22nd Oct 1 Chiffchaff at Pennyghael Bryan Rains 22nd Fidden 10 Whooper Swans in Sound between Fidden & Erraid – Carol Marshall 22nd October: Aros Estuary/Loch na Keal: 18 Wigeon and single Bar-tailed Godwit, Aros estuary; 3 Golden Eagles (two over Kellan, one at Knock), 4 Slavonian Grebes and single w/p Red-throated Diver at head of Loch na Keal 21st October: Tobermory: Male Hen Harrier hunting in twilight East of Tobermory and adult WT Sea Eagle going to roost in Glenforsa plantation Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 20th October : Sound of Mull: (During Bird Club outing to Morvern) 8 Whooper Swans East and low over the sea at Fishnish (at 09.50 hrs) were, undoubtedly, the same birds later observed at Lochdon on same day. Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 21st Fidden 4 White-fronted Geese – Carol Marshall 21st Fidden: I had 2 Greenland White-fronted Goose at Fidden Bryan Rains 21st Calgary: There is a male Long-tailed Duck very close in to Calgary beach, as of 3.30pm, Anand Prasad The Common Rosefinch (at Kellan Mill, by Loch na Keal) record on Mull, 16th June has been accepted by the Argyll Birds Rarity Committee. This is a first record for Mull. many thanks to Ben Dickenson and family for sending in this record. Alan 20th Caliach Point:
a flock of at least 30 Whooper Swans flying
south, far out, from Caliach Point, passed
Treshnish Point.
Latest reports for December 2008 30th Dervaig: first Brambling of this winter in the garden (male we think on account of its very pale beak with dark tip). Rod & Gill Little. 29th Glen More: a probable Goshawk seen through the glen by the three lochs. Michael & Andrea Jackson 21st Glen More: driving through the glen this evening between 4pm & 5pm I saw 2 Barn Owls and 3 Short eared Owls plus a single Tawny Owl. a most enjoyable drive through the Glen. Alan Spellman 16th Kintra - Single Waxwing reported in local garden – Mike Wagemakers 14th Loch Ba: I saw 5 Bar tailed Godwits at the mouth of the river Ba on 14th. Cynthia Grindley 10th at Ardvergnish today a very late Swallow. sadly unlikely to return to the sunsnhine now.Pete Hall 9th Loch Frisa: male and Ringtail Hen Harrier, also 5 Short eared Owls hunting on moors above Dervaig. Arthur Brown 8th Glen Forsa: Shaun Braid reports having up to 5 Goldcrests regularly feeding in his garden 7th Ardura woods tetrad the highlights were 1 Golden Eagle, a Dipper and a Woodcock in a 25 species square, At the mouth of the river Lussa were 28 Wigeon, 10 Curlew, 13 Oystercatchers and a Little Grebe. At Fishnish were 8 Black Headed Gulls in a mixed flock of Gulls. Arthur Brown 5th Griburn: On BTO tetrad on hill above Gribun, 3 White Tailed Eagles, 3 Golden Eagles, 6 Buzzards and 3 Kestrels and 13 species in the tetrad. It was very icy on the top of the hill. Arthur Brown 4th Tobermory: Just been watching a merlin (poss immature), definitely identified thanks to the pictures on your website and my Collins Guide. It was sitting, looking rather soggy, preening and bobbing its head like an owl, on a dead branch of one of my tall spruce trees, just outside my office window and on the edge of the moor. Watched it for a good ten minutes before it flew away. Sheila Barnard, 3rd Glen More, A Red Kite with Buzzards seen feeding of a carcass this morning. Andy & Diana Oldacre 2nd B.T.O. tetrad Calgary to Langamull. 2 Woodcocks, 6 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, 10 Goldcrests, !4 Coal tits and over 50 Chaffinches. There was a single W.T.S.E. 14 Hooded Crows and a single Meadow Pipit. it was another good day Arthur and Pam Brown 1st Dec: B.T.O Tetrad from Bennan Farm to Cailaich, highlights were 8 Long Tailed Tits and a flock of 10 Redwings. Also 7 Robins, 6 Wrens, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 juvenile W.T.S.E. and a Golden Eagle. There were also 14 Hooded Crows, 6 Ravens, 3 Buzzards and a single Kestrel. At Dervaig in loch Cuin were 3 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 3 little Grebe, 7 Red breasted Mergansers, 14 Teal and a single Male Goldeneye. Arthur & Pam Brown 30th Nov: Loch na Keal-Knock: Gulls, Black headed, Common, Herring and 1 Iceland Gull. Greylag Geese, Goldeneye, Mergasers, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Salvonian Grebe (4), Great northern divers (6) Sea Eagles, Shags, Hoodies, Ravens, Rock Pipit. Alan Spellman Latest reports for November 2008 24th Killiechronan: 4 Sea Eagles (2 pairs) on the sand bank by the camp site this morning. Alan 23rd Lochdon: Two Waxwings in the garden this morning, so they are still about. Andy Oldacre 22nd Loch na Keal/Knock end: 36 Goldeneye, 24 Teal and a Peregrine at Knock today. The Iceland Gull is very illusive, I have only seen it a couple of times in the last six weeks. Colin Moody 15th Killiechronan: A sightings report by Mary Heathcote, a regular visitor to the island. Loch na Keal, near the boat house.There were a flock of around 40 shag flying inland very close to the shore, she was driving along side in her car about the same speed as them when suddenly it was like an explosion as a White-tail Eagle came out of the sky above them and took a shag in flight, the eagle carried on and landed just out of sight on the shore. Mary was unable to stop as she had a ferry to catch. Regards Pam Brown 17th lochdon: 5 Goldeneye (3m/2f), pair Little Grebe, Widgeon and Teal, Mallards, RB Mergansers. Alan 12th Loch Cuin by Dervaig; 1 Female Tufted Duck on Loch Cuin today.Pam & Arthur Brown 12th Loch Pottie: There are still 2 Pintail on Loch Pottie, 1 Gadwall at Bunessan and also had a female Common Scoter on Loch Scridain. Bryan Rains 12th Lochdon 6 Waxwings along the Gorsten road this morning. Alan 10th An amazing report from local shepherd Iain Thomson of 15 short eared owls on Eorsa. He was checking his sheep out there when they all erupted from the bracken/heather. Clearly a previously unknown winter roost - and an important one. Dave Sexton
9th Loch Beg: There is a Swallow
flying around outside the shop this morning. Bryan Rains
Latest reports for October 2008
31st Loch na Keal: a drake
Goosander here today. Alan
Latest reports for December 2007 30th Dec; Pennygown - 8 Curlew flying over the road. 29th Dec; Tobermory Bay - one Little Grebe; Mishnish - one Tawny Owl. 28th Dec; Mishnish - one Goldeneye. Sue Hilder 27th Dervaig: Water Rails (more than one) heard calling at dusk in Dervaig Reed Bed, Shaun Mccullagh 19th Mishnish - 4 Whooper Swan 20th Fishnish - 18 Crossbill & 25 Siskin 21st- Calgary - 15 Ringed Plover Shaun Mccullagh 20th Cailiach Point: a 1st year Merlin. At lagganulva on 16th there were 115 Herring Gulls in the bay. Arthur Brown 20th Garmony 1 Barn Owl. Loch Beg 3 Barn Owl, 12 Snipe. Kilfinichen Bay 1 Barn Owl. The Barn Owls have been showing really well the last few nights. Bryan Rains 20th Dervaig: 7 Ringed Plovers, 5 Redshank, a Greenshank and 3 Snipe. Mishnish Lochs 3 Little Grebe and a Golden Eye on the . and also a Tawny Owl at Gruline . 20thArdrioch: in our garden we had 9 Blackbirds ( 6 with black beaks) 11 House Sparrows, 16 Greenfinch, several mixed Tits, Yellowhammers, Chaffinch's, Robins, Dunnocks, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Collared Doves and a female Greater Spotted Woodpecker came at least 3 times to the feeder. A Sparrowhawk also paid a visit during the day. 17th & 18th Dec Shaun McCullagh saw several pairs of Crossbill in the woods above Dervaig and Susan & Duncan Hall also saw Crossbills at Crannich Farm when doing BTO Tetrad work. Jill & Rod Little had Twite of the Glen Bellart road and I had 2 others today by the Mishnish. ppPam Brown 14th Loch Frisa:a Kingfisher was observed by the local farmer fishing for salmon par pp Dave Sexton 19th Loch Beg: 1 female Hen Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Crossbill, 20 Siskin, 2 Goldeneye. Also had a male Hen Harrier in the area 19th Loch Frisa: 1 lone whooper swan and 6 dabchicks on loch frisa.we saw 4 siskin, 16 longtail tits, a merlin, and many small birds on walk to loch Sue & Duncan Hall 18th Loch Cuin: Loch Cuin frozen today and 9 Snipe were present in unfrozen bits.Artghur Brown 17th Torloisk: a Merlin here today Dave Sexton 15th OBAN: the long-staying Ring-billed Gull, was at the George Street foreshore roost, Stuart Gibson. 14th Dervaig area: a Brambling (the first of this winter) was seen here Shun Mccullach 11th Dec - in the forest between Loch Torr and Dervaig, heard or saw at least 7 pairs of crossbill, all widely separated from each other. Shaun Mccullagh 12th Bowmans field by Craignure golf course: 14 Canada geese with c100 Greylags. Alan Spellman 10th Dec Loch Beg 1 Woodcock, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Dunlin, 2 Crossbill. Loch Scridain 5 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Goldcrest. Bryan Rains 9th Dec Loch Harrison 4 Whooper Swan. Loch Beg 1 Barn Owl. Bryan Rains 7th Dec Loch Beg 1 juv Hen Harrier. Uisken 1 Great Northern Diver.Fidden c200 Barnacle Goose, 46 Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 Pink-footed Goose,20 Teal,10 Wigeon, 3 Turnstone. Loch Pottie 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Long-tailed Duck. Bryan Rains 3rd Fionnphort: Long-eared owl - Mike Wagemakers 2nd Glen Bellart/Glen Aros: large flocks of Redwing scattered about the glen. Alan Spellman November 2007 Latest Reports Ad. RING-BILLED GULL at roost, OBAN foreshore on evening of 28th November Stuart Gibson 28th Knock Fish Farm: More than 90 Turnstones at Knock this morning. Colin Moody 24th Bunesan: a sikngle very late Swallow. Fidden: 33 White Fronts, 115 Barnies and 28 Greylags. Isle of Mull Bird Club Field Visit 22nd :A few sightings from last night.... Garmony 1 Barn Owl, 1 Tawny Owl. Lochdon 2 Barn Owl, 3 Woodcock. Glen More 2 Barn Owl, 10 Woodcock. Bryan Rains 22nd Knock: Iceland Gull still arund the fish farm. Alan Spellman 22nd Bowmans field (opposite Craignure golf course). 14 Canada geese with 70 Greylags. Alan Spelllman 20th Kinloch: Male Goosander, 200+ Barnacle Geese Inch Kenneth - Mike Wagemakers 20th Fidden Approx 40 White Fronts, 1 Juvenile Whooper Swan, 69 Barnacle Geese (some flew and so possible went to Inch Kenneth), 30+ Ringed Plover, 20+ Golden Plover, 5 Twite; Long-tailed Duck still on Pottie - Carol Marshall 20th Knock area: Iceland Gull still at the Knock Fish Hatchery outlet. Also saw in that general area a raft of about 50 Goldeneye. At least 8 Slavonian Grebe between the boathouse and the hatchery, 2 Great Northern Divers and several Mergansers and about 50 turnstone at the outfall. Just before we left for home we had chat to a visitor who had been up Ben More today, he said he had seen a sizeable flock of Snow Bunting on the ridge just below the Ben More summit, Shaun Mccullagh 18th Calgary: Barn Owl flying across the road at Calgary at about 7.30pm Shaun Mccullagh 15th Knock: Iceland Gull at Knock today. Colin Moody also a juvenile Whooper was found dead after coming into contact with a power cable at Knock 11th Killiechronan: Two swallows at Killiechronan still there on Sunday 11 Nov. Also a report of a swallow a week ago on the Ross (Uisken - R Campbell). David Sexton Mull Officer RSPB Scotland 14th Killiechronan: a single Pink Foot and Brent goos with Greylags in fields nearby. Arthur Brown Thanks to Dave Shackleton for records too numerous to mention here.Dave Shackleton 11th OBAN: The Ring billed Gull is still present at the forseshore in Oban . Stuart Gibson 11th Fidden: 80+ Barbacle geese, 60+ White fronts and 60+ Greylags. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 3female Hen Harriers, Great Northern Diver. lots of Redwings. Alan Spellman, Andy Oldacre and John Preston. 10th Lochdon: I saw 20 or so Long tailed Tits yesterday. Passing through the garden. .Jenny Smith 1 Nov-White Female Fallow Deer with this years young and a male follower Fri 2 Nov-female Hen Harrier at Grasspoint Steve Bell 6th .Fidden : 50 Barnacle Geese, 39 Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 juv Whooper Swan, 4 Skylark. Bryan Rains 2nd Dervaig: Large parties of Whooper Swans flying over the house and landing on Loch Cuin after dark - no idea how many 3rd Loch Cuin: 18 Whoopers flying high over Loch Cuin, did not land 4/11 Dipper in fast running burn close to south side of Loch Cuin near Oyster farm. Haven't seen one around Dervaig before. Shaun Mccullagh 6th Killiechronan: 2 swallows and one brent goose with the greylags. David Sexton 3rd Nov :I took a guy out on a tour (Wild about Mull Tours) and we managed to get 74 species through the day - not a bad effort for this time of year. The highlights were as follows... Loch Spelve - 1 Golden Eagle. Grasspoint - 5 Greenshank, 2 Hen Harrier, 1 RT Diver, 1 Merlin. Loch an Ellen (3 Lochs) 2 Whooper Swan. Loch Scridain - 6 GN Diver, 2 RT Diver, 2 BT Diver, 2 Black Guillemot. Bunessan - 1 Gadwall Ardness - 120 Redwing with about 5 Fieldfare. Lots of Fieldfare and Redwing all over but this was the largest single flock. Loch Pottie - 33 Greenland WF Goose. Fidden - 1 juv Whooper Swan (darvic ring - awaiting details), 1 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Pied Wagtail (only one we saw on the day). 7 Otters were seen through the day too. Bryan Rains 3rd - Long-tailed duck still on Pottie, southern end, 2 Female Hen Harrier hunting together just east of Fionnphort - Mike Wagemakers & Carol Marshall Long-tailed suggests a Juvenile Female, not 'clean' markings on the head, uniform grey bill, no pink, and so different bird to one seen two years ago although occupying same fishing area, channel to west of island.) 3rd - Fidden, amongst all the usual 2 Sanderling, 1 Barnacle Goose and good view of Otter at Erraid Log Pile landing - Carol Marshall 2nd Loch Harrison (by Loch Assapol) a male Pochard These are uncommon on Mull. Ron Cook 1st November - Loch Pottie - Long-tailed Duck still present , Grouse, presumed Red although showing some white underneath,white (not pure white) underneath but presumed to be a Red Grouse, no call to help identity. Also 2 Wigeon, Pair Tufted Duck, 3 Female Goldeneye- Mike Wagemakers 28th Oct-Sea Eagle White Tag ' E' Grasspoint mobbed by a number of Hoodies 29th Oct-Sea Eagle in flight above Aros we were in the car unable to identify any tags. 30th Oct- Merlin at Ardmore. 31st Oct: possible Goshawk at Croggan Seen above and through trees on Croggan side of inlet not sure but brief glimpse showed silhouette with strong similarity to Cuckoo but larger also well fingered wings. October 2007 Latest Reports. 26th Loch Pottie: Female long tailed duck on small loch just south of Loch Assapol on rough track. Dave Mitchell & Kathryn Lindsay. 29th Loch Frisa: a late Osprey on Loch Frisa the day before. As the parties were on opposite sides of the Loch and were staying far apart on the island, this might not be fanciful. Just seems a bit late, though! Jenny Reddaway 30th Loch Pottie: Long tailed Duck found two days ago confirmed today with clear views juvenile, poss female - Carol Marshall. Good numbers of Redwing and a few Fieldfare Fionnphort today - Mike Wagemakers 23rd Fidden: Managed to find a single Lapland Bunting (fem) down at Fidden today while on the tour. There was also a single Barnacle Goose down there. Bryan Rains 22nd Penmore: A pair of Hen Harriers (Male/Female) over Penmore daily. Sylvia Swft 20th Lochdon: 12 Whoooper Swans flew south over Lochdon John & Angela Preston 18th-19th Loch Pottie: 1 male and 4 female Tufted Duck with 1 Female Scaup, 3 White Fronted Geese, 3 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe - Loch Pottie - Carol Marshall/Mike Wagemakers. 9th Ardalanish: 3 Pale bellied Brent Geese ,53 Rock Doves in organic farm fields. John & Sue Clare. 29th Sept, at 7am, we observed a white Thrush in our garden. It had chest spots, but the rest was white. It seemed to know it was white as it kept close to the trees and would not venture very far out onto the lawn. Tom & Barbara Bettley. 5th Loch Cuin: 2 immature Goosander on Loch Cuin. Shaun Mccullagh 7/thKilliechronan: 90 Common Gull, 120 Herring Gull, 7 Black Headed Gull, 2 greater Black Backs, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 20 Oystercatcher, 35 Turnstone, 50 Mallard, 10 teal, 25 Rock Dove, 3 Starling, 2 Rock Pipit, 5 Linnet, 1 Buzzard, 10 Hooded Crow, 1 Robin. Shaun Mccullagh 9th Loch Cuin: 8 Whooper Swan & 1 Greenshank. Loch Cuin. Shaun Mccullagh 9th Fionnphort - 1 Northen Wheatear.Fidden - 2 Northern Wheatear, 60 Twite, c 600 Barnacle Goose, 1 Great Northern Diver. Loch Scridain - 9 Whooper Swan now on Loch Beg. Beach - 2 Willow Warbler. Kilfinichen - 3 Hen Harrier. Bryan Rains Wild About Mull Tours 4th Loch Frisa: 8 crossbills at Frisa Dave Sexton  8th.
Penmore : Golden Eagle mobbed by Buzzard. Female Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk....not
safe to go out!! Sylvia Swift
8th between Fionnphort and Fidden: Injured Long-eared Owl recovered from hill area between Fionnphort and Fidden. Taken to Wings Over Mull. Sue Dewar thinks a male bird, old injury (broken wing) and probably survived by grubbing around on the ground. - Mike Wagemakers/Carol Marshall 4th Uisken: 1 Northern Wheatear, Fidden 6 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 60 Twite, 15 Linnet and 30 Skylark. Bryan Rains 2nd Kilfinichen Bay, Loch Scridain. Juvenile Brent Goose, On a Discover Mull tour. The tide was out and it was grazing on the grass by the river bank then flew across to the sea shore edge. Pam Brown 2nd Lochdon: John Preston reports Yellowhammers in his garden this morning. 1st Loch Buie: - 40 Fieldfares in two small flocks of 20 flying in off the sea at Moy Castle, Lochbuie. Flew straight into hawthorn bushes close to the shoreline to feed where there were also starlings, song thrushes and blackbirds. Shaun Mccullagh 1st Loch Beg: 6 Fieldfare, 6 RB Merg (5 fem 1 imm male) 2 Goosander fem, 1 RB Merg imm male. Bryan Rains Latest Reports for December 2006 30th at Calliach. We had been down to the croft at the end of the road and were on our way back nearly to Sunipol when we came upon 5 Red Grouse in the middle of the road probably picking up grit. We spopped the car and watched them for several minutes as they walked off through the bracken. I have not heard of them being seen here before.- Shaun Mccullagh 30th Lochdon: 12 Shelduck plus wigeon,Teal, Mallard & Mergansers. 30 Ringed Plover. Alan 26th Tobermory. I spied a female Blackcap in a garden on Breadalbane street this morning. Alan Spellman 24th Calgary beach:15 Ringed Plover at Calgary & 26 on 25/12 & 1 Redshank on 24/12 24th at Dervaig Bridge - 3 Redshank & 1 Greenshank & 1 Mute Swan and on 26/12 - 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Mute Swan & several Grey Herons, but surprisingly no Mergansers. Shaun 24th Mishnish lochs: a lone Whooper Swan, Loch Tor 3 Drake Goosander & Goldeneye. Alan 20th Aros Park : 3 pairs of golden-eye on lochan, beautiful male plummage, Duncan & Susan Hall 18th for information and photographs of the Ross's Gull south of Oban click here 14th-to 22nd at Ormsary, Loch Coalisport south of Oban. A Ross's Gull is showing well Jim Dickson 17th Loch Scridain:Glaucous Gull, 3 Juv Black throated Diver, 3 Great northern Diver, 2 Slavonion Grebe, Little Grebe, Mallard, Red breasted Mergansers, Greenshank, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover,Turnstone. Andy Oldacre/Alan Spellman. 15th Lochdon: 3 Little Grebes on Lochdon along with a single male Goldeneye today. Andy Oldacre 14th saw an all black sea bird in Calgary Bay with white secondaries (When it flapped its wings). It was too big for Black Guillemot and I think it was a Velvet Scoter. a few Great Northern Divers and one Guillemot! in Calgary Bay, Anand Prasads 14th Loch Beag: White-winged Gull, Glaucous, seen feeding on dead (white) seal at , just above the Kinloch Hotel at high watermark near the road. Carol Marshall 10th We spotted two short eared owls on fence posts along the glen Aros/Bellart road to dervaig where the forestry area is. These are the first we have seen this year in that particular area Pete & Jan Hall (also known as Santa & Mrs Christmas) 6th First Yellowhammer in garden this winter today 6th,a Bar-Tailed Godwit at Croig with Redshanks Greenshanks, Curlew,oystercatcher and a G.N.Diver. at Cailiach 2 Ringed Tail Hen Harriers and 2 Snipe. 40+ Meadow Pipits at Calgary and a charm of 10 Goldfinch, finally at Dervaig a Shellduck and 12+ Red Breasted Merganser. Arthur Brown 4th Sound of Mull: For the first year since recording started here in 1983-84 not a single tern bred in the Sound of Mull. The birds arrived as usual at the begining of May and then 'en masse' departed after a couple of weeks during the last week of May. I have been trapping mink in this area for several years now, however is was not the mink that encouraged the Terns to depart but more likely a lack of food available locally. Latest reports for November 2006 30th: a late but very interesting report received of Nightjar heard at Arle in July of 2005. Robert Swift (Peebles) There have been three reports of Nightjar this year, at Balmeanach, Scoor and Quinnish areas. Alan 28th Glen Forsa: three Blackcaps have been visiting a local garden (2m &1f), also Bullfinches. Shaun & Sandra 26th A Goshawk around Loch Ba this morning and 6 Whooper Swans 4 adults 2 juveniles on loch Scridain this afternoon also a single adult Whooper Swan on Mishnish at dusk. Arthur Brown 24th Loch na Keal: 5 Great northern Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Mergansers. Alan & Arthur. 22nd Ensay: A male Hen Harrier hunting the Treshnish side of the road. 4 Greenshank at Dervaig with 2 at Croig. A Brown 22nd Fishnish Bay. a Little Auk was brought in by Jimmy the vets cat, it was released into the sea. Alan 21st OBAN: 3rd W./Adult Ring billed Gull at George Street foreshore (opp. WH Smith), Wonderful views, down to 5 metres This is becoming a terrific habit, so long may it continue, Stuart Gibson 19th Ardrioch Farm Dervaig:1 Brambling in my garden this morning. Pam Brown 18th: Peregrine at the Lismore lighthouse flew tried to snatch an isolated Guillemot. The auk saw it coming at the last minute and dived in the nick of time, securing it's survival on this occasion. Stuart Gibson 14th Mishnish lochs: A family of Whooper Swans on the middle loch. 13th Aros Park: a Kingfisher flew down the loch from the reed bed end. Duncan Hall 16th Salen Bay: 6 Whoopers spent soom time in the bay before flying off again. 8th Fidden beach: Purple Sandpiper with Ringed Plover and Turnstone, Fidden Beach Carol Marshall 9th Loch Pottie: 7 Whooper Swans Loch Pottie Mid Morning, gone by lunchtime Mike Wagemakers 9th Bunessan Bay: male Gadwall (could it be last years?) and Brent Goose Bunessan Bay Carol Marshall,Mike Wagemakers 9th Loch na Keal: 3 Whoopers flew up the loch, also circa 200 Greylags by campsite, single Bar tailed Godwit. Alan 6th R Ba/Knock bridge. Kingfisher seen again today flying down river towards Killiechronan. Alan 6th Killiechronan fileds 300 Greylags feeding in the fields. Alan 2nd Mishnish Lochs : One solitary Whooper and a pair of Goosander on Mishnish Lochs. Shaun Mcccullagh 2nd Killiechronan. 2 drake Goosander, 7 Goldeneye on Loch na Keal. a pair of WTSE are now regularly seen from the camp site on the sand bars, also R B Merganser, and keep an eye out for Kingfisher. Alan Spellman 1st Glen Forsa : in fields by MacGillivery's farm 8 Whimbrel. Alan 1st Tenga. a very large flock of Redwings. Shiela Barnard 29th October Rock Ptarmigan
on on Corra-bheinn. Colin Moody
October 2006 Latest Reports. 29th Corra-bheinn : a Ptarmigan on Corra-bheinn on Sunday the 29th. Colin Moody 29th Loch Buie : all three divers off shore plus a female Merlin and single Pink footed Goose by Loch Spelve. Michael & Linda Haddow. (welcome to Mull) 25th Croig: a late Swallow was seen by Mrs Jill Mills, also a 'possible' Spotted Sandpiper in the inlet at Croig ? 26th Fidden. 3 Whooper Swans, 5 Pink Fotted Geese and a single White Fronted Goose With the Greylags. There are now at least 4 Slavonian Grebes on Loch Na Keal and Great Northern divers popping up anywhere. 2 Snipe at Aros bay and 7 Whoopers 5 juveniles turned up on Loch Cuin. Look out for Goosanders, 1 at Killiechronan camp site and 1 on Scridain recently. Last and by no means least we had a female Blackcap in our garden on 27th a first for our garden.. Arthur & Pam Brown Discover Mull Tours 22nd Knock Bridge. pair of Dippers and a Grey Wagtail and also a Kingfisher flew past and downstream. WTSE (adult and 2 yellow tagged juveniles) on the sand bar by the Killiechronan camp site. Alan Spellman 18th Calgary Bay: a dark phase Arctic Skua deep inside Cagary Bay at 4pm. Anand Prasad (Ttreshnish) 18th Aros Bay: a Great northern Diver Aros Bay, also pair Reed Buntings just across road from Loch don eagle watch caravan on both 18th and 19th (they have also been seen here at other times) Arthur Brown 18th Pam had group of Long Tailed Tits In the garden also Song Thrushes gorging on Rowan Berries. 17th Scarrisdale Rocks, Loch na Keal. Black Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe Loch na Keal boathouse, Female Hen Harrier Ulva Ferry also several large winter thrush flocks on the move too distant to see which presume Redwing And a single Bar Tailed Godwit On Scarisdale Rocks with 9 Ringed Plover. Arthur Brown Discover Mull Tour 17th Loch na Keal : pair of Red throated divers, Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles. Alan 16th Loch Pottiee : a lone Whooper Swan on the loch today..not much else Alan 15th Lochdon : a 'pair' of Jays seen in the woods at the back of 'Twelve Oaks' today. Phil McDermott 13th Lochdon/Craignure : large numbers of Redwing reported flying over last night and this morning. Jan Hall, Andy Oldacre & Stuart Gibson.........this morning along the Grasspoint road were at least 1000 birds, a bit flighty but frantically feeding in the fields and on berried trees. Alan 8th Sound of Mull & Grasspoint. Large numbers of Gannets by the golf course (am) and at Grasspoint (pm) Alan Spellman 8th on the hills above Loch Spelve, off the Loch Buie road. 20 + mixed Redwing and Fieldfare. Peter Stevick 6th Killiechronan : I had a flock of about a dozen Long Tailed Tits ,also a lot of Goldfinches, plus two Grey Wagtails. The Sparrowhawk had several unsuccessful attempts perhaps it was a juvenile. Jan Fuller. 3rd Loch Cuin by Dervaig : Female Goldeneye on loch Cuin evening. Shaun Mccullagh 3rd Loch Pottie : Horned (Slavonian) Grebe on Loch, this a.m., fishing between the islands and the church. Mike Wagemakers 2nd Loch na Keal : 5 Brent Geese were resting after a long flight, in a small bay close inshore. Richard Atkinson 2nd Loch Frisa : a report of a Red Kite seen here by visitors. more infor required. (pp) R ichard Atkinson 1st Lochdon : 6 Whooper Swans and 5 Greenshank, 20 Dunlin, 2 Whinmbrel, 25 Ringed Plover. Alan Spellman 30th Sept Calgary :2 Golden Eagles, one immature Sea Eagle and a Peregrine at Calgary . Shaun Mccullagh Summary for December 2005 Waxwings were seen in Oban with only a few scattered reports received from Mull, in small parties of 3 or 4 birds at Craignure, Lochdon and Salen. The female Kingfisher was seen again by the bridge pool at Lochdon, several times through the month, presumed to be the same bird. Also a White throated Dipper was in the same area at the end of the month. Blackcaps feeding in local gardens at Salen, Lochdon, Dervaig and Tobermory, (all male birds). Lochdon a lone male Brambling seen preening in front garden. Pam & Len White on 12th and another regularly coming to a garden in Tobermory. Yellowhammers were in several gardens readily coming to seed scattered on the ground. At Fishnish on 9th there were Crossbills (this is perhaps the best place on the island to see this species) Loch Tor briefly held 4 male Goosander on 3rd and others were reported at Aros, Loch na Keal and fishing in the bridge pool at Lochdon. At Lagganulva area. (12th) were 80+ Greylags including a single White front and Pinkfoot amongst them. Also a single Red necked Grebe. a very scarce visitor for Mull was off shore in this area. Ducks included good numbers of Wigeon and Teal on most sea lochs, at Lochdon there were 14 Shelduck and Loch Spelve had 12 Goldeneye, Loch na Keal 30 at the Knock end and others on Lochdon and the Mishnish lochs. Up to 35 migrating Ruddy Turnstones doing their thing on the beach, and taking no notice of passers by at Lochdon (opposite the post office) Shaun Mccullagh reports the Moorhen was still on the Aros Park loch 17th and a Water Rail here on Christmas day (Tom Bettley). In Oban the long staying Ring-billed Gull was present along the esplanade until the 8th. Stuart Gibson also reported seeing a Peregrine chasing feral pigeons along the esplanade in Oban. A pair of Barn Owls at Fishnish were seen hunting over the hill by Fishnish Bay. Barn Owls also at Torosay and by Duart Castle. Other raptors were Short eared Owl and Hen Harrier through Glen More. White tailed Sea Eagles are already beginning their bonding courtship displays for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Summary for October to November 2005 Early October and at Calliach a single Common Whitethroat was still about plus 46 Twite. Scarce and not often reported were a pair of Reed Buntings at Pennygown on 6th. At Dun da ghaoithe (masts hill at Craignure) there was a late Wheatear and a Peregrine (16th). Oban Harbour still had its Ring billed Gull which remained (on & off) until the end of November plus a peak of 33 Ruddy Turnstone in this, a favourite place. 16th Oct Loch Scridain another late departing single Wheatear. Throughout the months Loch Beg held good numbers of Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank & Greenshank and a flock of 30+ Black headed Gulls. Also a high count of 47 Black Headed Gulls at Garmony. By 7th, flocks of winter Thrushes were scattered across the island, feeding on rowan berries. Large flocks of Redwing up to 600 at Lochdon & Loch Buie. At Killiechronan. were flocks of Redwings flying in from the west, of several hundred birds at a time. 18th at Lochdon an influx of Blackbirds (80+ birds) with Redwing and Fieldfare were moving through the island. Family groups of Whooper Swans were reported at Garmony, Lochdon, Mishnish, Fidden, Loch Cuin and Loch Pottie, between 16th Oct- 26th Nov, with a peak of 34 birds at Loch Cuin on 26th Nov. 9th Oct, and most sea lochs held Great Northern Diver; at Calgary a summer plumaged bird plus 2 Red Throated Divers in winter plumage & on Loch na Keal (16th) a pair of Black throated Diver and a peak count of 20 Great northern Diver. Also a count of 16 wintering Slavonian Grebe, plus 2 Little Grebe. Migrating Geese were on the move, flying over Mull from early Oct to mid Nov with 250 Greylags, also 300 Barnacles on Inch Kenneth and a few more at Fidden, also here were 30+ White Fronted Geese. A single Pink footed Goose was with Greylags at Killiecronan. Teal and Wigeon numbers increased on Lochdon as birds arrived for the winter. At least 40 Red breasted Mergansers were counted around the north coastal area. On 9th on the river Aros were 2 female Goosander and others were seen at regular sites, being the Aros estuary, Lochdon and Loch Scridain. 25th Nov, Loch Pottie. Held an Immature Long tailed Duck, also Goldeneye and Tufted Duck. 1st Nov on Loch Spelve, a juvenile Common Scoter was seen by Richard Atkinson & his tour group. Dippers have been reported from Dervaig, Glen Bellart, Lochdon & Inverlussa, a good sign of healthy rivers. The cold weather from mid Oct brought down a few Bramblings (singles and pairs) into local gardens at Salen, Lochdon, Fionnphort & Dervaig, all had moved on by mid Nov. Oct & Nov produced a few ‘more unusual birds’ for Mull being a Moorhen on Aros Park loch on 23rd Nov and is only the 3rd record for Mull. A Jay flew across the road at Torosay on 13th Nov and Carrion Crow at Fionnphort (29thOct) Susan & Duncan Hall spied a Waterail in their garden and a walk round Aros Park Loch rewarded them with a Kingfisher. Only a very few Waxwing reports at Craignure, a single bird 0n 7th Nov and Killiechronan 2 birds in the garden of Jan Fuller. A single Snow Bunting at Fidden on 5th Nov A Hawfinch (a Winter female) was in an OBAN garden, feeding on lard encrusted with Niger seeds, between 29th - 31st Oct, a rare treat for the householder. On 10th Nov, Ross of Mull. Mike Wagemakers found a Leaches Storm Petrel in his garden (dead).and another at Lochdon, both had not made it through the storms of that week. Raptors showed well throughout Oct & Nov with a male Hen Harrier regularly being seen in Glen More. Also a Short eared Owl in the Glen by the Crannog loch. Golden Eagles and White tailed Sea Eagles at regular sites and a male Merlin at Grasspoint.
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