Mull April 2009
Tuesday 20th April
I got the CalMac ferry over to Mull. I had my tour with David Woodhouse on the first day. I highly recommend this bird tour with David Woodhouse, 10/10 from me! First real bird of the day was an immature White-tailed Eagle on the hillside. We then headed along the road and got female and male Hen Harrier. I did not see the male Hen Harrier but saw the female Hen Harrier, this was my first ever female Hen Harrier. Also from this point we had 4 immature white-tailed eagles in the air at once!!! We headed up the road a tiny bit and stopped to see male and female goosander on the loch. We then turned around and went to where we had the Hen Harriers. This time we had 2 ringtails, and 1 sky dancing male Hen Harrier. Again from here we watched the 4 immature White-tailed eagles over the mountain.
We carried on from here up the road and I think we headed through glen more and didn’t have much, we where looking for Goldie’s. We then went to Loch Scridain to look for Otter but didn’t see one. We then headed along the loch side toward Tiroran and had a wing tagged adult White-tailed eagle sitting in the tree. Great views of this individual! We then headed along the road and just after the sharp turn onto the road by the side of Loch Na Keal we had 1 Peregrine Flacon. Then we headed off again a long the road toward Knock. There was nothing here for about 5 minutes. Until me and one other person shouted out Golden Eagle! Fantastic views of this bird flying over the trees… We then headed to get Dipper and in the process got Mink! (grrrrr, kill it!)
Then on the way back to drop people off we had Great Northern Diver! This was a lifer for me. Great day and if you’re on mull you simply must go on this trip with David Woodhouse:
http://www.torrbuan.com/frames.htm
Then we went for tea at the Craignure Inn and I asked if we could go back to where we saw the Golden Eagle, so we went back and I got 2 adult Golden Eagle showing fantastic through the binoculars and scope at the same location.
Wednesday 21st April
Went straight back to the Golden Eagle place and got a Golden Eagle again and as usual showing extremely well.
I then headed around the corner and was looking for Peregrine when a White-tailed eagle flew over instead! I thought I would make the most of eagles and left without confirming Peregrine. Headed around toward Tiroran area I got White-tailed eagle after standing around a few hours in the glorious sunshine I was joined by 2 other birders and we had Peregrine overhead, Golden Eagle overhead. Plenty of buzzards and we also had immature Golden Eagle on the ridge that appeared to be chasing Red Deer for a very brief moment! That is a sight to see! We headed around the corner on the Loch Scridain road that approaches the crossroad to go to Glen More and Pennyghael. On this road we had 2 Otters which was the target creature that my Grandma wanted to see. We then headed through Glen More and from the car I saw what I thought was a Female Merlin but didn’t call it as I wasn’t sure. On the road back to Craignure through Glen More we had a male Hen Harrier that flew over the road right in front of the car. We stopped and I got a 10 second view of the bird hunting over the hill. Which was quite good, I would have stopped and watched it longer but Grandma wanted to go, which was fair enough.
Thursday 22nd of April
We moved to a B&B in Pennyghael which was close to the well watched White-tailed eagle site. We went to Iona. I had singing Chiffchaff, Common and Herring Gulls, Swallow was also nice to see. Also I imagine that I had the real, proper Rock Dove. That was flying over the top of Iona’s hills. Anyone know anything about Doves, and Pigeons on Iona?
We then headed out to Staffa. On the way there, back, and on the Island I had: Puffin, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Fulmar, and on the way back a Great Skua! I believe this is somewhat rare for Mull as we where coming into port at Finnoport. It flew from the distance right close near to boat, then right near the shore and harassed a few local birds. This was also a lifer for me. (I don’t do much sea watching, but want to this year) We then headed for tea, then back to the well watched White-tailed Eagle site for 15-30 minutes or so, where I had White-tailed Eagle.
Friday 23rd of April
This was the final day and I headed for the well watched, and well known White-tailed Eagle site. I had two White-tailed eagles here, I also had an adult White-tailed over on the hill a great distance away, still clearly an adult White-tailed eagle. I then headed along the road toward the Loch Na Keal road where I spotted two birds squabbling in front of the hill. Pulled over the car and I think it was the adult White-tailed that I had over the crag chasing an immature on its territory. Again around to the Peregrine site where I had 2 Peregrines, 1 very briefly. Then along to road to the Golden Eagle site where I had 1 Golden Eagle showing very well. Whilst here, Dave Sexton pulled over in his jeep and had a chat to me about the Eagles and said to give the “Mull Eagle Watch” a ring if I see anything suspicious. I did see something suspicious but………I kept an eye out and everything was ok, I actually nearly sounded the alarm. I then headed up to Tobermory and as we pulled up had a great Iceland Gull in Tobermory harbour. Then along to Grass point where I had practically nothing! Then home on the CalMac.
Hope you enjoyed reading this,
Andrew K