Hard to believe there has been no postings on here of late - at least a year!
I visited Mull in May of last year for a long weekend/short week staying virtually a stones throw to the left of the ferry terminal at the Craignure Inn (B&B).
Mull is a very friendly Island, extending to the authorities as there are no parking charges on the island :clap:
Both species of eagle are found here of course, but be very careful with your observing habits, as the island operates an extremely keen and successful Eagle Watch scheme, and any suspicious behaviour will be investigated.
A well as eagles, there are Hen Harriers and SEO owls as well as Raven and lots of other "nice" birds. Magpies are extremely rare on Mull and as we are plagued with them at home, it was unusual to see them, as was the Hoodies instead of our southern equivalent of Carrion Crow.
Mulls equal to our Magpie is the Buzzard, or Bowman's or tourist eagle as the locals often refer to them (Bowman is the main local coach tour operator, and so many tourists to Mull think the Buzzard is their first Eagle). I never tired of them, but so many others dismiss them.
We drove around the Island - where it can be narrow and precarious in places - not dangerous, but advisable to drive with care, especially as there are still the odd boy racer type flying around.
For the birds we took one of the island tours. As far as i'm aware there are a few of these operating where you joing a group in a LandRover or similar vehicle with the services of a local birdman who shows you the local hot spots (quicker and easier than self-finding) but I know a lot of people would rather do their own thing. Click here to see one of them and a diary type report of recent trips
http://www.torrbuan.com/frames.htm
The views we got of Read & Roe Deer, Dolphin, porpoise and stunning views of Otter playing, fishing & sunbathing just a few yards away were memorable - not even needing a scope.
The only problem with Mull are the hoardes of tourists (kids) to Tobermory paying homeage to the TV show Balamory, and the even more rampaging hoardes of midgies which I'm convinced love english blood! - at least you can whack and kill them. Same with the midgies! (joke)!
Corncrake and othr birds are on neighbouring islands should you be there for a while - Iona is a must visit. Pray for breezy days to keep the midge away.
steve
