Isle of Mull, 13th - 20th June 2009

22/06/09

Isle of Mull, 13th – 20th June 2009.
We stayed in a beautifully appointed timber lodge (imported direct from northern Finland), in a lovely wooded setting near Gruline. This is a very central location and ideal for visiting all parts of Mull. I can recommend Hideaway Lodges for a stay at any time of year. See my Links Section for the website address.
The weather for the first half of the week was warm with thundery showers later in the day. The rest of the week was cool, windy and often rainy, but it never prevented us form getting out and enjoying the wildlife.
On the Monday, we had booked a day with Wild About Mull wildlife tours (see my Links Section for the web site address). It proved to be a very fruitful day, thanks to the local knowledge and enthusiasm of our tour leader Bryan Rains. We watched both Golden and Sea Eagles, Hen Harriers, Otters, Hares, and Red Deer, as well as a host of commoner birds. The tours are centred on the Ross of Mull, in the south west of the island. Other tour operators tend to visit the northern and eastern parts of Mull. There are no Corncrakes on Mull this year apparently, and since we didn’t manage to get to Iona, it looks as if this will be a Corncrake free year for me.
Since it was not an entirely birding holiday, we spent the middle of the week just touring around, seeing the sights and taking in the wonderful scenery. We picked up a few more birds in the process. Then on Friday, we had a wonderful boat trip to the Treshnish Isles with Turus Mara. (again, see my Links Section for full details) The sea was a bit bumpy, which made life rather miserable for some of the passengers, but all was forgiven when we were put ashore on Lunga, the largest of the Treshnish Isles, for a couple of hours. The weather improved, with lighter winds and warm sunshine, the Puffins put on their usual entertaining display, and all the other sea birds added to the spectacle.
Then we crossed to Staffa, and Fingal’s Cave, but the swell was too great to allow us to land, so we had to marvel at the rock architecture from the deck of the bouncing boat. It was a tough but memorable day. If you fancy giving it a try, you will be well amazed and entertained. You can also be picked up from the Oban ferry at Craignure, and driven to meet the boat at Ulva, then returned to the ferry at the end of the day.
Here is the list of birds seen throughout the week:
Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Black Guillemot, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Tawny Owl, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Starling, Raven, Hooded Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Linnet, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Puffin, Great Skua, Rock Dove, Goldfinch.