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Chandlers Ford “Falcons” |
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Mull - Derek and Lynne’s May break 17th-24th May 2008 |
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SLAVIONIAN GREBE 1 IN SUMMER PLUMAGE :LOCH NA KEAL GREAT NORTHEN DIVER 2 IN SUMMER PLUMAGE LOCH NA KEAL BLACK THROATED DIVER 3 IN SUMMER PLUMAGE LOCH SCRIDIAN RED THROATED DIVER 2 IN THE ROSS OF MULL MANX SHEARWATER SMALL GROUPS NEAR STAFFA AND LOCH SCRIDIAN FULMAR COMMON OFFSHORE GANNET SMALL NUMBERS IN ROSS OF MULL AND ALSO AROUND TRESHNISH ISLES CORMORANT VERY COMMON SHAG VERY COMMON GREY HERON FAIRLY CMMON ON LOCHS MOORHEN 1 DERVIG REED BEDS 22/05 CORNCRAKE MANY HEARD ON IONA,BUT ONE SEEN BRIEFLY AT THE ISLAND FIRE STATION MUTE SWAN 1 PAIR NESTING AT LOCHDON GREYLAG GOOSE FAIRLY COMMON ON LOCHS AND ESTURLIES GOOSANDER 1 PAIR ON THE AROS RIVER RED BREASTED MERGANSER COMMON ON LOCHS,BAYS AND ESTURIES. COMMON SCOTER 6 NEAR STAFFA ON THE SEA SHELDUCK FAIRLY COMMON EIDER COMMON MALLARD VERY COMMON WHITE TAILED EAGLE 7 SEEN,AT THREE NEST SITES GOLDEN EAGLE MAX 3 GLEN MORE BUZZARD COMMON KESTREL FAIRLY COMMON PEREGRINE 1 AT LOCHDON 23/5 MERLIN A MALE AT GRIBUN GOSHAWK A MALE AT SALEN FOREST 18/5 SPARROWHAWK FAIRLEY COMMON PHEASANT COMMON RED GROUSE 1 MALE ON THE MOOR NEAR LOCH FRISA 22/5 OYSTERCATCHER VERY COMMON RINGED PLOVER PRESENT AT LOCH KA NEAL LAPWING COMMON PURPLE SANDPIPER 2 IN SUMMER PLUMAGE AT STAFFA 19/5 COMMON SANDPIPER COMMON ON LOCH SIDES DUNLIN 3 AT DERVIG NEAR LOCH EDGE 22/5 CURLEW FAIRLY COMMON REDSHANK TWO LOCH SHRIDIAN,AND AT DERVIG SNIPE 1 MOST DAYS NEAR ROAD AT LOCH KA NEAL ARCTIC SKUA 1 LIGHT PHASE STRAIGHTS OF IONA 21/5 GREAT SKUA 1 AT LUNGA ON THE SEA 19/5 BLACK HEADED GULL COMMON COMMON GULL VERY COMMON LESSER BLACKBACKED GULL VERY COMMON HERRING GULL VERY COMMON GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL COMMON SANDWICH TERN 1 AT STRAIGHTS OF IONA 21/5 KITT1WAKE VERY COMMON TRESHNISH ISLES COMMON TERN FAIRLY COMMON ARCTIC TERN 5 SEEN IN THE STRAIGHTS OF IONA 21/5 GUILLEMOT VERY COMMON AROUND SHORES AND TRESHNISH ISLES RAZORBILL VERY COMMON AROUND SHORES AND TRESHNISH ISLES BLACK GUILLEMOT FAIRLY COMMON TRESHNISH ISLES,ROSS OF MULL PUFFIN COMMON TRESHNISH ISLES TAWNY OWL 1 PAIR NESTING SALEN WOOD PIGEON VERY COMMON COLLARED DOVE VERY COMMON ROCK DOVE 3 PURE AT STAFFA,AND LUNGA 19/5 SWIFT FAIRLY COMMON CUCKOO COMMON ON THE ISLAND SWIFT FAIRLY COMMON SKYLARK VERY COMMON SWALLOW VERY COMMON HOUSE MARTIN VERY COMMON SAND MARTIN SMALL COLONY ON AROS DERVIG ROAD MEADOW PIPIT VERY COMMON ROCK PIPIT FAIRLY COMMON AROUND LOCH KA NEAL TREE PIPIT AROUND AROS WOODS PIED WAGTAIL COMMON GREY WAGTAIL ON MOST STREAMS DIPPER 1 AT TOBERMORY MILL WREN COMMON DUNNOCK COMMON ROBIN COMMON STONECHAT COMMON WHINCHAT FAIRLY COMMON REDSTART A FEW IN WOODS ABOVE SALEN BAY WHEATEAR VERY COMMON RING OUZEL 1 FEMAL AT LOCH KA NEAL SLOPES 19/5 BLACKBIRD VERY COMMON SONG THRUSH ABUNDANT MISTLE THRUSH COMMON SEDGE WARBLER COMMON GARDEN WARBLER AROUND LOCHDON AND LOCH SCRIDIAN WHITETHROAT VERY COMMON BLACKCAP COMMON CHIFFCHAFF UNCOMMON,SEEN AT DERVIG WILLOW WARBLER ABUNDANT WOOD WARBLER BREEDING ABOVE SALEN BAY SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 1 PAIR AR AROS BRIDGE GOLDCREST FAIRLY COMMON LONG TAILED TIT COMMON COAL TIT COMMON BLUE TIT VERY COMMON GREAT TIT COMMON JAY AROS PARK A FEW JACKDAW UNCOMMON:IONA ROOK A ROOKERY ON IONA HOODED CROW VERY COMMON RAVEN FAIRLY COMMON ON SLOPES ANS SEA SHORE AT SALEN STARLING COMMON HOUSE SPARROW COMMON CHAFFINCH COMMON GREENFINCH VERY COMMON GOLDFINCH VERY COMMON BULLFINCH A MALE ABOVE SALEN BAY LINNET COMMON IONA TWITE BREEDING ON STAFFA AND GLEN MORE,MAX 3 SEEN SISKIN VERY COMMON LESSER REDPOLL 2 AT LOCH BA 22/5 CROSSBILL SEEN IN THREE LOCATIONS MAX 7 NEAR LOCH BA REED BUNTING A MALE AT DERVIG REED BEDS YELLOW HAMMER FAIRLY COMMON
113 SPECIES |
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Derek and Lynne took a relaxing holiday to Mull, Scotland. What follows is their bird list from the trip and their account of the places they visited.
Bird list: |
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BIRDWATCHING IN ISLE MULL 17TH -24TH MAY 2008
INTRODUCTION It has always been our wish to visit Mull in Scotland; not just to see White tailed Eagle, but also to see the superb scenery and other birds. We decided to rent a cottage in Salen, a location central and surprisingly full of birds and wildlife. May is a great time to visit the island; the weather was warm, dry and sunny: this was a big plus as the cloud can descend to low levels resulting in poor viewing conditions. Also the birds are at the full breeding stage, and most important ,midges are few and far between!!.
GETTING TO MULL. The best arrangement for us was to fly from Southampton to Glasgow, hire a car from 1car 1,then drive to Oban picking up a ferry to Graguire. It takes time, but driving past Loch Lomond is a great experience, superb scenery, and birds as well. A Red Kite flying over the car was notable at Loch Lomond. The Harbour at Oban is attractive, Black Guillemot being notable. The ferry crossing takes about 45 minutes and is a mini bird cruise in itself. As we crossed the Ross of Mull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Gannet and Red Throated Diver were evident. Also 3 Bottle nosed Dolphin entertained us.
COMMON BIRDS ON THE ISLAND Generally common birds were in abundance on the island, with amazing densities of Song Thrush, Willow Warbler (in every bush) Buzzard visible over all hills, coasts and headlands. Hooded Crow (everywhere). Whitethoat were singing from all habitats! . COTTAGE AND SALEN. We stayed in Rowan cottage, a pleasant cottage, well equipped, but watch the low ceilings; interestingly the garden was across the road from the front door. House Sparrow, House Martin and Swallow breeding around the house. Salen is a great area for birds. Red Breasted Merganser, Eider, Common Sandpiper were breeding around the shore; the mixed woodland leading down to the shore held Wood Warbler, Redstart, Bullfinch, Buzzard, with Tree Pipit and Raven on the higher levels. In addition to this the sight of four Otters in Salen Bay was a sight to see. SITES VISITED
AROS ESTUARY AND RIVER. Just down from Salen is the wonderful area of Aros River and estuary ,Dipper was breeding near the mouth of the river, while Spotted Flycatcher bred near the bridge. West of the bridge was a pair of splendid Goosander and Grey Wagtail; above the village Wheatear were common; a male Goshawk over Salen forest was a was a rare sighting for Mull.
AROS – DERVAIG ROAD A superb area of Moorland, Woodland, Rivers, fringed by mountains and Loch Frisa. Whinchat feed of the telephone lines; Curlew and outstanding Red Grouse were also present; Stonechat are common. The moorland on the right of the drive presented the best sighting; a White tailed Eagle resting on the ground. Later on in the week I was surprised to see the Eagle feeding on a dead sheep, 50 mtrs from the road. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were regular seen along the road often being mobbed by Mistle Thrushes.
LOCH NA KEAL This excellent loch proved good for birds on the many times we visited it. The road from Salen passes an area of mixed woodland on your left by the Mausoleum of Lachlan Macquarie; this is an super area for Crossbill(7 seen) and Lesser Redpoll (2). The Western Shore of the Loch had Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover. Wet areas near to the road held Snipe, while on the Loch two Great Northen Divers in summer plumage swam close to the shore. Swimming also close to the shore was a summer plumage Slavonian Grebe. Looking west into the mountains close to Ben More were the every present Raven and on the higher slope a Soaring Golden Eagle glided over the highest points. Further along the road towards Gribun Rock Pipits displayed and a flash of blue proved to be a male Merlin pursued by Chaffinch; the Pass of Glen More produced singing Twite close to the road and two further Golden Eagle soaring over. The eastern side of the Loch held a well watched nesting pair of White tailed Eagle,further up the road a male Ring Ouzel showed itself well on a rock outcrop.
LOCH SCRIDIAN After leaving Glen More a further pair of White tailed Eagle were nesting near the Loch Scridian, the tidal marsh of the lock held Redshank ,in the centre of this vast sea loch were, surprisingly, a small flock of Manx Shearwater, but the highlight was three displaying Summer plumage Black Throated Diver, their eerie calls were very distinctive. Away from the birds we spotted another Otter. This brilliant mammal came out of the water and marked its territory on the seaweed. Along the edges of the lock were singing Garden Warbler.
IONA We crossed the straits from Mull to the Mystic isle of Iona. This is a must activity and on a glorious sunny day the trip at £3-90 return represented great value. The short crossing enabled excellent views of Auks, Gannets, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern and marauding Arctic Skua. The island is small and most people head for the Monastery; the gardens are full of common birds, with a rare Rookery nearby providing all the noise. However it is one special bird that attracts the birdwatchers and that is the Corncrake. The calls of this bird are everywhere; even in gardens with small areas of long grass conspicuous by their sound only”Crex-Crex”!. Seeing the Corncrake is another matter, however, staking out a area by the island Fire Station we heard one about 10 metres away, and eventually Lynne spotted a small brown Water rail sized bird scurring out of the grass into denser cover. On the Western side of the island we were fortunate to see 2 Mink Whales feeding just off shore!
TRESHNISH ISLES If you go to Mull, consider a day trip to the Treshnish isles. Although fairly pricey,(£90-00 for two) if you like sea birds then this is a must. You need good weather, and we had a glorious warm clear day!. On the sea going initially to Staffa, Gannets loafed, while Black Guillemot ,Common Gullemot, Razorbill, Puffin were all seen close up. Small numbers of Manx Shearwater glided by, while Kittiwakes followed the boat, sometimes flying just over head. Staffa produced stunning views of nesting Auks and Fulmars, and on the rocks by the landing area were 2 Summer plumaged Purple Sandpipers!The presence of breeding Twite were a highlight on the island, the twittering males allowing close observation! The boat took us on to the island of Lunga, an island of vast numbers of auks and gulls. We watched over 800 Puffins on the sea alone!. Flying close by also were Great Skua which breed nearby,
SUMMARY The isle of Mull has to be one of the top islands of Scotland and indeed of the British Isles not only for Birds, but for shear beauty and tranquillity, and forget the traumas of today’s world and travel back in time to when life was lived at a slow and comfortable pace. We saw an amazing 113 species of birds on the island .
Derek and Lynne Lister |
