This
site is especially for birdwatchers and for those with an interest
in the bird life of the Isle of Mull and the surrounding islands of Argyll.
My aim is to share
and help visitors and Muileachs to enjoy the many birds we have on the
Isle of Mull and to keep up to date information on where to see birds at
different times of the year, especially any rare or unusual visitors to
the island. In June & July there are carpets of wild Orchids to be
enjoyed including, Fragrant Orchid, Lesser & Greater Butterfly Orchid
and many others. There are rare Marsh Fritillary butterflies to be found,
Scotch Argus and others.
The Isle of Mull is a favourite
place for bird watchers and has a large list of regularly seen species
including many breeding raptors as well as rare and endangered birds. Some
magnificent birds choose to over winter around the shores of Mull. Great
Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe are regularly seen in summer plumage
in early winter and late spring.
'Rare birds'visiting our shores
include, from Europe, Bee-eater at
Loch na Keal, and from north America, a drake Surf
Scoter in Craignure Bay.
Pie billed Grebe at the Mishnish Lochs.
A Ross's Gull was
watched for half an hour at Fidden on 6th October 2004 by myself and a
couple of friends. An American Golden Plover
at
Loch Beg in September 2005 and Little Gull
at Loch na Keal in February 2005. A Forsters
Ternspent 2 days in Oban harbour January
2003, and Ring billed Gulls
also in Oban harbour. King Eider in
Tobermory harbour. We had aCrested Tit
feeding
in a Tobermory garden. Birds can turn up at any time and in any place.
More recently in 2008 we had Rose Coloured
Starling at Dervaig and Bunessan, and
in April 2008 we had the first ever Nuthatch
visiting
a garden at Calgary
In 2007
a
Lesser
Yellow legs at Croig and a returning Nightjar
at Balmeanach, Cory's Shearwater
in the Sound of Mull, a White billed Diver
off Staffa and Pectoral Sandpiper at
Uisken beach.
Resident breeding birds include
some of the most spectacular birds of prey like Golden Eagle, White-tailed
Sea eagle, Merlin, Buzzard and Hen Harrier. We also have lots of singing
Song Thrushes and Skylarks, now becoming much scarcer on the main land.
The Isle of Mull is very
under recorded and your records are welcome. (see
latest reports page) All records are passed to the Argyll Bird
Club to be included in their annual bird report
The
2007 Isle of Mull Bird Report is now ready
Available for sale at £5.95 in
Tackle and Books Tobermory
Ferry Shop Fionnphort
Spar Shop Craignure
Duart Castle
Pennyghael Stores (next to Kinloch Hotel)
I will be pleased to send a copy by post as requested
cost including post is £6.50
You can pay by Paypal here
cheques should be made payable to Alan Spellman
Code of conduct for
bird watchers. Points
to remember:- Birds are protected and it is an offence to disturb nesting
birds, never point out the nest of a bird of prey. If you hear distressed
birds
calling, retreat to a safer distance as you are probably too close to a
nest site or to young birds. Use your binoculars or scope to get close
to wildlife and birds.
See many different Orchids
on Mull in June-July

Early Marsh Orchid
and Northern Marsh Orchid taken in June 2008

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This is the web site
of Alan Spellman, 'Maridon' Lochdon, Isle of Mull. PA64 6AP
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136115. 1st jan 2008
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