The Isle of Mull. 28th May 3rd June 2009 TRIP REPORT

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1 The Isle of Mull 28th May 3rd June 2009 TRIP REPORT

2 ITINERARY & DIARY Travellers - from left to right Standing: Lynne Farrell (leader), Norman Shepherd, Alison Watson, Nichola Vernon (at back), Ann Gill, Maggie Savage, Marilyn Jackson, Sue Cooper, Beryl Goode, John Goode, Andrew Camps, Judy Dinwiddie. Front: Jono Leadley (leader), Brenda Smith, Melvyn Smith # DATE LOCATIONS & NOTES 28th May Ferry from Oban to Craignure, Mull. Transfer to Salen. 1 Afternoon excursion to Tobermory. 29th May Early morning walk at Salen. 2 Excursion to Loch Frisa, visiting a White-tailed Eagle nest; Afternoon visit to Ulva. Dinner at The Boathouse, Ulva. 3 30th May Boat trip to Lunga and Staffa. 31st May Excursion to Torosay Castle followed by a drive past Loch 4 Spelvie to Loch Buie. 1st June Excursion to Iona nd June Early morning walk at Salen. Excursion to Dervaig followed by Calgary. Dinner at Mediterranea Restaurant. 3rd June Early morning walk at Salen. 7 Morning walk round Garmony Point, near Fishnish. Ferry from Craignure to Oban.

3 Mammals Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus Common in grassy areas near the coast. Species Checklists Grey Seal, Halichoerus grypus Small numbers seen around the coast, often hauled out on reefs and islets. Common Seal, Phoca vitulina A small number seen on the reefs off Ulva from the Turus Mara boat were the only individuals identified with certainty. Otter, Lutra lutra Five sightings of six otters was a fantastic tally for the trip, with everybody in the party getting good, prolonged views of this usually elusive mammal. A male was watched fishing off Craignure quay on our arrival on Mull on 28th. An adult, probably a female, was seen briefly on a rock and then fishing close to the Ulva Ferry on 30th. A male was watched fishing near the fish farm on Loch Spelvie on 31st. The otter caught and ate several small fish before swimming ashore with a larger catch and munching it on the shore. It then had a wriggle on its back in the seaweed and a spot of grooming, before curling up for a sleep in the warm afternoon sunshine. A male and female were seen interacting distantly in Loch Beg on 1st. An adult was seen fishing and sprainting on a rock in Salen Bay on 3rd, a fine end to the trip. Additionally, an individual was sadly found dead on the beach at Loch Buie. Wildlife Travel will pass on any information received about this otter to the group. Red Deer, Cervus elaphus Small numbers seen on the hillsides and some of the lower grasslands as we travelled around the island. Fallow Deer, Dama dama A large herd was seen near Loch Buie with others seen from the road between Ulva Ferry and Salen and near Calgary.

4 Birds Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata A pair were seen fishing in Loch Buie late afternoon, with a single seen close, but silhouetted later. Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer Two were on Loch Na Keal as we drove down to the Fionnphort to catch the Iona Ferry. Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus One was seen by Brenda and Melvyn offshore from Iona. Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis Many seen on and around the Treshnish Islands. Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus A large feeding flock was seen off the north end of Iona by some of the group. Gannet, Morus bassanus Small numbers seen off the coast of Mull and from the boat trip to the Treshnish Islands. Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo Much scarcer than Shag, only a couple of individuals seen, off Iona. Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis Commonly seen around the islands, with small numbers breeding on the cliffs of Lunga. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea Very common around the coast. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor Several pairs seen in sheltered bays and larger lochs around Mull. Greylag Goose, Anser anser Common on Mull with several broods of goslings seen. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis Seen in fields close to the Ulva Ferry. Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Small numbers seen on Lunga with other individuals seen in scattered localities, including Iona. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Common on the coast, usually in more sheltered areas.

5 Eider, Somateria mollissima Fairly common along the coast of Mull, with larger flocks seen in Loch Spelvie. Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator Pairs seen at several locations, including Loch Na Keal, Loch Buie and in the Aros River. White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla One of the highlights of the holiday! We were greeted as we arrived at Loch Frisa by fantastic, prolonged views of the adult male as he flew from the breeding site right over our heads and off east, with Hooded Crows in hot pursuit. Later, we saw the female flying and then perched close to the nest site in the tops of the pines. Using a bit of imagination, some of the group saw the eyrie through the telescope. Later the same day, a small number of the group saw a distant adult soaring over Gruline at the head of Loch Na Keal. Later in the trip, a second nest site was seen, with a more conspicuous nest, complete with at least one large chick. Left, adult male being mobbed by a Hooded Crow; right, adult female near nest site. The Loch Frisa pair. Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos A single adult was seen soaring over the hills north of the stone circle on the shores of Loch Buie. Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus A male was seen hunting over the hillside next to Loch Frisa. Two females were seen on Ulva. Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo Frequent sightings around Mull. Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus Small numbers seen around Mull. Peregrine, Falco peregrinus One seen perched on the cliff top as we arrived at the quay on Staffa by some of the group, was later seen flying south.

6 Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Small numbers seen in fields on Mull. Corncrake, Crex crex Several calling males heard around the village and abbey on Iona, with two of the group succeeding in seeing one bird at close range. Oystercatcher, Himantopus ostralegus Commonly seen around the islands. Dunlin, Calidris alpina A small group seen on Iona with three seen on the shore at Garmony Point on the last morning. Snipe, Gallinago gallinago One seen on Lunga. Small numbers seen in the south of Mull on the journey to and from Fionnphort. Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus A small number of individuals seen by some of the group. Curlew, Numenius arquata Small numbers seen throughout the island, including on the shore at Loch Spelvie and around Salen. Redshank, Tringa totanus Seen at Calgary and on Iona. Greenshank, Tringa nebularia One heard calling distantly at Dervaig. Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Very common on the coast throughout the islands. Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula Small numbers seen, including pairs at Loch Buie, Dervaig, Garmony Point and on Iona. Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Common in grassy fields throughout Mull. Great Skua, Stercorarius skua One seen well by the group as we had lunch, shortly after our arrival on Lunga. Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus Several seen in the Sound of Iona was surprisingly the only record.

7 Common Gull, Larus canus Common throughout the islands. Herring Gull, Larus argentatus Common around the coast. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus Fairly common around the coast, with excellent views of birds following the Oban Ferry on the return trip. Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus Small numbers seen around the islands. Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla Common around Ulva and the Treshnish Islands, with others seen feeding in the Sound of Iona. Common Tern, Sterna hirundo Two seen in the Sound of Iona. Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisea A small colony seen on an islet off Garmony Point on the last morning of the trip. Puffin, Fratercula arctica Wonderful views of this delightful seabird were seen on and around Lunga. Many of the birds were actively inspecting and lining nest burrows in preparation for breeding.

8 Black Guillemot, Cepphus grille Small numbers seen in Oban Harbour and around the Mull coast. Guillemot, Uria aalge Common on and around the Treshnish Islands with many breeding on the stack at Lunga. Razorbill, Alca torda Common around the Treshnish Islands with many nesting on Lunga. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Columba livia Several seen around the Treshnish Islands and Iona may have been pure Rock Doves. Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus Small numbers seen in wooded areas around Mull such as near Salen Bay and Torosay. Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto Common around Salen, Craignure, and Tobermory, and on Iona. Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus Several heard on Mull, with singles seen near Loch Spelvie and Loch Na Keal.

9 Barn Owl, Tyto alba One was seen by some of the group on the way back from dinner at The Boathouse on Ulva. Tawny Owl, Strix aluco Heard by some of the group at Salen. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major Recorded in the woods at Salen and at Torosay. Skylark, Alauda arvensis Common throughout the islands. Sand Martin, Riparia riparia Colonies seen in the quarries at Loch Frisa and along the road to Dervaig, and in a sandbank on the shore at Calgary. House Martin, Delichon urbica Seen throughout Mull, with several pairs nesting in Salen. Swallow, Hirundo rustica Very common throughout the islands. Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis One heard by some of the group on the way to Ulva, with another seen well perched on a roadside telegraph wire between Salen and Dervaig. Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis Very common throughout the islands. Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus Seen on Lunga, Staffa and Iona. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea Noted around Salen Bay, Tobermory and on Iona. Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba Common throughout the islands. Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes Fairly common in gardens and wooded areas throughout the islands. Dunnock, Prunella modularis Scarce, with birds noted at Salen, Torosay and on Iona. Robin, Erithacus rubecula Common in gardens and wooded areas throughout the islands.

10 Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra A fine male perched on a roadside fence was seen by some of the group on the return journey from Calgary. Stonechat, Saxicola torquata Surprisingly, only one record, a female at Salen on the first day. Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe Fairly common, notably on Ulva and Lunga. Blackbird, Turdus merula Common in gardens and wooded areas throughout the islands. Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos Common throughout the islands. Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus One seen near Dervaig. Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia One heard behind Fascadail B&B in Salen and another heard by some of the group near Dervaig. Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Noted in reedy areas near Salen, on Iona and near Derbaig. Whitethroat, Sylvia communis Common throughout the islands. Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla Recorded in the woods near Salen and at Torosay. Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix Heard in the woods near Salen Bay and at Torosay. Some of the group had good views of an individual flitting about in trees close to the coast road at Salen early on the 2nd. Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita One noted on Iona. Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus Very common throughout the islands. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus Heard in pine plantations near Loch Frisa and on the way to Iona. Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata Several seen at Torosay and in woods near Salen Bay.

11 Coal Tit, Parus ater Common in wooded areas, with a couple of fledged broods seen. Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus Common in gardens and wooded areas. Great Tit, Parus major Common in gardens and wooded areas. Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris A family party seen at Torosay. Jackdaw, Corvus monedula Common on Iona. Also seen in Tobermory. Rook, Corvus frugilegus Common on Iona, mainly around the Abbey. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix Common throughout the islands. Raven, Corvus corax A pair was seen on Ulva, with others seen at Loch Spelvie, on a fence between Aros and Dervaig and at Dervaig. Starling, Sturnus vulgaris Fairly common throughout the islands. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus Common around habitations. Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs Common throughout the islands where trees present. Greenfinch, Fringilla chloris Fairly common in and around gardens and wooded areas. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis Common throughout Mull. Siskin, Carduelis spinus Very common in all wooded areas, notably around Salen. Linnet, Carduelis cannabina Small numbers noted on Iona. Twite, Carduelis flavirostris Singles seen on Lunga and on Iona.

12 Redpoll sp. Carduelis sp. Common around Salen, Torosay and Calgary. A couple of birds seen perched at Torosay were pale and grey, with white in the wingbars and rump, suggesting flammea (common/mealy redpoll). However, others seen near Aros and at Salen were smaller and darker, most likely cabaret (lesser redpoll). Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula Recorded by the group at a small number of sites including Loch Frisa. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citronella Heard singing near Calgary and between Calgary and Ulva. Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus A pair seen around the reedbed at Dervaig. Insects Odonata dragonflies: Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Cordulegaster boltonii Two recently emerged adults seen at a wet flush just west of Salen close to Loch Frisa. One individual was flying around, with another still drying its wings having emerged that morning. Excuviae were found nearby. Large Red Damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula Seen at Calgary and in woods at Tobermory. Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum Seen at Torosay and Calgary.

13 Lepidoptera butterflies: Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui Large numbers seen throughout the islands. This forms part of a huge influx into the UK from the continent, which began in the southeast in mid-may. Within two weeks they have reached the very northwest of the UK! Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria Individuals seen at Tobermory, Torosay and Calgary. Green-veined White, Pieris napi Common throughout the islands in sheltered areas.