The Magic of Mull

Home , Fishnish, Glengorm Castle, Little Colonsay, Loch na Keal, Loch Scridain, Rubha nan Gall

The Magic Of Mull

Naturetrek Tour Report 25 June - 1 July 2012

Atlantic Puffin by Chris Dauncey Grey Seal by Dean Robinson

Staffa showing Fingal's Cave by Chris Dauncey

Report compiled by David Pierce and Martin Beaton Images courtesy of Chris Dauncey and Dean Robinson

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report The Magic Of Mull

Tour leaders: David Pierce Martin Beaton

Participants: Janet Spens Claude Guadagnucci Penelope Sinclair Dean Robinson Judy Robinson Bernie Lawrance Gloria Lawrance Marian Clark Frederick Dyer Hilary Dyer David Rowlands Louise Rowlands Christopher Dauncey Patricia Dauncey John Parsons

Day 1 Monday 25th June

Our Mull adventure began with a 45 minute sail in brilliant Hebridean sunshine from Oban on the mainland to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. The ferry provided a great opportunity to familiarise ourselves with a number of Mull’s common sea birds including Gannet, Common Gull, Kittiwake and Comic Tern (i.e. indistinguishable Common or Arctic). The deck also provided good views of the island from the Sound of Mull, including Lismore lighthouse and Duart Castle, the 13th Century home of the Clan MacLean, restored in 1912.

On arriving in Craignure we drove north for 4 miles to our comfortable hotel, The Glen Forsa, just south of the small village of Salen. After settling in we travelled the short distance across the narrow isthmus from Salen on the east of the island, to Loch Na Keal on the west. From the two minibuses we saw a number of Fallow Deer before stopping at the eastern end of Loch Na Keal where we found Eider Duck, Merganser, Greylag Geese, Meadow Pipit and a juvenile Wheatear before returning to the hotel for supper.

Day 2 Tuesday 26th June

A pre breakfast trip took us south to Fishnish Bay and Garmony Point where we saw Common Sandpiper, Greylag Geese and after some searching saw our first Otter in Fishnish Bay on our return.

After breakfast we set of for Tobermory to start our 9.30 trip with Sea Life Surveys to explore the sea between Mull and Coll.

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

We left Tobermory in brilliant sunshine travelling north past the small lighthouse of Rubha nan Gall, Ardmore Point (the most northerly point of Mull) and westwards past Ardnamurchan (the most westerly point of mainland Britain). Gannet, Guillemot, Manx Shearwater and Puffin were regularly seen along with a single Storm Petrel. As we approached the Cairns of Coll, the most northerly outcrop of islands and rocks, we had a distant sighting of Basking Shark swimming slowly south. Heading further in towards the island we saw both Grey and Common Seal along with small rafts of Auks including Guillemot, Razorbill and Puffin. The Common or Harbour Seal is generally found in more sheltered coastal waters but they use this safe sheltered site for pupping.

After a closer look at the Cairns we headed a short distance north to look for whales and dolphins and were rewarded with a number of brief sightings of Minke Whale. After a pause for lunch and a short but eventful trip to one of the Cairns we resumed our whale watch and were successful in having a number of sightings (including a spectacular blow which caught everyone off guard). The trusty boatdog appeared to catch the whales scent just as we spotted them and we saw a total of three separate Minke Whales to the accompaniment of his enthusiastic barking! Late afternoon we returned to Tobermory, looking for Common Dolphin amidst the odd drop of rain.

Day 3 Wednesday 27th June

Today in mixed weather we began a more detailed exploration of the south-west of the island, beginning in Loch Na Keal. An initial visit to the north coast provided some spectacular views of Sea Eagle. A pair was seen initially circling and then perching in a small group of conifers above the road but they soon resumed their search for food with the appearance of a fishing boat from Ulva, which provided us with some great views.

Moving to the south of the loch we saw Golden Eagle perched on a cliff behind the shore and after a picnic lunch, further along the loch, we found a number of Mull’s common insectivorous plants, Sundew and both Pale and Lusitanian Butterworts, and in the steep cliffs above the road we found Peregrine.

The road which climbs up from Loch na Keal towards Loch Scridain to the south provided views of Inch Kenneth and little Colonsay but low cloud obscured the spectacular view out towards Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles. In Loch Scridain we continued our search for Otters but they proved elusive so we continued though the spectacular, glaciated scenery of Glen More, where we had close views of a Short-eared Owl.

Day 4 Thursday 28th June

A pre breakfast trip took us to Loch na Keal where we had excellent views of two Red Deer in fields close to the shore. Eider and Merganser were seen on the loch and on the roadside the deep pink flowers of Sherard’s Downy Rose.

Another day of mixed weather in which we again visited Loch na Keal, having good views of two female Fallow Deer. Travelling slowly along the south of the Loch we continued our search for Otter, finally gaining a tantalising glimpse. Once spotted, we continued our search and picked out two Otters at some distance on the shore. Returning a short way up the road to get closer we were treated to a fine view of three Otters (a female and two large cubs) feeding together which we observed for some time.

2 © Naturetrek August 12

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Leaving Loch na Keal we travelled south down towards Grasspoint. Stopping for lunch just before the end of the track we immediately saw two distant Red Deer and then a large stag close by. After lunch we walked down to Grasspoint, picking up a number of birds. Here we also found a number of specimens of Lesser Butterfly Orchid along with patches of Ragged Robin and Yellow Pimpernel.

Our walk continued as we retraced our route along the track before being picked up by the mini bus, followed by a further spell of bird watching over the western arm of Loch Don. A photography stop captured a spectacular group of Foxgloves just before a thunderstorm precipitated our return to the hotel for supper.

Day 5 Friday 29th June

Our pre breakfast trip took us to Salen Bay where we saw Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Heron and Greylag Geese.

After breakfast we drove along the north of Loch na Keal viewing the Sea Eagles towards Ulva Ferry where we boarded the boat to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles. The trip to Staffa took us along the south coast of Ulva and Gometra, passing to the north of Little Colonsay, all the islands displaying the typical steppe landscape of Mull formed by basalt lava flows. We rounded Staffa to see Fingal’s Cave from the sea before landing and exploring the cave and the amazing rock formations on foot, the famous basalt columns which mirror those of the Giants Causeway across the sea in Co Antrim. We ate lunch on top of the cliffs amongst a spectacular seascape before travelling on to Lunga.

Lunga is the largest of the Treshnish Isles and contains large population of breading sea birds including Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, which were much in evidence as we approached the island. On landing, we made our way along the north coast to a large stack which is the principle breeding site for Guillemot and Razorbill to gain some spectacular views. Puffins, which breed along the whole of the north shore, provided a captivating sight because they allowed us to get very close.

We returned from Lunga via Cairn na Burgh More and Cairn na Burgh Beg, the two most northerly islands of the Treshnish group and both sites of Viking forts, to look for Grey Seal before returning along the north coast of Gometra and Ulva via Loch Tuath. We had a good view of a Sea Eagle perched in trees on the north side of Ulva and Common Seal on the islands entering the Sound of Ulva before finally disembarking and returning to our hotel.

Day 6 Saturday 30th June

Our pre breakfast trip started with our first views of Sand Martin in hotel car park before moving on to Glen Aros. Two Red Deer were seen in the valley and a raven called from overhead but Hare and Mountain Hare again proved elusive on our early morning trip

Today we travelled north to Tobermory where some explored the picturesque town for an hour while a small group travelled on towards Glengorm Castle. In the brief trip to Glengorm we saw two distant Golden Eagles, a Kestrel, a brief view of a Hen Harrier, and good views of Cuckoo perched on a fence post.

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Returning to Tobermory we reunited the group and set of towards Dervaig and Calgary Bay. On the way we passed three fresh water lochs containing Little Grebe with some spectacular flowering yellow water-lilies. Beyond Dervaig in Loch a Chumhainn we spent some time looking at Oystercatcher, Redshank and Common Sandpiper before travelling on to the sandy beach of Calgary Bay and lunch. We enjoyed a brief if somewhat wet exploration of the machair with its spectacular colours, from purple Thyme to yellow Lady’s Bedstraw. We also found a number of new plants including Sea Stock and Biting Stonecrop. The weather however forced us into the welcoming arms of the local tea shop for a brief respite.

After tea, coffee or hot chocolate (with or without marshmallow!) we took a zig-zag route first south along the coast to Achleck, north west to Dervaig and then south into Glen Aros, a spectacular route through the rugged countryside of north Mull. On the route south to Glen Aros we stopped next to a number of ruined crofts which told their own story of highland clearances. Here we also glimpsed a brief view of Hen Harrier and further south in Glen Aros a herd of Red Deer before returning to our hotel for our final excellent supper.

Day 7 Sunday 1st July

After breakfast we collected our baggage and made our way down to Craignure to catch the mid morning ferry back to Oban.

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Short-eared Owl by Chris Dauncey

4 © Naturetrek August 12

Tour Report The Magic Of Mull

Species List

Plants Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Gymnospermae

Pinaceae Pine Family Larix decidua Larch Common in plantations across Mull Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine Common in plantations across Mull Picea abies Norway Spruce Common in plantations across Mull

Angiospermae

Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone Roadside verge near Dervaig Caltha palustris Marsh-marigold Stream near hotel Nuphar lutea Yellow Water-lily Loch Peallach nr Tobermory Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup Common. Grassland / verges Ranunculus repens Creeping buttercup Common. Grassland / verges Ranunculus flammula Lesser spearwort Common. Grassland / verges Ranunculus hederaceus Ivy-leafed crowfoot Ditches. Stream near hotel Ranunculus ficaria Lesser celandine Common (but late in season) Lunga

Papaveraceae Poppy Family Meconopsis cambrica Welsh poppy Occasional - Naturalised - Hotel

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) Cabbage Family Cochleria officinalis Common scurvy-grass Coastal - above strand line - Salen Cardamine pratensis Cuckoo-flower Frequent - Streams / ditches - Hotel Cardamine flexuosa Wavy Bitter-cress Matthola sinuata Sea Stock Calgary Bay with Marram grass

Violaceae Violet Family Viola rivinianna Common Dog-violet Common Viola palustris Marsh Violet Common - Flushes - Grasspoint

Polygalaceae Milkwort Family Polygala serpyllifolia Heath Milkwort Common - Grassy verges

Guttiferae St John's Wort Family Hypericum pulchrum Slender St John’s-wort Frequent - Short grasland / Verges

Carophyllaceae Pink Family Silene maritima Sea Campion Coastal shingle - Cliffs - Lunga Silene acaulis Moss Campion Creag Mhor Cliffs - Loch Na Keal Silene dioica Red Campion Occasional - Tracks / verges Silene flos-cuculi Ragged Robin Occasional - Mires - Grasspoint Cerastium fontanum Common mouse-ear Common - often strand line above sea Cerastium glomeratum Sticky mouse-ear Occasional -Shore line Loch - na -Keal Stellaria media Common Chickweed Frequent - roadsides Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme leafed Sandwort Machair - Calgary

Portulacaceae Purslane Family Montia fontana Blinks

Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot Family Atriplex glabriuscula Babington’s orache Frequent - stony beaches

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Tiliaceae Lime Family Tillia europea Lime Occasional - Roadside verges

Linaceae Flax Family Linum catharticum Fairy Flax Frequent - Grassland verges

Geraniaceae Cranesbill Family Geranium robertianum Herb Robert Frequent - woodland - Grasspoint Erodium circutarium Common storksbill

Oxalidaceae Wood-Sorrel Family Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel Frequent - Woodland - Grasspoint

Aceraceae Maple Family Acer pesudoplantanus Sycamore Common

Aquifoliaceae Holly Family Ilex aquifolium Holly Occasional

Fabaceae Pea Family Ulex europaeus Gorse Widespread - verges / grassland Trifolium pratense Red Clover Common - widespread Trifolium repens White Clover Common - widespread Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney-vetch Calgary Bay - Machire Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch Grassy roadsidebank - Tobermorey Vicia sepium Bush Vetch Grassy bank - Grasspoint

Rosaceae Rose Family Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Common. Flushes grasslands / mires Rubus fruticosus (agg) Bramble Common - widspread Potentilla palustris Marsh cinquefoil Wet ditch - roadside Grasspoint Potentilla anserina Silverweed Common - above strand line Potentilla erect Tormentil Frequent - grassy banks - roadsides Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Occasional - grassy banks - roadsides Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony Occasional - grassybanks Alchemilla vulgaris (agg) Lady’s mantle Occasional - roadside - grasspoint Rosa canina Dog Rose Occasional - roadsides Rosa sherardii Downy Rose Occasional - roadsides Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Occasional - roadsides / Scrub Prunus avium Wild Cherry Occasional - roadsides / woodmargins Prunus padus Bird Cherry Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Occasional Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Frequent

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family Sedum rosea Roseroot Cliffs near the sea. Lunga Sedum anglicum English Stonecrop Frequent seen inn rocks crevices Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop Machair - Calgary

Saxifragaceae Saxifage Family Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Opposite leaved golden saxifage Shady woodland - Grasspoint

Droseraceae Sundew Family Drosera rotundifolia Round leaved sundew Frequent - Bogs / peaty pools

Lythraceae Loosestrife Family Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife Occasional -Streamsides -Grasspoint

2 © Naturetrek August 12

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Elaegnaceae Willowherb Family Epilobium palustre Marsh willowherb Frequent - Ditches - Grasspoint Epilobium angustifolium Rosebay willowherb Occasional - Roadsides

Callitrichaceae Starwort Family Callitriche stagnalis Common Water-starwort Frequent - Ditches

Apiaceae (Umbilliferae) Carrot Family Hedera helix Ivy Frequent Conopodium majus Pignut Grassland - frequent - roadsides Oneanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort wet ditches - Loch na Keal Ligusticum scoticum Scots' Lovage Frequent - around sea cliffs - Staffa Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica Frequent - wet ground - grasspoint Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed Frequent - roadsides Daucus carota Wild Carrot Occasional -grassland -cliffs - Staffa

Polygonaceae Polygonium Family Polygonium persicaria Redshanks Occasional - Waste ground Polygonium cuspidatum Japanese Knotweed Occasional - Introduced Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel Common - grassland Rumex crispus Curled Dock Frequent - upper strand line Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leafed Dock Occasional - grassland

Urticaceae Nettle Family Urtica dioica Common nettle Widespread - waste places

Ulmaceae Elm Family Ulmus glabra Wych Elm Occasional - roadsides - west coast

Myricaceae Bog-Myrtle Family Myrica gale Bog Myrtle Frequent - wet ground - Ulva ferry

Betulaceae Birch Family Betula pendula Silver Birch Frequent Betula pubescens Pubescent Birch Frequent Aluns glutinosa Alder Occasional - stream sides

Corylaceae Hazel Family Corylus avellana Hazel Abundant

Fagaceae Beech Family Fagus sylvatica Beech Infrequent Quercus petraea Sessile Oak Occasional

Salicacea Willow Family Populus tremula Aspen Occasional - hotel grounds Salix cinerea Grey Willow Occasional - roadsides

Ericaceae Heather Family Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron Widespread - Introduced Calluna vulgaris Heather Abundant - widespread Erica tetralix Cross-leaved Heather Frequent wetter heaths Erica cinerea Bell Heather Frequent dryer heaths Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry Frequent - heathland

Plumbaginaceae Thrift Family Armeria maritima Thrift Frequent - around the coast

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Primulaceae Primrose Family Primula vulgaris Primrose Frequent - widspread Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernel Streams sides - Grasspoint Glaux maritima Sea Milkwort Frequent in upper salt marsh -strand

Oleaceae Olive Family Fraxinus excelsior Ash Occasional

Boraginaceae Borage Family Myosotis scorpiodies Water Forget-me-not Occasional - streams Myosotis secunda Creeping Water Forget-me-not Occasional -Flushes - Grasspoint Myosotis arvensis Fild Forget-me-not Occasional - grassland

Scrophularia Figwort Family Scrophularia nodosa Common Figwort Occasional - stream sides - Hotel Mimulus guttatus Monkeyflower Steams - Introduced - Hotel stream Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Abundant - fields / roadsides Veronica officinalia Heath Speedwell Frequent - roadsides Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Frequent - roadsides Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell Frequent - roadsides Pedicularis sylvatica Lousewort Frequent - wet flushes Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle Roadverge - Grasspoint Euphrasia scottica A Eyebright Eybrights are frequent - not subdivided Odontites verna Red bartsia

Lentibulariaceae Bladderwort Family Pinguicula lusitanica Pale Butterwort Wet flush -seen only in Loch na Keal Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Frequent - streams sides - bogs

Labiateae Dead-Nettle Family Mentha aquatica Water Mint Frequent - streams / ditches Thymus drucei Wild Thyme Common - roadsides - heath - dunes Prunella vulgaris Selfheal Abundant - grassland Scutellaria galericulata Skullcap Widspread - stream side at Hotel Teucrium scorodonia Wood-sage Frequent - Woods / ledges Ajuga reptans Bugle Frequent - Wet grassland

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family Plantago major Greater Plantain Frequent - tracksides Plantago maritima Sea Plantain Frequent - coastal rocks Plantage lanceolata Ribwort Plantain Abundant - tracksides Plantago coronopus Buckshorn Plantain Frequent - coastal rocks Littorella uniflora Shoreweed

Rubiaceae Bedstraw Family Gallium saxatile Heath Bedstraw Common - roadsides Galium palustre Common Marsh-bedstraw Occasional - ditches - grasspoint Galium aparine Cleavers Common - upper strand - waysides Galium verium Ladies Bedstraw Occasional - Calgary Bay

Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Sambucus niger Elder Frequent Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Common

Valerianaceae Valerian Family Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian Common wet ground - ditches

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Dipsaceae Teasel Family Succisa pratensis Devilsbit Scabious Occasional - roadsides - not in flower

Asteraceae Daisy Family Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort Frequent - roadsides Senecio aquatica Marsh Ragwort Frequent - flushes - grasspoint Senecio vulgaris Grounsel Occasional - roadsides - waste places Bellis perennis Daisy Common - grassland - roadsides Achilla millefolium Yarrow Frequent - grassland - roadsides Tripleurospermum maritimum Scentless Mayweed Frequent - top of strandline Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye Daisy Frequent - Roadsides / Fields Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle Occasional - Roadsides Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Frequent - marshy ground Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle Frequent - pasture / waysides Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed Occasional - pasture / waysides Hypochoeris radicata Catsear Frequent - roadsides / waste ground Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawsbit Frequent - roadsides / waste ground Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear Hawkweed Roadsides Taraxicum officinale Dandelion Roadsides - tracks

Potamogetonacea Pondweed Family Potamogeton nutans Broad-leafed Pondweed Loch Peallach nr Tobermory Potamogeton polygonifolius Bog Pondweed Streans - Ditches

Monocotyledons

Liliacaea Lily Family Narthecium ossifragum Bog Asphodel Frequent - Boggy ground Hyacinthodies non-scriptus Bluebell Frequent - In flower on Lunga

Juncacea Rush Family Juncus gerardii Saltmarsh Rush Frequent - Upper Salt Marsh Juncus effusus Soft Rush Frequent - Wet pasture Juncus conglomeratus Compact Rush Frequent - Wet pasture Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush

Amaryllidaceae Iris Family Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris Common around the coast

Orchidaceae Orchid Family Platanthera bifolia Lesser Butterfly Orchid Marshy grassland - Grasspoint Dactylorhiza maculata Heath Spotted Orchid Occasional - Dry grassland Dactylorhiza purpurella Northern Marsh Orchid Widspread - Wet grassland /marsh

Gramineae Grasses Phragmites australis Common Reed Occasional - Ditches Molinia caerulea Molinia Abundant - peaty ground - mires Festuca rubra Red Fescue Abundant - widspread Festuca ovina Sheeps Fescue Abundant - widspread Lolium perenne Rye Grass Widespred - sown grassland Dactylis glomerata Cocksfoot Widespread - Roadsides Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dogstail Frequent - widspread Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog Frequent - meadows / foreshore Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass Frequent - widespread Agrostis tenuis Common Bent Frequent - widspread Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass Abundant - widesprerad

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

Family and scientific name Common name Location / Notes

Polypodiophyta Ferns Asplenium marinum Sea Spleenwort Frequent - Sea Cliffs - Lunga Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort Occasional - Rocks / Walls Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody Common - Growing on trees Blechnium spicant Hard Fern Frequent - Woodland Dryopteris felix-mas Male Fern Frequent - Dropteris affinis Scaly Male Fern Frequent - widspread Athyrium felix - femina Lady Fern Occasional - Hotel Woodland Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Abundant -Widspread

Birds ( = recorded but not counted; h = heard only) June/July Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 1 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 1 2 1 2 2 2 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 1 3 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 4 4 Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 4 30+ 2 5 Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 50+ 50+ 6 Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1 1 7 Gannet Morus bassanus 20+ 25 10 6 8 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 9 Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 20+ 50+ 20 20 50+ 10 25 10 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea        11 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 2     12 Greylag Goose Anser anser 30  50 40  40 13 Canada Goose Branta canadensis       14 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 6 6 15 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos      16 Common Eider Somateria mollissima 5 12 20 15 20 10 17 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus albellus 4 6 10 8 18 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1 2 19 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 20 Buzzard Buteo buteo 2 4 8 7 5 8  21 White-tailed Eagle Halaeetus albicilla 2 2 2 22 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 2 2 23 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 1 24 Peregrine Falco peregrinus 1 25 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus     26 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus        27 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 1 1 28 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 2 29 Dunlin Calidris alpina 3 30 Greenshank Tringa nebularia 2 2 31 Redshank Tringa totanus 8 32 Common Sandpiper Actis hypoleucos 4 4 20 20+ 12 15 33 Snipe Gallinago gallinago 1 1 1 34 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2 1 35 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 2 36 Common Gull Larus canus        37 Herring Gull Larus argentatus        38 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 2 1 39 Greater Black-backed Gull Larus marinus       

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

June/July Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 40 Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 6 50+ 30+ 100s 41 Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2 1 4 42 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 1 20 4 10 20+ 2 43 Razorbill Alca torda 15 100+ 44 Guillemot Uria aalge 10 30 1 100s 45 Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 4 4 6 5 10 46 Puffin Fratercula arctica 10 100+ 47 Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus     48 Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia 20 10 25 49 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2 4 4 50 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 1 51 Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 1 52 Common Swift Apus apus 2 53 Green Woodpecker Picus viridis 1 54 Great-spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 1 55 Skylark Alauda arvensis     56 Sand Martin Riparia riparia 20 57 Swallow Hirundo rustica       58 House Martin Delichon urbica 2 59 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis      60 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus 1 2 61 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1 62 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba        63 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes    64 Dunnock Prunella modularis   65 Robin Erithicus rubecula       66 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 1 67 Stonechat Saxicola torquata 1 3 68 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe      69 Blackbird Turdus merula        70 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos      71 Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1 72 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla h h h h h 73 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 74 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus h     75 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 2 2 76 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus  77 Great Tit Parus major    78 Coal Tit Periparus ater   79 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 2 1 1 80 Starling Sturnus vulgaris   81 Raven Corvus corax 3 1 12 82 Hooded Crow Corvus corone        83 House Sparrow Passer domesticus     8 84 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs      85 Siskin Carduelis spinus 2 4 6 2 86 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris  87 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 2 2 2 88 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 89 Redpoll Carduelis flammea 6 90 Linnet Acanthis cannabina 2

The Magic Of Mull Tour Report

June/July Common name Scientific name 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 91 Twite Acanthis flavirostris 5 92 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 1

Butterflies

Common Blue Polyomnmatus icarus Three flying on Staffa Large Heath Coenonympha tullia One photographed at Grasspoint

Mammals

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Common around Mull and Hotel Grounds Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus One en route to Tobermoray Otter Lutra lutra Female and two cubs Loch-na Keal Single adult in Fishnish Bay Common Seal Phoca vitulina Principally in Sea lochs. Also pupping around Coll and Lunga Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Principally in Sea - around Coll / Lunga occasionally in Sea lochs Red Deer Cervus elaphus Three at Grasspoint; two Loch na Keal; 16 in Glen Aros Fallow Deer Dama dama Five and two seen at the east end of Loch-na-Keal Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Three located in the sea north of the Cairns of Coll

Fish

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus One in the sea of the Cairns of Coll

Razorbill by Chris Dauncey Foxglove by Chris Dauncey