7th November 2008 – another Mull circuit and back to Oban
My last day on Mull dawned rainy and a temporary dry period then led to torrential heavy rain for the last 2 hours or so whilst waiting for the 5 p.m. ferry back to Oban.
The clear highlight of a generally disappointing day was 2 adult
White-tailed Eagles seen soaring high over Loch na Keal before flying off over the island of Eorsa towards Ben More and 2 more adult
White-tailed Eagles perched in a dead tree near the Knock fish farm.
Calgary Bay sightings: 10
Oystercatcher, 3
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Common Gull
Loch na Keal sightings (north side): 2 adult
White-tailed Eagle
Loch na Keal sightings (head of the loch near Killiechronan): 2
Wigeon, 1
Curlew, 5
Oystercatcher, 1
Mallard, 5
Red-breasted Merganser 
Gruline sightings: 3
Fallow Deer including 1 buck moving through the woods adjacent to the road
Loch na Keal sightings (south side near Knock): 2 adult
White-tailed Eagle, c.20
Teal, c.20
Mallard, 2
Heron, 1
Common Redshank, 1
Curlew, c.10
Shag, 1
Stonechat, 1
Grey Wagtail plus small numbers of
Hooded Crow and
Herring and Common Gulls
Loch na Keal sightings (south side to Gribun): 1
Common Seal, 10
Red-breasted Merganser, 2
Mallard, 2
Heron, 8
Shag, 1
Common Buzzard, 1
Raven
Loch Scridain sightings (south side): 1
Common Seal, 4
Heron, 3
Curlew, 13
Oystercatcher, c.20
Greylag Goose by Glen More junction, 2
Kestrel
Loch Scridain sightings (north side Pennyghael area): 6
Common Seal, 1
Great Northern Diver, 7
Red-breasted Merganser, 6
Heron, c.20
Ringed Plover, 2
Curlew, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Turnstone, c.20
Common Gull, 1
Great Black-backed Gull
Glen More sightings: 2
Common Buzzard
Loch Don: c.50
Wigeon, 1
Mute Swan
A very rainy journey from Oban down to my overnight stop at Carlisle and an even longer journey home the next day left me to contemplate the highs and lows of my trip ....
Some closing thoughts
So that is it …. an excellent trip to the islands of Islay and Mull. Both are highly recommended for wildlife watching and I will definitely return to both islands.
Highlights
- the ferry crossing to Islay …. sea birds and sea mammals
- special island wildlife …. 95 species of bird and 10 species of mammal
- 4 Otters! …. including one close-up encounter
- 5 White-tailed Eagles!
- 5 Golden Eagles!
- thousands of wintering Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted Geese on Islay
- my B&B accommodation on Islay
- the Islay weather
Disappointments
- insufficient time to visit the island of Jura
- the weather on the last day
- heading south and returning home!
Thank you for reading.
Richard