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Originally Posted by Joe Ray  Hi all
I'm looking for some info on birding Mull in Scotland. I'll be visiting the island for 5 days in early August, staying in Craignure. I am yet to find any information on birding around Mull, so if anyone can help me out that would be greatly appreciated. I will have the use of a car, and my target species are: Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Black Guillemot, Corncrake and Ptarmigan (if possible).
I was also wondering if anyone has any info on sites on the way to Oban from Cumbria where I will be driving from, that my yield any of the 'Scottish specialities' such as Ptarmigan? I appreciate this is unlikely and that I'd need to go further north which I don't really have the option to do, but if there is anywhere which is a detour of less than a couple of hours then I'd like to visit.
Many thanks for any information
Joe |
Howdy Joe. I was on Mull for a week at the end of May and got all the species you mention except ptarmigan. They are not easy on Mull, but Ben More and Ben Buie are best. When I was there, the weather wasn't fit for the tops really. Ben Buie is rather isolated, but there is a good path up Ben More, from the Loch na Keal side. You are too late in the season for corncrake too. They are on Iona. In May loads were singing, but with a bit of persistence, I managed to see three of them. Craignure is pretty close to Grasspoint and Lochdon, both good for white-tailed sea eagle. Golden eagle are plentiful, but it can be down to luck. I went all week without seeing one, then saw one on the last evening from the cottage where we stayed (near Bunessan) on the Ross of Mull. Glenmore is a good bet for them though. Try scanning the ridges along the length of the glen. Black guillemots are all around the coast and you could see them from the ferry from Oban.
Try the Mullbirds website too, it is invaluable for anyone going there. You will have a great time if the weather is decent, but beware of the midges. I got bit even in May. Go to Iona too and climb Dun I, a little peak of great charm.
The best (and easiest place) in Scotland for ptarmigan is Bealach Na Ba (The Pass of the Cattle), going to Applecross from Loch Carron. Park at the top and walk to the summit of the hill with a mast on, along the service road and keep your eyes peeled.
Have a good trip Joe and let us know how you get on.
Regards, Chris