Re: Birding on Mull

"Slightly Sheepish" <slightly_sheepish@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:djOGf.17737$wl.1660@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aiming to go to Isle of Mull for a week mid-June. Apart from the eagles,
which I know about, grateful for any birding (or general wildlife)
advice.
Also appreciate any B&B recommendations.


Have a look at the following websites http://www.mullbirds.com/ ;
http://www.isle.of.mull.com/index.htm ;
http://www.mull.zynet.co.uk/index.htm

There is also a small booklet "The Birds of Mull" by Mike Madders (can't lay
my hands on my copy at the moment) which is a reasonable summary - tho'
geographically somewhat biased towards the south and east of the island
(inevitably) as that's where most observations are made.

Accomodation shouldn't be a problem in June (and most B&B is OK) - although
the Island has become increasingly popular since I first went there some 30
years ago. I would suggest simply doing a web search : it'll throw up a lot
of accomodation links.

Mull is quite large, and it is worthwhile to carefully plan where to go. In
those 30 years, there are still places that I don't know well. A journey
from Calgary to Iona is about 2 hours - and that's assuming you're used to
single track roads The north and the south of the island are quite different
in geology and character; the west and north coasts different from the south
and east. For a week, I would recommend spending time exploring one part of
the island in particular from a base either on the Ross (marvellous hidden
beaches on the south coast of the Ross) or one around the N/NW stretch in
the north (some of the best coast in the land). Alternatively, you could
split the week between two centres. But time in the car is time wasted :-).

I would thoroughly recommend one boat trip during the week (but have a look
at the weather in advance) - that's where a lot of the birds are (as well as
other marine life). Jeremy Matthew's Inter-Island Cruises
(http://www.jenny.mull.com/) are a small enterprise which will give you a
delightful day with a small party, leaving from Croig in the north, whilst
Ian Morrison's Turus Mara (http://www.turusmara.com/)trips depart from Ulva
Ferry with somewhat larger parties - but regularly stop on Staffa and Lunga
(Treshnish Isles). If possible, book on a trip which lands at Lunga - a key
nesting site for sea birds. There are others, but these are the best IME.


Hope this is helpful - feel free to come back to me if that might be
helpful.

Rick Hayward


.

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