Mull, Iona and the Treshnish Isles for Oriole Birding - 27th June - 4th July 2026

27^th June

Unusually I had a full bus from the outset of the journey up to Lockerbie and the time passed quickly and we made good time to our overnight hotel.  It had been over 30c almost all the way up but within sight of Scotland it dropped and as we off loaded the van it was below 20c which at least made it more comfortable.

28^th June

The journey up from Lockerbie was a wee bit dreich to begin with and we saw a few Red Kites and Buzzards early on before stopping at the Green Welly for a respite break where amazingly we met Ashley coming the other way on his way south with the first Mull group.

Lunch around the Bridge of Orchy gave us Goosander, Common Sandpipers and lots of flickering Sand Martins but the woods were cool and quiet so we pressed on and through the majestic Glencoe but as usual there was no where to stop at all and we had to once again enjoy drive by views of all it imposing glacial features.

We were almost first in the queue at the Oban Ferry where Eiders and Black Guillemots paddled around the harbour and several Swifts careened around the town.  The short ferry journey over to Craignure gave us more Tysties, Guillemots, Shags and Cormorants and the odd Kittiwakes and Gannet. 

There was a large mixed Common and Arctic Terns colony on one of the low lying islands and Harbour Seals and a two Harbour Porpoises were seen.  The cloud was low and it was grey, cool ad breezy but once ashore I still stopped at Three Lochs as we came over the top but unsurprisingly we saw nothing.

Dinner and bed beckoned for us all.

29^th June

Our first full day took us on a circuit between Loch Scridain and Loch na Keal and started well at Loch Beg where Greenshank, Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Snipe, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Redshank and Curlew got us off to a very good wadery start as we scanned from the Candle shop.  The gardens there had Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers and various Tits, Siskins and Chaffinches were coming down to the feeders there.  The midges were out in force but the breeze was picking up and soon our worst session of the little blighters was over!

Common Sandpiper - Rhona Richardson

Curlew - Rhona Richardson

Oystercatcher - Rhona Richardson

Showers pulsed through and time out of the van was limited to start with but we had a small break in the weather and were able to watch the local White-tailed Eagle chick on its nest in the pines.  It was a bit of a monster and probably very close to fledging  and despite being vocal neither of the parents appeared.

White-tailed Eagle chick

There were Heath Spotted Orchids and Bog Asphodel in the very wet verges but there was no chance of any butterflies!  

Heath Spotted Orchid

Bog Asphodel

Heath Spotted Orchid

Up and over passing numerous Wheatears and Meadow Pipits before dropping down to the narrow coast road.  

No roads beyond that farm...

A RRS to have a scan round was quiet until Marilyn found a seriously snoozing Otter on a seaweedy rock.  I could not persuade them that it was not dead until Kim found two well grown kits swimming towards her where they rudely awoke their mother and much boisterous rough and tumble ensued much to the crew’s delight.  Harbour Seals lounged banana-like on rocks in the loch and the odd Shag was dotted around.

Shag 

Otter

Otter

Otter

Otter

Otter

Otter

Lunch at the Golden Eagle spot was an already known blank as they had failed this year but as last year it was still a lovely stop with ‘kipping’ Snipe from the telegraph poles, singing Song Thrushes, Stonechats and two adult White-tailed Eagles cruising around. 

Two Hats Alison

White-tailed Eagle

There were far less roadside waders this time and just a few Red-breasted Mergansers but there were many broods of Greylag Geese that looked to be just about Eagle snack sized!  The weather was closing in again but a final scan from the east end of Loch Na Keal gave us one last adult White-tailed Eagle before the loop was continued back to base.

Greylag Geese

Greylag Goose

30^th June

It was another grey and drizzly morning as we headed around to Ulva to board our boat for the White-tailed Eagle tour.  As it happened the weather was kind to us and although it remained dull and the cloud low, the rain held off as we headed out into Loch Tuath to the north of the island.

Four different Eagles came visit us and no matter how many times I see this imposing bird close up it never ceases to amaze me with its size, power and grace.  One even came and joined us when we moored up in small bay on Ulva for a cuppa and sat on the bluff where Buzzard and Hooded Crow mobbed it.  There were a few auks around and a couple of Gannets and a Bonxie circled out boat a couple of times.

There were almost as many pictures of Monty as the local wildlife

White-tailed Eagle action

White-tailed Eagle - Rhona Richardson

The run back in gave us two flocks of moulting male Eiders and one of the small grassy islands had freshly fledged Common Gulls and a host of Canada and Greylag Geese. Otter is always hoped for and a we ended up watching one actively hunting in and out of the rafts of Wrack along the shoreline but it was the two Great Northern Divers that caused the most excitement with a breeding adult and 2cy bird.

Bonxie

Bonxie & Great Black-backed Gull  - Rhona Richardson

 Otter

 Common Gull chicks

Great Northern Divers

Common Eider

Harbour Seals

 Black Guillemot

Safely back on dryland we trundled down the road and found a suitable place to pull off and have lunch whilst overlooking Loch Na Keal.  As usual food intake was interrupted by wildlife moments.  The Lady Jane was now out on her afternoon circuit and two Eagles were powering into he as she bobbed below us.  Surprisingly a second pair came in from up the loch giving us four within a few minutes! 

On pair disappeared into the cliff rain forest below us where Elms trees still stood tall and where followed by the local Buzzards.  Down on the loch Kim found two more Otters and a Yellowhammer called from a Ash tree alongside us.  The cloud was still low and unfortunately the male Hen Harrier that I found crossing the road soon disappeared once again.

Yellowhammer - Rhona Richardson

There was some quality flora at this little stop too with Heath Spotted and Heath Fragrant Orchids, Round-leaved Sundews and Butterworts amongst others. A few Eristalis Hoverflies and Bumblebees were around and we had fly bys of Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.

Heath Fragrant Orchids

Thyme

New Zealand Willowherb - Epilobium brunnescens 

Slender St John's Wort

Foxgloves

Lousewort

Bog Asphodel

Greater Butterwort

Round-leaved Sundew

At the east end of Lach Na Keal we spied a herd of Fallow Deer in a meadow and pulled off to have a look.  The sun almost came out and five minutes became nearly an hour as we scanned the bay at low tide for Greenshank, Redshank and Curlews while Hoodies poked around the seaweed and 13 Mergansers snorkelled in the shallows.

Fallow Deer

There was a big patch of Hemlock Water-Dropwort and for once it was covered in insect life and I logged a good number of Hoverflies and Bumblebees, Flesh Flies, Greenbottles and a couple of Red Admirals.

Bombus terrestris

Eristalis arbustorum

Sercomyia lappona

Eristalis intricaria

Meliscaeva auricollis

Scaeva pyrastri

Common Carpet

Depressaria daucella - the caterpillar of a wee moth

Coffee, loos and cake at Salen followed and so did the returning rain but the crew wanted to get out and explore so we moved up the road and walked in the rain up alongside the River Aros where Greater Butterfly and Heath Spotted Orchids were in the verges along with subtly coloured Water Avens, Common Valerian and nodding Melancholy Thistles.  There were no Dippers and just a few Siskins and damp Swallows.  The sheltered blooms held several Chimney Sweeper moths, Bombus pascuorum, terrestris and surprisingly hypnorum and there was a good flock of proper looking Rock Doves in the village.

Sea Aster

Woodland Dor Beetle - Anoplotrupes stercorosus

Melancholy Thistle

Water Avens

Water Avens

Melancholy Thistle

Greater Butterfly Orchid - phone shots for all these as it was too wet!

With the rain properly set in we headed for home but stopped to watch a foraging Hedgehog by the Candle shop!

1^st July

Another day, another boat! Our journey west began with a stop for a stunning Great Northern Diver that was feeding just off shore.  They are such a fantastic bird to see in this plumage.

Great Northern Diver 

By the time we reached Fionnphort the light rain had let up and we were greeted by the local Rooks and Jackdaws around the car park.  

 And if you have never seen a Great Slug Slug dance...

Soon enough we were on the board and bobbing our way out towards the Treshnish Isles.  Huge Atlantic rollers were coming it so our journey out parallel to them was a little on the wobbly side.  There were the expected auks, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Shags but only two Manx Shearwaters.  Closer to Lunga the number of Puffins increased dramatically and it was obvious that so many of the passengers had never seen one before.  They, any my crew, were in for a treat once we landed.

The heavy rain of recent weeks made the clamber across the beach and up onto the two lower platforms tricky but doable but the track beyond that was a mess and our whole group opted to spend time with the super close Puffins and Razorbills rather than spend our two hours watching our feet and trying not to fall over. 

Puffins 

Razorbill

Fulmar

Fulmars - Rhona Richardson

As before the comical encounters were exceptional and no one left without a big smile.  There were birds all around and a pair of Arctic Skuas came in to try and get some breakfast too.

I clambered up onto the top of the island to have my lunch and sat in silence with just a family of Twite, singing Skylarks and ‘kipping’ Snipe for company.  A Corncrake sing twice and Bonxies circled before I clambered back down. It was soon time to go and so we all met up and worked our way slowly back down to the boat.

Twite

Twite

Twite

Twite

Six Spot Burnet

Bonxie

The breeze had got up and the rain had started and the journey back was somewhat damp.  Grey Seals digested on the rocks and Staffa loomed large ahead but the swell was too great and we were not able to land this time but to be honest Fingle’s Cave and the basalt columns look best whilst you at sea and I was not too upset at not having to clamber up more steep steps!

Staffa

Staffa

Grey Seals

Grey Seals

Ioana

Heavy rain continued and cancelled out the rest of the day but we did stop to look at some Lesser Butterfly and Northern-type Marsh Orchids on the way back and then see an Otter through the window whilst having our dinner.

Marsh Orchid

Butterfly Orchid

2^nd July

This looked like it would be our one fine day so we headed off after breakfast and back down to Fionnphort to catch the ferry over to Iona.  I had been told that the Corncrakes were singing well around the hotel and Abbey and so I planned not to be there all day.  In fact we had heard Corncrake within the first few minutes and they were singing almost all off the time that we ambled around.  Pop into shop, go outside and listen to Corncrake, visit another shop and repeat.  Jenny and Peter were lucky enough to see one in the waist high meadow.

Maidenhair Spleenwort and Wall-Rue

Bloody Cranesbill

The big Elm

Common Ploypody

There were a few Painted Ladies and Red Admirals on the Hebe and Willow Warblers and Sedge Warblers were in the garden edges where Greenfinches wheezed and Sparrows chattered.

Dryad's Saddle

Dryad's Saddle

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Red Admiral

Bombus pascuorum

House Sparrow

Flapping

In an puddle

Willow Warbler

Calliphora sp

Meadow Cranesbill

Beadlet Anemone and a Sponge

Beadlet Anemone, Limpet and a Sponge

The Abbey on Iona

I was conscious of the sunny day opportunities and so we left after a couple of hours and made our way back to Mull. We pulled off for lunch by the little chapel on the shores of Loch Poit na h-l where Little Grebes trilled and Common Gulls mewed.  A White-tailed Eagle flew through and some chunky Redpolls were being elusive in the willows.

Back at Pennyghael we collected Jo and made our way up into the hills where at last we could see the higher tops.  I stopped first to look for Slender Scotch Burnets but frustratingly only found Six Spots but there was a single SPB Frit and a stunning Violet Ground Beetle.

Six Spot Burnet Moth

Up at the Three Lochs viewpoint we got set up and began scanning. Just a few minutes later a Golden Eagle appeared over the mid distance ridge and I managed to get everyone onto it.  It was not especially close but it was still a Goldie.  A family of well grown Goosanders were down on the middle loch.

We were treated to two further appearances including a spectacular tumble and swoop before alighting on a crag.  Our eagle gamble had paid off.  The cloud was descending so we retraced our route back to Loch Beg where we enjoyed time with broods of both Whinchat and Stonechat and witnessed a rather amazing White-tailed Eagle encounter.   A huge adult female was sat out on the saltmarsh when a 2cy dropped in and landed right beside her.  He was noticeably smaller but both were obviously familiar with each other and the youngster proceeded to lay day right next to what was presumably his mum.  We left them to their reunion and made our way back for dinner.

White-tailed Eagles

3^rd July

The weather conspired against us for most the day but any day that begins with a White-tailed Eagle is a good one.  The immature was still present on the saltmarsh but was now much closer and was being mobbed by the local angry Common Gulls. 

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle - Rhona Richardson

A pleasant walk was then taken at Ardura community forest which was very quiet with just a few Tits, Treecreepers and Chiffchaffs.  There were some lush Ferns and the little stream had several small colonies of Water Crickets skating around and three Red Deer fed across the main river in the fields.

Maidenhair Fern

Cow-wheat

Foxglove

Marsh Thistle

Dexisoma caninum

Common Polypody

Common Figwort

Red Deer

Water Cricket - Velia caprai 

Water Cricket - Velia caprai 

A stop alongside Craignure GC produced no more Eagles but there was plenty to see with a mixed Arctic and Common Tern colony on a shingle island where Common Gulls, Kittiwakes, Red-breasted Mergansers and Eiders loafed.  A bonus breeding plumaged Black-throated Diver flew up the Sound of Mull.

Coffee and cake at Salen where a male Bullfinch was a welcome addition before looping around to Loch Bee.  The rain retuned and the temperature dropped and the chance of some lovely Dragonflies and other inverts rapidly evaporated.  Almost the only birds though were some much appreciated Crossbills and although they were regularly seen and heard in eth tall pines we could not find them perched up.

Riband Wave

No newts or dragons this time

From here we came back on the Loch Na Keal road passing another adult White-tailed Eagle on an island on the way but the road was otherwise quiet.  We did stop at the high pass once again and enjoyed excellent views of the mega eaglet again but this time both adults came in although neither actually bright the screaming chick anything.

White-tailed Eagle

A Dipper was found on the fast flowing river and Wheatears and Stonechats were noted as we descended back down to Loch Scridain where a big dog Otter was seen briefly and Mistle Thrush was added to the list.  As we neared Loch Beg a much deserved female Hen Harrier appeared beside us and quartered the bracken before gliding across in front of the van and out over the tidal flats where Oystercatchers went crazy.

Hooded Crow - Rhona Richardson

The adult Northern Wheatears were incredibly tatty - Rhona Richardson

Dipper

Quite simply the biggest bull Highland I have even seen and brindled too! 
MacROMEO!

Somehow despite the weather we had managed to experience almost everything we could have hoped for.

The next morning we packed up early and started the long journey back south although the ferry had door problems and could not let off the incoming passengers but the problem was soon resolved and we were able to leave Mull behind us.  Clouds of Moon Jellyfish pulsed alongside the jetty as we boarded.  Perhaps on the next trip I will get some proper sunshiny days!