Isle of Mull 2026

Martin Roper
Jun 5
8 min read

Updated: Jun 6

This was our first birding trip to the Isle of Mull and we were in safe hands, travelling with our good friend and birding buddy Paul Coombes who has visited the island several times before. We were staying up north for the next 7 days in the main town of Tobermory, a great base for our birding holiday with all the facilities of the town close at hand. Our target birds for the trip were several lifers which included White-tailed eagle, Black guillemot, Twite and Corn crake (Iona) along with Golden eagle which would be a UK tick. We hadn't booked any boat trips for Pelagic birds so expected to record around 100 species, not a big number but what Mull lacked in quantity it certainly made up for in quality during our visit. Salen Ships on the Isle of Mull.

Day 1

Setting off in the afternoon from South Yorkshire we drove overnight towards Oban for the early morning ferry to Craignure on Mull. We had plenty of time and along the way we decided to take a detour towards Tan Hill Inn the highest pub in Britain, located on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park where we spent the last hour or so birding on the remote moorland before dusk. Here we had sightings of Oystercatcher, Northern lapwing, Black grouse, Red grouse, Golden plover, Curlew, Northern wheatear, Wood pigeon, Pheasant, Goldfinch, Grey partridge, Common buzzard, Meadow pipit, Kestrel, Sand martin, Short-eared owl, Common sandpiper, Mistle thrush, Barn swallow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Willow warbler, Chaffinch, Herring gull and Blackbird. Continuing on our journey we stopped outside the centre of Oban around 1.30am at Falls of Lora a small overnight car park located along the coast just beyond Connel bridge.

Black grouse (lifer), Short-eared owl and Red grouse near Tan Hill Inn on the Yorkshire dales national park.

Day2

We woke at 5.30am and took the short drive into town for an hour birding, parking at Central Pay Car Park along the Esplanade near the North Pier Ferry Terminal before boarding the 7.25 am ferry. Oban sightings were Hooded crow, Black guillemot, Greater black-backed gull, House sparrow, Feral pigeon, Oystercatcher, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Grey heron, Barn swallow and Mallard with Garden warbler and Greenfinch heard. On the ferry crossing we had sightings of Guillemot, Gannet and Common tern before disembarking at Craignure. As Craignure is in the south of Mull our plan on arrival was to head southwest to Fionnphort and take the foot ferry to the Isle of Iona looking to add Corn crake to our trip list. Passing the southside of Loch Scridain we noted Great northern diver in summer plumage before continuing to Bunessan and Fionnphort where we boarded the afternoon ferry for the 10 minute crossing to Iona.

Black guillemot in Oban (lifer), Gannet en-route and Great northern diver at Loch Scridain.

We walked the road passed the Fire Station and heard 3 Corn crakes calling from the long grass at the back of the building. Further along the road we had 2 more calling from the front gardens of a row of private houses. A large raptor passed over, it was our first White-tailed eagle and it was carrying what looked like the carcass of something large, most likely a Goose. Corn crakes continued calling but remained elusive until eventually one broke cover and began calling from the back of one of the gardens along the edge of a fence. This seemed to spark off a flurry of activity and for the next 30 minutes we were treated to great views of a Corn crake walking around the short cut grass, road and hedges between the gardens. Heading towards the Abbey and Nunnery we heard another 3 Corn crakes calling but the long grass made locating them a little challenging. Other sightings here were Sedge warbler, Linnet, Wren, Curlew, Cuckoo, Goldfinch, Cormorant and Rook.

Corn crake (lifer), White-tailed eagle (lifer) and Sedge warbler on the Isle of Iona.

Returning back to Mull we stopped at Croggan and Loch Spelve before continuing north to our apartment in Tobermory, we had been on the road for the last 28 hours. Other sightings during the day were Northern lapwing, Common snipe, Redshank, Common whitethroat, Common gull, House martin, Mistle thrush, Starling, Song thrush, Shag, Greylag geese, Canada geese, Wood pigeon, Collared dove, Mute swan, Willow warbler, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Common buzzard, Common sandpiper, Common shelduck, Rock pipit, Pied wagtail, Sand martin and Dunnock. 56 birds noted during the day (excluding Yorkshire Dale sightings).

Redshank, Common sandpiper and Skylark at Loch Spelve.

Day 2 we explored the north of Mull and our first stop was Ardmore Plantation where we noted Chaffinch, Herring gull, Willow warbler, Wren, Robin, Common buzzard, Whitethroat, Mistle thrush, Starling and added Raven, Siskin, Goldcrest, Coal tit and Stonechat to our trip list. Our next stop was Glengorm Castle noting Greylag geese along the way and on arrival we had views of Goldfinch, Blackbird, Pied wagtail, Greenfinch, Song thrush, Dunnock, Meadow pipit, House martin and added Blackcap, Great tit, Spotted flycatcher, Great spotted woodpecker, Northern wheatear, Bullfinch and Blue tit to our trip list.

Common buzzard, Coal tit and Goldcrest at the Ardmore plantation.

Our next stop was Dervaig reedbeds where we noted White-tailed eagle, Greater black-backed gull, Wood pigeon, Common sandpiper, Redshank, Shelduck, Shag, Feral pigeon, Canada geese and Oystercatcher, also adding Tree pipit, Goosander, Lesser black-backed gull and Merganser to our trip list. The weather changed and heavy rain followed as we headed through Calgary, Eas Fors waterfalls, Ulva and the northshore of Loch Na Keal stopping at Salen before heading back to Tobermory. Other sightings were Curlew, Black guillemot, Gannet, Mallard, House sparrow, Black-headed gull, Sand martin, Grey heron, Great northern diver. Today we recorded 56 birds and added 18 to our trip list which was now running at 74 birds.

Spotted flycatcher and a male Bullfinch at Glengorm, Tree pipit en-route to Dervaig.

Day 3 we stopped at Arus Park where we noted 2 Otters in the water and added a Treecreeper to our trip list, other sightings were Herring gull, Grey heron, Great northern diver, Cormorant, Song thrush, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit and Willow warbler. Over at Salen pier we had Hooded crow, Barn swallow, Sand martin, Mallard, Common sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Starling, Blackbird, Mute swan, Black guillemot, Merganser, Common buzzard, Greylag geese, Shag, Canada geese and added male Common eiders added to our trip list.

2 male Common eiders and a Shag at Salen pier, Treecreeper at Arus park.

At Fishnish 2 White-tailed eagles were in the trees while along the northshore of Loch Scridain we observed White-tailed eagles nesting. Other stops included Craignure, Duart Castle, Grasspoint and Croggan. Other sightings were Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Collared dove, Common Tern, House martin, Robin, Rock pipit, Song thrush, Meadow pipit, Blue tit, Lapwing, Skylark, Cuckoo, Northern wheatear, Goldfinch, Tree pipit, Snipe and Gannet along with Ringed plover, Pheasant and Whinchat added to our trip list now at 79 birds.

White-tailed eagle nest (taken from the road) and Whinchat en route, Ringed plover at Loch Spelve.

Day 4 We stopped near the bridge on the road to Salen where we added Teal to our trip list and noted House sparrow, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Herring gull, Hooded crow, Grey heron, Song thrush, Wren, Mallard, Barn swallow and Oystercatcher. Our next stop was Salen ships where we spotted Common buzzard, Merganser, Greater black-backed gull, Common sandpiper, Mute swan and Common gull. A singing Common redstart was added to the trip list. Next we stopped was at Salen woodland where we added several sightings of Wood warbler to our trip list along with sightings of Wood pigeon, Treecreeper, Siskin, Coal tit, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbird and observed Speckled Yellow (a day flying moth) found in woodland.

Wood warbler and Speckled yellow moth at Salen woodland, Oystercatcher nr Salen ships.

Continuing through Salen we took the road along the southshore of Loch Na Keal where we had great views of a White-tailed eagle having an altercation with a Common buzzard other sightings were Black guillemot, Great northern diver, Raven, Rock pipit, Cuckoo and a pair of nesting Northern wheatear. We then headed to the northshore of Loch Scridain where we added Twite (lifer) and Kestrel to our trip list along with Mistle thrush, Stonechat, Whinchat, Great spotted woodpecker, Sand martin, House martin, Lapwing and Linnet. Returning to base we stopped at Glen More adding Golden eagle (UK lifer) to our trip list before taking the road to Lochbuie and adding Reed bunting. Our trip list was now standing at 85 birds.

White-tailed eagle vs Common buzzard at Loch Na Keal, Twite at Loch Scridain, Golden Eagle at Glen more.

Day 5 We dropped Paul off at Croggan where we had views of an Otter near the Pier along with Merganser, Great norther diver, Oystercatcher, Spotted flycatcher, Robin, Common sandpiper, Mallard, Herring gull, Common gull, Goosander, Grey heron, Blackcap, Willow warbler, Common tern, Song thrush, Blackbird, Greylag geese, Canada geese, Mistle thrush, House sparrow and Skylark. From here we headed south to Glen More and parking off the road we observed a juvenile White-tailed eagle followed by 2 Golden eagles. Next we drove along the southshore of Loch Scridain to Bunessan and took the road southwest to Ardalanish Bay where we parked in the car park and continued on foot down the path heading towards the beach.

Red-breasted merganser, Otter and Common sandpiper at Loch Spelve.

The long sandy beach had large patches of shingle ideal for ground nesting birds but was windy, nevertheless we soon had views of several Sanderling in various stages of plumage, around a dozen or so Dunlin and a single Curlew sandpiper which we added to our trip list. Other sightings included nesting Ringed plover, Linnet, Sedge warbler, Meadow pipit, Rock pipit and a small flock of Sand martin which had nested in the vertical walls of the surrounding sand dunes. We headed back to Loch Spelve to pick Paul back up before finishing at Grassland looking for Short-eared owls and Hen harriers without much success. Other sightings today were House martin, Barn swallow, Northern wheatear, Cuckoo, Hooded crow, Wood pigeon, Feral pigeon, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Common buzzard and a Golden-ringed dragonfly. Trip list now at 88 birds.

Sanderling, Curlew sandpiper, Dunlin and Sand martin at Ardalanish beach.

Day 6 This morning we stopped at the bridge near Salen before taking the scenic route to Dervaig reedbeds, Croig, Calgary beach, Ulva harbour, around both sides of Loch Na Keal through the Tiroran Community Forest road and returning on the northshore of Loch Scridain and back to base. Highlights included Raven, Wren, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Blackcap, Herring gull, Common buzzard, Common gull, Greenfinch, Black guillemot, Shelduck, Snipe, Blackbird, Canada geese, Greylag geese, Chaffinch, Barn swallow, Skylark, Mistle thrush, Song thrush, Northern wheatear, Cuckoo and added Yellowhammer to our trip list.

Cuckoo, Northern wheatear and Yellowhammer.

Other sightings today were Hooded crow, Feral pigeon, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Goosander, House sparrow, Common sandpiper, Starling, Goldfinch, Redshank, Great spotted woodpecker, Robin, Pied wagtail, Great northern diver, Merganser, Cormorant, Blue tit, Lesser black-backed gull, White-tailed eagle, Meadow pipit, Rock pipit, Curlew, Lapwing and Sparrowhawk to our trip list making a cumulative total of 90 birds noted.

White-tailed eagle, Lapwing and Sparrowhawk.

Day 7 We headed back to Croggan and Loch Spelve to drop Paul off for the day and added Redpoll to our trip list. Near the Pier an Otter was feeding in the water as a Seal passed by, other sightings included Willow warbler, Oystercatcher, Common gull, Herring gull, Greater black-backed gull, Ringed plover, Cormorant, Merganser, Tree pipit, Reed bunting and Cuckoo. Our next stop was at Glen More and on the way we added Jay to our trip list. At Glen More we had views of Raven, Common buzzard and Golden eagle along with a Green hairstreak butterfly and Golden-ringed dragonfly, from here we continued on to the bus stop.

Golden eagle, Redpoll and Golden-ringed dragonfly.

We took the road at the side of the bus stop and pulled up near the entrance to a farm where we parked and waited. After around 30 minutes we saw a male Hen harrier quartering over the fields and at one point came close enough for a few photos before disappearing to the rear of the farm. This was the last addition to our list for the week which reached a total of 93 birds. We picked Paul back up and headed to Tobermory to pack our gear ready for our journey home. We had planned to get the ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline for a scenic journey home but bad weather scuppered our plans and we ended up coming straight home taking around 11 hours including several short breaks. The total driving distance during our trip was logged at 1,458 miles.