We had to change our plans this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation. What was meant to be a trip to Iceland was put on the back burner until 2022. Instead we changed  this year plans to a trip to the Isle of Mull and the Cairngorms. 

Myself and my 2 traveling companions Ricky and Adrian (uncles) set off on a Friday lunch time excited by the 8 days ahead. The excitement was soon damped by the most horrendous traffic I have ever experienced. The M5 and M6 was pretty much a standstill from Worcester to Carlisle. We had given ourselves plenty of time for our 10pm check into our first stop in Oban. The plan was to get a bite to eat and maybe try the local celebs aka the Black Guillemots which breed in small numbers along the sea wall. Our hotel was conveniently a stones throw from the Black Guillemot site. We made it to the hotel at 9.57  so no tea just some sandwiches in the car from a garage en route. Not the best start but we had made it safely to Oban. 

Next morning we had booked onto the first ferry to the Isle of Mull. After a quick visit to the Guillemots (14 seen) we were off to Mull. Enjoying a full fat Scottish breakfast onboard. (minus the black pudding for me)

The plan was to head to Fionnphort and catch the first ferry over to Iona a small island just of Mull. Iona is famous for its Abby, White Sandy beaches and best of all Corncrake. This secretive bird is found in good numbers on Iona and would be a lifer for me. En route we stopped at a Loch Beg to have a scope around. Was good to hear Drumming snipe, Curlew and Redshank all on their breeding grounds. 

After just missing the first ferry to Iona we had a quick look around the headland of Fionnphort. Not much apart from a few Orchids, a calling Cuckoo and a family of Hooded Crows.  The crossing to Iona is a short one and it wasn’t long before we were on the island. We headed straight to the fire station a good place to view corncrake. Sadly none were seen but we did hear one here briefly. In the grounds of the fire station there were some orchids sadly these hadn't opened yet and had been damaged on the freshly cut lawn. There was a garden just past the fire station that had a bird feeder in underneath and here we seen 4 Pure form Rock Doves. They looked pretty good up to our local street rats.

We headed along the shore towards the South East of the island this is where Adrian found his first nest of the trip. An Oystercatcher on 3. We also watched some Ringed Plover here but didn’t find a nest. Greenshank was also heard here but not seen by any of us. 

Oystercatcher Nest - Iona

Oystercatcher Nest - Iona
 

I had yet to fire off any shots yet this trip so I spend a bit of time with a pair of Ringed Plover feeding around the rocks and shoreline. 

Ringed Plover - Iona 

Ringed Plover - Iona 
Ringed Plover - Iona 

We then walked across the island to the north side listening at any Iris bed en route, It wasn't long until I heard the distant Crex Crex of a Corncrake the Iris bed was distant and in a farmers field so little or no chance of seeing this bird.  Another was heard about 10meters up the road and a similar situation where the site wasn’t easily viewed. The far side of the island was very beautiful with some lovely untouched sandy beaches. 

Iona Beaches 

We have planned to leave the island around 4pm which would give us a bit of time birding on Mull and to find our digs for the next 3 nights. One last trip to the fire Station was on the cards especially after bumping into someone who told us that one was seen yesterday and some good photos were taken of it. Sadly no show again and we were soon back on the ferry to Mull. 

Iris bed - Iona Fire Station

We took the short trip from Fionnphort to our digs. Which was just outside Bunessan stopping to refuel at the pub in Bunessan the Argyll Arms Hotel. Food was pretty good and staff were really friendly well worth a stop if in the area. Here we watched an Osprey drift by.  Our Airbnb was not to far away but at the end of a 3 mile dirt track road which was bumpy and I nearly took the bottom of the car off numerous times. It  was worth the effort. The house we were staying at appeared to be an old farm house and had numerous House Martin’s, House Sparrows and Starlings nesting in and around the house. The House Martin’s had chicks and were busy feeding them, it was amazing to watch them from the lounge window. 

Our Airb&B on Mull

The only place to get any signal was to take a short walk up the hill behind the house here we all checked in with people back home before taking a walk around the local fields. A cuckoo was calling from the woods across the valley. Everywhere we went we heard cuckoos. Wasn’t long before we found our first nest of the evening a Common Gull. The area was very wet and Adrian was glad he left his clean dry and very new trainers on. 

Common Gull nest - Isle of Mull

Common Gull nest - Isle of Mull

We carried on across the area and wasn’t long before we had a hunting Short-eared Owl always a bit distant but good to see. In the next valley we found a pair of Curlews they were acting very suspicious but no nest was found. One for another night. As we began the walk back to the digs we had a fly over Golden Eagle. 

Golden Eagle - Isle of Mull

The scenery was pretty stunning and was amazing to watch the sunset.  As we arrived at the hill next to our digs I checked my phone and boom we had some 4g. Adrian for his sins is a Chelsea fan so we managed to catch the last 10 minutes of the Champions league final. Before heading back for a celebratory Gin and tonic that Adrian had kindly bought along with a box of goodies to keep us feed throughout the trip. The goodies also included x3 bottles of Avon skin so soft.  Always good to keep your skin hydrated. Heard it’s also good for keeping away the midges.