On the 27th a pair of Golden Eagles was calling and displaying over Treshnish wood, one of them was a pale male. They both flew towards Treshnish House.
On the 23rd there was no sign of the Common Scoters in Calgary bay but there were 2 Great Northern Divers one of which flew to Treshnish Point. In the afternoon there was a pair of Golden Eagles calling above Treshnish wood and at dusk both of them were sky-diving there and at least one of them was calling. There was also another pair at the same time above the cliffs where the Ensay road meets the coast. When the Treshnish wood pair were both sky-diving and calling they attracted one of the other pair which flew towards them but by this time they had started to drift to the west and this third bird turned back to the east.
On the 23rd there was no sign of the Common Scoters in Calgary bay but there were 2 Great Northern Divers one of which flew to Treshnish Point. In the afternoon there was a pair of Golden Eagles calling above Treshnish wood and at dusk both of them were sky-diving there and at least one of them was calling. There was also another pair at the same time above the cliffs where the Ensay road meets the coast. When the Treshnish wood pair were both sky-diving and calling they attracted one of the other pair which flew towards them but by this time they had started to drift to the west and this third bird turned back to the east.
On the 20th there were 2 Common Scoters opposite the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay, so this pair have been present from the 2nd to 20th of November. There was also 1 Great Northern Diver closer to the beach and 1 Golden Eagle where the Ensay road reaches the coast. After an examination of this summers orchid photos by an orchid expert, two new hybrids have been added to the Treshnish list. One is the Northern Marsh-orchid x Common Spotted-orchid hybrid (Dactylorhiza x venusta) and the other was the Northern Marh-orchid x Heath Spotted-orchid hybrid (Dactylorhiza x formosa). Other mystery photographs turned out to be subspecies of Common Spotted-orchid: Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. fuchsii, D. fuchsii subsp. okellyi and D. fuchsii subsp. hebridensis).
On the 17th there were 2 Common Scoters in the same place off the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay. 180 Starlings (in 4 flocks) flew west along the south of Calgary Bay, undoubtedly heading for the roost cave at Treshnish Point. I thought this was the largest number I have seen heading for the cave but I checked my notes and found that I had seen about 200 on 30/06/2009.
On the 16th after a checking of this years moth photos by experts, 11 new micro-moths and 1 new macro-moth have been added to the Treshnish list. Of the micros 4 were new to Mull (Ancylis unguicella, Platyptilia pallidactyla, Platyptilia isodactylus and Metendothenia atropunctana = Hedya atropunctana). The new macro for Treshnish was Pinion-streaked Snout (the moth was too worn to be shown usefully here) and another macro, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, which was previously uncertain was also confirmed.
On the 15th there was a female Reed Bunting at the eastern corner of the reeds below Toechtamhor cottage. There were 2 Redwings near Treshnish cowbarn and 3 Great Northern Divers off from Treshnish boathouse.
On the 13th there were 9 Redwings and 1 Fieldfare by Ensay farmhouse where there was also 1 male Hen Harrier. There were 2 Common Scoters in the same place off the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay and 1 Turnstone on Calgary beach. A Great Northern Diver was also near to Calgary beach. At night the only moths to be attracted to the light-trap were 9 December Moths.
On the 11th there were 2 Common Scoters in the same place off the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay.
On the 10th a small flock of at least 5 Collared Doves flew into Treshnish wood. There were 2 Golden Eagles on Cruachan Treshnish and at Treshnish Point. There were a pair of Reed Buntings with a flock of at 7 Goldfinches between Treshnish and Haunn cottages which flew to Haunn field and 2 Fieldfares were below Toechtamhor cottage, 1 of which flew to Treshnish Point and there was also 1 Redwing in Skoma field. Red Admiral flew high up in the trees above the Ivy plant on Ensay Burn cattle-grid bridge, where it had obviously been feeding.
On the 9th there were 2 Common Scoters in the same place off the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay and 1 Purple Sandpiper on Calgary beach. An Otter was seen along the south shore of Calgary bay, from quite close to the beach to the Dun.
On the 8th there were 2 Greenfinches by Treshnish Old Schoolhouse. A male Hen Harrier and a few Fieldfares were near Ensay farmhouse (AM).
On the 7th there were 2 Common Scoters, opposite the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay and 1 Great Northern Diver in Calgary Bay. a few Fieldfares were near Ensay farmhouse (AM). A Tawny Owl was heard at night from Treshnish Old Schoolhouse. Only one species of macro-moth came to the light-trap, the December Moth.
On the 5th there were 2 Common Scoters, opposite the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay.
On the 4th there were 2 Common Scoters, 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red-throated Diver near the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay.
On the 3rd there was a Golden Eagle displaying over Treshnish wood where there were also about 40 Starlings. There were 2 Great Northern Divers near the 'pink' pier Calgary Bay and a Peregrine above the cliffs at Lainne Sgeir, Calgary Bay which flew to Haunn. There was also at least 1 Kittiwake out from Ensay Burn mouth. At night a Tawny Owl was heard at Treshnish Old Schoolhouse.
On the 2nd there were 2 Common Scoters (which are scarce in north-west Mull) to the west of the 'pink' pier, Calgary Bay, 1 Greenshank flying from just to west of Lainne Sgeir, Calgary Bay to Lainne Sgeir, 24 Whooper Swans flying west above the cliffs at Lainne Sgeir, where there was also 2 Golden Eagles (one with a hole near the tip of one of the primary feathers). There was also a Red Grouse heard on the hillside to the south-west of Lainne Sgeir. A Grey Wagtail was by Ensay farmhouse. After sunset 3 flocks (totalling about 60) of Starlings flew along the south side of Calgary Bay. They fly to a cave at Treshnish Point to roost. At dusk there were 2 Red Deer stags crossing the pasture below Ensay, obviously rutting season is well and truly over. They were heading towards Ensay wood.
