Nature Mull

07/04/2026

Daily ‘Mull Nature Watch’ blog posts from the island this week, written by Theo…take a look to see how we got on 👀 Some great wildlife sightings in what also proved to be a challenging week for all involved due to the ferry and weather distributions…
www.naturemull.com/blog

14/09/2025

28th & 29th August - Dolphin's around the coast of Mull 🐬🌊

🌿Wilderness Explorer Day (Theo)

Mull is back with some challenging weather conditions in the last few days, but there is still lots to see on the Island as we start to enter the end of August. The cetaceans are still active all around the island, and the eagles are putting on wonderful shows.

Theo's Blog 28.08.25

It was Wilderness Explorer Day, and naturally, the weather was wet and windy! During a walk around the loch, the tour had a brief glimpse of a juvenile white-tailed eagle. The guests could really see the "barn door" with their large rectangular wings. Following the white-tailed eagle, they saw a distant Golden Eagle perched on the rocky cliffs before it took flight. It was brilliant to see both eagles in the morning on the tour, despite the challenging conditions. Along the shoreline, there was a nice mixture of birds, including Oystercatchers, Grey Wagtails, Shags, and a Grey Heron.

The lunch break was very fruitful. Red deer stags were spotted on a distant ridge, an otter was fishing in the distance, and both seal species were hauled out. It was lots of fun looking at all these animals through the scope, which provided some beautiful views, especially of the otter hunting. Out of nowhere, a white-tailed eagle flew in and perched nobly in the wind and rain for a while before a juvenile white-tailed eagle appeared and landed beside the adult, offering an excellent view that the tour was overjoyed to see.

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13/09/2025

27th August - An Otterly Great Day 🦦☀️

🚐Mull Nature Explorer ( Jack & Theo )

Jack's Tour 27.08.25

A cloudy day with some sporadic heavy rain showers. The day began with a juvenile white-tailed eagle, followed by a beautiful adult white-tailed eagle flying by. This was quite the sight to behold, with the adult's striking white rump and majestic white head.

The tour then searched for otters and spotted an adult foraging near some islands. Shortly after, Jack observed a mother otter and her cub preening on the shoreline. They were coiled around each other peacefully. They then moved out to feed, catching butterfish and a sizable goby species. It was very entertaining to see how quickly the otters changed into hunting mode and how successful they were at constantly catching prey. The tour enjoyed fantastic views of them hunting and staying close to the shoreline before heading towards our next destination.

Along the way, they encountered another adult white-tailed eagle. We made a brief stop at the restroom before heading to a local hide for lunch to shelter from the rain. Then, we continued south to observe some impressive red deer stags, looking very dramatic with the mist and rain in the background. To complete an excellent day, we had a sighting of an Irish hare, a unique subspecies found only in Ireland. The Isle of Mull is the only place to see this stunning wild Irish hare outside of Ireland.

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12/09/2025

26th August - Golden Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle 🦅 🤯

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer (Theo)

Theo's Tour - 26.08.25

Although a wet day was predicted, it turned into a beautiful afternoon. Theo began a private family tour in Craignure. They initially spotted Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Kittiwakes, Common Terns, and Eiders, along with a few Harbour Seals on offshore skerries. It was a wonderful selection of birds, with some starting their migration. At the following stop, they enjoyed excellent views of a pair of adult white-tailed eagles perched in the trees beneath a rainbow arc. It was like they were in a movie by the sounds of it!

While on the grassy moorland, they enjoyed incredible views of a hunting juvenile hen harrier. Then, a pair of adult white-tailed eagles appeared over the loch, with one briefly hunting before settling back on the hill. As they were leaving, a large female ringtail hen harrier flew straight past the van, heading to the nest field.

With the tide now receded, we turned our attention to otters. After searching for twenty minutes, just before lunch, Theo spotted a female otter walking along the shoreline. She paused to groom her fur before heading out to fish. The tour was ecstatic to have this close encounter with such a beautiful female otter. During an afternoon stroll, the tour observed an intense encounter where a golden eagle started diving towards the rocks, attacking a pair of adult white-tailed eagles. Theo said, "It was spectacular! Both parties flew off, calling out." The large female golden eagle perched in a dead tree, providing excellent views through the scope before soaring high above. The white-tailed eagles settled back on the shoreline, and soon their chick joined them. Two more adult white-tailed eagles appeared on the distant skyline and drifted by before the juvenile white-tailed eagle took flight and joined a sixth white-tailed eagle, this time a massive three-year-old bird. They soared around the hillside together for a few minutes in the sun before parting ways. I can't even put into words this experience—just eagles everywhere and incredible to see an interaction between the golden and white-tailed eagles.

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11/09/2025

22nd & 25th August - Starting signs of Autumn 🍂 🍁

🚐Mull Nature Explorer (Theo)

Theo's Tour 22.08.25

The day began with cloudy skies and a gentle breeze. We kicked off with an adult white-tailed eagle perched on an offshore skerry, accompanied by Harbour and Grey Seals. It was absolutely stunning to see how the seals and the white-tailed eagle were unbothered by each other's presence. Furthermore, it was wonderful to see the differences between the two types of seals. Harbour seals have V-shaped nostrils that meet towards the bottom, while grey seals have parallel nostrils.

Two more adult white-tailed eagles were perched on distant conifer trees, surveying their territory, likely with their fledged chick sitting on the ridge above. Further down, a Golden Eagle briefly appeared, being harassed by ravens, and suddenly another majestic golden eagle soared above the mountains. An immature white-tailed eagle was on the distant skyline. That makes it four white-tailed eagles and two golden eagles all before lunchtime—brilliant sightings.

The day's highlight occurred at the next stop, where two adult white-tailed eagles were perched. One of them abruptly dove down and snatched a spurdog shark from the shoreline, likely left behind from an otter's earlier kill, then flew up to the treeline to eat. Their chick then showed up and attempted to take the fish from the adult, dropping it in the process! It flew away calling with one of the adults, while the other was left hungry, having lost its meal. So much white-tailed eagle action today and unbelievable to see all these interactions between parent and juvenile eagles.

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10/09/2025

21st August - Going Batty! 🦇🌳

🚶‍♀️Walking Tour (Jack)
🚙Private Tour (Theo)

Two tours today with Jack and Theo guiding , Jack had a walking tour today and Theo's tour was a 4hr private trip with a family and 2 young kids, 1 very keen on his wildlife .

Jack's Tour - 21.08.25

Jack had a walking tour today, which started with a long drive to the walking point. On the way, Jack decided to stop at one of the usual eagle spots and was instantly rewarded with a sighting of a fledgling white-tailed eagle. While watching the majestic juvenile eagle, Jack noticed some movement in the water below—a local otter appeared, giving the group a "two for the price of one" experience. The otter performed an impressive Houdini act and vanished right before their eyes.

After this energetic start, the group arrived at the beginning of the walk and was greeted by yet another female otter coming ashore. The views were magnificent. As they continued, a calling oystercatcher alerted Jack to the presence of a predator, which turned out to be another fledged white-tailed eagle. Using geese, gulls, and waders as indicators, Jack explained that sudden startling often means an eagle is nearby. As the tour progressed, another adult white-tailed eagle flew over and landed near the fledgling, soon joined by another adult. The group didn't know where to look!

They took a quick stop for lunch, enjoying the white-tailed eagle action, before spotting a distant kestrel flying over the ridge. After lunch, the group walked around and scanned the south for cetaceans. Although they didn't spot any cetaceans, they did see a huge dog otter napping beside some worried looking shags. On the way back to the van, they admired some impressive carnivorous plants, including butterwort and round-leaved sundew, before finding the highlight of the day—a grounded long-eared bat! This unexpected star of the tour has incredible hearing and can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf.

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09/09/2025

20th August - Bottlenose Dolphins action and Eagles in the Mist 🐬🦅🌫️

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer ( Theo )

Theo's Tour - 21.08.25

The weather today was cool and misty with drizzle and sporadic sun. It felt like Mull had returned to its usual self. Theo was the tour guide for today, and eagles were the target species.

With eagles as the main focus, the first spot was to find a white-tailed eagle. What a way to start the tour! An impressive adult white-tailed eagle was perched on a large conifer, and a ringtail hen harrier was seen distantly over the skyline. In the distance, a few Red Deer were also visible, looking incredible with their antlers through the scope.

Continuing around the loch, the tour was treated to great scope views of a juvenile Black-throated Diver, a scarce bird on Mull. Additionally, two more white-tailed eagles were spotted on offshore islands, along with Harbour and Grey Seals.

Our next stop was overlooking the Sound of Mull. Upon arrival, we saw Bottlenose Dolphins! A pod of 15 swam by at speed, quite spread out in front of us. This was an uncommon sighting for our land-based tours and always a delight to see these large dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are super swimmers, gliding through the water using their curved dorsal fins. They can reach speeds over 30 km/h and dive as deep as 250 meters below the surface. Further down the Sound, the tour had brief and distant scope views of a female Otter with her two cubs heading quickly for the safety of the shore. A few Eiders were bobbing about, and Buzzards were calling above. The Sound of Mull was amazing today with some fantastic sightings.

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08/09/2025

August 18th - Mum and cub otters, thermalling and bellies full of blackberries 🦦🍓☀️

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer (Jack & Theo)

Well, what a scorcher once again! This August has been truly special this year. Both Jack and Theo were on mull nature explorer tours once again today.

Theo's Tour 18.08.25

In the morning, there were two great flybys by two adult white-tailed eagles and an adult golden eagle thermalling on the skyline, so both eagle species were spotted within the first hour of the tour. If this morning could not get any better, it did, with a mother otter hunting and playing with her two small cubs. The otter then brought in a large prey into the rocks and wandered up the shore before vanishing into their daytime holt. The guests were thrilled as it gave them a great insight into an otter family's world.

Driving a little further down the road, the otters kept on appearing, and the tour encountered a male otter rolling around on an offshore skerry with grey and harbour seals also sunbathing on the same skerry. Then, a Mull rarity: this might surprise some of you, but there are a handful of nuthatches on Mull. So when Theo heard a nuthatch call from the trees behind, it was a species on Mull that's slowly becoming more common over recent years.

Follow our Mull daily tour updates here - www.naturemull.com/blog

07/09/2025

August 16th - Marine Magic & Costa de Mull🐬🌊🌅

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer ( Theo)

What a lovely sunny day! Once again, the weather is really treating us with a nice light breeze. Theo was on tour once again with a Mull Nature Explorer and started the tour in great fashion once again.

The first sighting of the tour was a grey seal eating a sizeable scorpionfish. Shortly after, a pod of Common Dolphins appeared, travelling up the Sound of Mull, followed by a pod of Harbour Porpoise. Two types of cetaceans in one hour of the tour—magical! All the guests were shocked and overjoyed by this strong start to the morning.

After the amazing morning, the group found a pair of adult White-Tailed Eagles perched in a tree, looking magnificent in the sun. Through the scope, the detail of their blonde crowns was spectacular. A Golden Eagle briefly appeared on the skyline, and a kettle of eight Buzzards rose up from the treeline. Then, they took in the fantastic views of Mull's west coast, with Harbour Seals basking on the rocks below.

While appreciating the Mull landscape, three White-Tailed Eagles appeared and were thermalling over the distant skyline, with Buzzards calling and two Kestrels flying by. As the tide eventually dropped around lunchtime, it was time to try and find otters. Shortly after, Theo spotted an otter swimming towards a small island where it climbed out, had a roll around, and went to sleep in the sun. Everyone was jealous of the otter's relaxing life!

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06/09/2025

August 14th - Eagles and Sunshine ☀️ 🦅

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer (Theo & Jack)

Theo and Jack were on tour today. Theo's day started off misty with a surprisingly cool breeze, considering the recent weather. However, this did not affect the wildlife. The tour commenced wonderfully with sightings of two slow worms and a whitethroat, whose distinctive scratchy call was heard. Additionally, a group of eight mistle thrush flew straight over.

Next, the tour moved on to a stunning white sandy beach, a real beauty spot of Mull. There, we saw a distant white-tailed eagle perched on a cliff edge, providing great scope views. A peculiar sight for Mull, two Sandwich Terns were spotted with Kittiwakes in the bay, likely on migration. Moving to another bay, seeing three more Sandwich Terns, constantly chattering, along with grey wagtails and snipe feeding in the burn, and a kestrel on the hillside.

Turning our attention to the sea, an adult white-tailed eagle appeared and flew onto a small island, flushing the Shags straight off. There was also a small group of Harbour seals on the islands and Eider ducks. The white-tailed eagle action continued with two more appearances. One adult perched on a tree in the misty murk, creating an atmospheric view, and another adult was heard calling far into the mist.

Follow our Mull daily tour updates here - www.naturemull.com/blog

05/09/2025

August 13th - El Scorchio ☀️😎

🚐 Mull Nature Explorer ( Theo )
🚶Walking Tour ( Jack )

Theo’s Tour

Beginning the tour for Theo, they were joined by two adult white-tailed eagles resting on top of a conifer. Then, a very brief ringtail hen harrier flew over the trees—quite an unusual spot to see hen harriers!

Following the loch round, there was a small pod of common dolphins leaping and foraging. A golden eagle was also sat regally on the high cliffs above. The tour didn’t know where to look—just unbelievable scenes to have these wildlife experiences at the same time!

Harbour and grey seals were also present on the loch, enjoying the nice weather sunbathing. There was also a very brief sighting of an otter off an offshore skerry.

Over lunch, a large group of different birds gathered. An adult white-tailed eagle flew by carrying prey, pursued by corvids, and several buzzards thermalled on the hillside.

Fortunately, the tour was able to tick off both eagles for today with a very distant perched-up pair of golden eagles on the moorland, along with a few red deer and kestrels in the same vicinity.

Follow our Mull daily tour updates here - www.naturemull.com/blog

Mull Nature Watch - Read our daily blog from the Isle of Mull! Day tour updates and wildlife articles