Birds of Prey
by Wildlife Guide David Woodhouse

The island is a great place to see Eagles; however, it is also a very good bird watching destination, if you want to see other birds of prey, such as the Peregrine Falcon and the Hen Harrier.  The Short Eared Owl, Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are also seen around the island.  The Short Eared Owl is quite unusual as owls go, because he only hunts during the day.  It is a bird which will give you really close views if you are looking in the right habitat, which are small conifer plantations bordered by undulating moorland.   Our other owls are usually nocturnal, though you can occasionally see newly fledged young owls sitting around during the day.  These include the Long Eared Owl, Barn Owl and the reasonably common Tawny Owl.  The most common owl to be heard late at night is the Tawny Owl. 

One of our more spectacular wildlife sights, must be the food pass of the male and female Hen Harrier.  The male is a truly handsome bird, and many would argue that he is the most attractive British Bird of Prey, with his grey white body and black tipped wings.  There is a pattern to sightings of Hen Harriers, in that in April and early May, you might see the 'sky dance' of the male, as he swoops up and down, just above the ground, for perhaps a few hundred metres.  You might then see him circling around and fanning his tail to the bigger and browner female.  From then on, you will see only the male quartering the ground as he hunts for prey to feed the nesting female.  It is at this time when you will see the food pass, as the male calls the female from the nest and throws the prey to her in mid flight, she turns over and catches it in mid air and the male continues on, to hunt for more prey.  After a few weeks of this behaviour, you begin to see the female hunting also, and both take prey back to the growing young.  By early July, you may see perhaps three or four young Hen Harriers rising to meet the male or female, and most of them have to be disappointed because either bird will only have one item of prey.  However, Hen Harriers have quite a good success rate in rearing young, and all of the young usually survive to fledging.

 If you want to see a Peregrine Falcon, you have to be quick (!!) because he is the fastest bird in the world.  He can be noisy near the nest, which is usually on sea cliffs, and if you hear a shrill and screeching call, watch out for a fast grey falcon!  From then on it is a good idea to retreat from the area, as you may well be near their nest, and all birds of prey are easily disturbed and  can desert their eggs or small young on such occasions.

The Merlin is a rare bird on Mull, and they can be overlooked as they glide low over the heather in search of prey.  They are also small; in fact, the male is only the size of a mistle thrush, and he has a blue back and red speckled chest.  The female is dark brown and the size of a Kestrel, which is reasonably common on Mull.  All birds of prey have their particular hunting technique, and the Kestrels' style is to hover motionless on the wind, while waiting for an unsuspecting Short Tailed Vole to make a move below.  The Buzzard is our most common bird of prey, and your first sighting will almost certainly be of a bird sitting on top of a telegraph post and looking like a small eagle.  In fact, many visitors to the island are convinced that they have seen an Eagle on these occasions.  It is such a common claim, some people now refer to the Buzzard as the tourists eagle!