Mull & Iona, like many other islands, can attract rare or unusual birds. Staying at our B&B in Fionnphort were a couple from Glasgow, both keen walkers and also interested in birds. At breakfast, on Friday morning, they told us they had seen a male Red-backed Shrike on Erraid (near Fidden) and their description certainly met most if not all of the key ID features. I pointed out that this would be a a rare bird for the island so would try and find out if anyone else could find it or had seen it - we walked to the Fidden area, prior to catching our bus back to Craignure, but had no success.
However, I have discovered that on Saturday, a female Red-backed Shrike was seen by a resident bird watcher near Treshnish House - some 20 miles, as the Shrike flies, from Erraid. Could there be two birds on Mull? If so, will they get together and breed? If I hear anymore I'll keep you posted.
For our part, I did find an immature Glaucous Gull near the Iona Ferry Terminal - not a rarity but certainly unusual for this time of year.
Glaucous Gull (centre), Iona
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