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If you want to see a Peregrine Falcon on your travels, then 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 UK's smallest bird of prey, this compact, dashing falcon has a relatively long, square-cut tail and rather broad-based pointed wings, shorter than those of other falcons. Its wingbeat tends to be rapid with occasional glides, wings held close to the body. Its small size enables it to hover and hang in the breeze as it pursues its prey. In winter the UK population increases as most of the Icelandic breeding birds migrate to our warmer climate. Although recovering from a population crash in the late 20th century it is still on the Amber List.

The Merlin is a rare bird on the isle of 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 will now refer to the Buzzard as the tourists eagle! Merlins are small for a bird of prey, 10 to 13 inches long with a wingspan of 24 to 27 inches. The breast and belly of the Merlin are buff (tan) with dark brown streaks. The throat is white. The upperparts (back, wings and tail), eyeline and crown of the Merlin are light blue-gray. The head of the Merlin is a buff (tan) color) with fine dark streaks and a distinct tan eyebrow.

Mull and its surrounding islands are the home of thousands of seabirds and ducks. On the main island of Mull, you can see nesting Kittiwakes and Fulmars. The Black Guillemot nests here, as does the Shag and a number of species of Gull, including Britain's largest Gull, the Great Black Backed Gull. Just offshore on our smaller islands, you can see large numbers of Puffins, Common Guillemots and Razorbills. There are also more rare birds, such as Storn Petrel and Arctic Skua. On the mountainous island of Rhum there can be sightings of huge numbers of Manx Shearwaters. Many seabirds that do not nest here, are also seen on migration, which occurs in Spring and late Summer time. Birds such as Sooty Shearwater, Gannet, Corys and Great Shearwater are seen annually. Nesting along Mull's seaweed covered shorelines, are Red Breasted Merganser and Eider Duck, and on inland lochs there are Red Throated Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Black Throated Diver and Great Northern Diver.

Bird watching Magazine recently referred to Mull as 'Eagle Island' and most keen birdwatchers would probably agree with this. Along with the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Mull is the best place in the world to see The Golden Eagle. Numbers are reasonably high here and the birds enjoy a spectacular range of habitats from 3,000 foot peaks to sea cliffs, adorned with white sandy beaches. Golden Eagles eat carrion [any dead animal], mountain hares and some game birds such as Ptarmigan; however their favourite prey is undoubtedly the Mountain Hare.