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Tobermory harbour on the Isle of Mull
Photo: Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0

Island · Scotland

Isle of Mull Wildlife Checklist

The Isle of Mull is often called Scotland's eagle island: it is one of the best places in Britain to see both white-tailed and golden eagles, with otters along the sea lochs and puffins on the nearby Treshnish Isles. This checklist covers 71 species, including four of Scotland's Big Five. Eagles and otters are here all year; May to August is best overall.

Most visitors arrive by ferry from Oban to Craignure. The west coast sea lochs, Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain, are the heart of Mull's wildlife, with boat trips to Lunga and Staffa from Ulva Ferry and Fionnphort.

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The Mull checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
71
Where
Scotland
Best time
May to Aug
Eagle species
Two, both resident

Mull's star species

  • White-tailed Eagle, one of the animals to look for in Mull

    White-tailed Eagle

    Britain's largest bird of prey, reintroduced to western Scotland from 1975. Scan the shores of Loch na Keal, or take a boat trip from Ulva Ferry where the eagles are often seen fishing close by.

    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Golden Eagle, one of the animals to look for in Mull

    Golden Eagle

    Prefers the inland hills and ridgelines. It looks smaller and slimmer-winged than the white-tailed eagle, and soars higher.

    Photo: Moritz Müller, Public domain

  • Otter, one of the animals to look for in Mull

    Otter

    Mull's otters live on the coast and feed by day. Walk or drive slowly along seaweed shores on a falling tide and watch for a head surfacing in the kelp.

    Photo: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Public domain

  • Puffin

    Nest on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles from late April to early August. On landing trips they often sit a few metres from the path.

  • Minke Whale

    The whale you are most likely to see, on boat trips from Tobermory in summer. Look for a small curved fin and a brief roll.

  • Basking Shark

    Filter-feeding at the surface around Coll and the Treshnish Isles in calm summer weather. Two fins, snout and tail, moving slowly.

  • Red Deer

    Common across the island's moorland. Watch for them at dusk on the road between Salen and Gruline.

  • Hen Harrier

    Quarters low over moorland and young forestry. Males are pale grey with black wingtips.

  • Corncrake

    A rasping call from iris beds on Iona in May and June. It is heard far more often than seen.

  • Harbour Seal

    Hauls out on skerries and sea loch rocks. Its rounded head and dog-like face tell it apart from the grey seal.

All 71 animals to spot in Mull

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Mammals 4

Whales and seals 6

Birds of prey 8

Seabirds 19

Shore and moorland birds 18

Reptiles and amphibians 6

Sea life 1

Butterflies and dragonflies 9

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Mull

Mull is a year-round destination for eagles, otters and seals, so the season changes what you can add to them rather than the core list. April brings eagles on eggs and the first returning seabirds. Puffins are on Lunga from late April, and May to July is the classic window, with seabird cliffs busy and corncrakes calling on Iona. Minke whales and basking sharks peak from June to September, and calm days give the best chance of both. Autumn brings the red deer rut and the first divers returning to the sea lochs. Winter is quiet, but otters and eagles are easier to find without summer crowds, and common loons (great northern divers) sit in the lochs. Boat trips mainly run from April to October.

  • Jan-MarEagles and otters, divers in the sea lochs
  • AprEagles nesting, seabirds returning
  • May-JulPuffins on Lunga, corncrakes on Iona
  • Jun-SepMinke whales, basking sharks, dolphins
  • Oct-DecRed deer rut, quieter roads for otters

Tips for spotting wildlife in Mull

  1. Work the tide for otters

    The two hours either side of low tide are often best, when otters hunt in the shallows. Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain are reliable; stay low and downwind, and keep well away from holts.

  2. Take a boat for eagles

    Eagle boat trips from Ulva Ferry give close views of white-tailed eagles in summer. Book early in July and August.

  3. Combine Lunga and Staffa

    Treshnish Isles trips from Ulva Ferry and Fionnphort usually land on both. Allow time on Lunga to sit quietly back from the burrows and let the puffins come to you.

  4. Look at the harbour wall

    Black guillemots nest in the gaps in Tobermory harbour wall. Red legs, a white wing patch and a whistling call.

  5. Use the passing places

    Most of Mull's roads are single track. Pull fully into a passing place before stopping to watch wildlife, and never park in one.

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Mull wildlife FAQ

Where can you see white-tailed eagles on Mull?

Loch na Keal is the best-known place, and eagle boat trips from Ulva Ferry give close views. They are also regular around Loch Scridain, Loch Frisa and the Ross of Mull. Scan tall trees and shoreline rocks for a huge brown bird with a pale head and a short white tail. Young birds are darker and have no white tail yet.

Where are the best places to see otters on Mull?

The sea lochs on the west side, especially Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain, are the most reliable. Otters on Mull are coastal and often active by day. Walk or drive slowly along the shore on a falling tide, watching seaweed edges. If you see one, stay still and downwind, and only move when its head is underwater.

When can you see puffins near Mull?

Puffins are on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles from late April to early August, with May to mid July the most reliable. Boat trips run from Ulva Ferry and Fionnphort and usually include Staffa. Puffins leave the colony for the open sea by mid August, so trips later in the season may miss them.

Can you see Scotland's Big Five on Mull?

You can see four of them. Mull has golden eagles, otters, harbour seals and red deer, often in a single day. The red squirrel is the one missing, because there are no squirrels on the island. The white-tailed eagle, which many visitors come for, is not on the official Big Five list at all.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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