Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January

Another couple of days of quite blustery winds from an easterly direction. Saturday was fairly bright and dry, but Sunday was back to grey and rainy. 

On Saturday Gary T. was birding in the Finlaggan area and had Golden and White-tailed Eagles patrolling the hilltops there. He also watched Crossbills in the deciduous trees, picking at moss and lichen on the branches  at Finlaggan house which prompted some discussion about why they regularly go there and do that.

Talking of Gary T. and his imminent departure from Islay, regular visiting birder Ken Reeves sent in this message and photo of Gary to the blog:

"A big thank you to Gary Turnbull for his friendship and help on our many winter trips to the wonderful Islands of Islay & Jura. We all wish him the best for the future. Cheers Gary from myself, Steve Lister, Keith Tinworth, Richard Cross, Chris Mills and all the members of Burbage Birders travel group!"

Today's birding notes come from Mary R. who counted 5 White-tailed Eagles between Octofad and Bruichladdich.  She also had her regular Merlin sighting near Uiskentuie and a good find of Kingfisher at Bowmore Harbour.

I was sent photos of, presumably the same odd Swan Goose hybrid that reappeared near Port Charlotte.

Friday 23rd January

Strong easterly winds overnight and for much of the day bringing plenty of rain and cloud to start with but brighter towards the end of the day.

The only bird news today comes from Louise Muir on Jura who had received a report of a Nuthatch near Craighouse this afternoon. This species was still regarded as a vagrant in Argyll in 2003, but has since spread as a breeding bird into the county from Cowal, to most of North Kintyre and parts of Mull. There is a single previous record for Jura, noted in the BTO 2007-2011 Winter Atlas and presumably the same as a bird reported at Jura House on 10 December 2008. Similarly, there is just one record on Islay of a single bird at Bunnahabhain on 2 June 2020 and David Jardine messaged to say that the first for Colonsay was found last December. So it is a species on the move into Argyll, on the increase and may, one day, colonise these islands, as did Great Spotted Woodpecker in 2013.

Thursday 22nd January

An overcast, windy and rainy day.

Despite the unpleasant weather, cabin-fever got the better of me and I checked Lochs Ballygrant and Skerrols in the rain. nothing but 3 Tufted Ducks and a Woodcock in adjacent woodland at Ballygrant, but 18 Tufted Ducks, 6 Goldeneye (all female) and 3 Goosanders (2 male, 1 female) at Skerrols.

Mary R. noticed a Gannet diving offshore at Currie Sands and 5 Chough around the same area, while David D. had a Barn Owl on the wing at Ghiol, The Oa.

 

Wednesday 21st January

 Drizzly at times becoming windier with more persistent rain by the evening.

No records noted today, but Clive McK. sent in some details from his WeBS count yesterday from Bowmore to Blackrock. Amongst 30 species recorded were 33 Shelduck, 127 Wigeon, 33 Mallard, 145 Teal, 53 Common Scoter, 27 Red-breasted Mergansers, 232 Oystercatchers, 70 Lapwing, 251 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshanks, 144 Knot, 166 Dunlin, 197 Common Gulls and singles of Black-throated Diver, Little Egret and a Kingfisher - the latter by the generating station just outside Bowmore. He also had a loose flock of 17 Rock Pipits at Carnain.

The only bird news today comes from Gary Turnbull who confirms that he and Sam are soon relocating to the mainland to be closer to family. Islay will be poorer for their move away - especially the birding community, as Gary has been one of the island's most active resident birders for the last c.11 years. He has contributed masses of individual records: all sorts of useful observations including from areas where others don't reach too often, to WeBS and other surveys and counts, discoveries of uncommon and scarcer species and valuable notes on other wildlife. I'm sure that all the many birders - resident and visiting - whose paths you've crossed will be very sorry to see the both of you go, but wish you all the very best back on the mainland - and hope that you'll be back on Islay for your holidays!

Tuesday 20th January

A blustery day with quite strong SE winds, cloud and a fair bit of rain.

The only bird note sent in is of an uncommon non-breeding species for Islay - a Magpie! First seen by David D. at Cragabus, then again (or was it a second bird?) by Ed. B. at Cornabus. On the one hand it would be good to think there were two - "one for sorrow, two for joy" etc, but the thoughts of two birds staying and starting to breed is probably less welcome?

Monday 19th January

Mostly rainy and cloudy with moderate winds seemingly discouraged anyone from birding today. However, visitor Mark Avery sent in some notes from the previous few days. Noteworthy among them are:

Friday: a Kingfisher at Gartmain

Saturday: a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, and single Greenshank at Gartmain and a Great Northern Diver at Carnain. At Bruichladdich were 3 Brent Geese and a White-tailed Eagle at Gruinart.

Sunday: a Gadwall at Ardnave Loch and Golden Eagle on the west side of Gruinart, with 5 immature White-tailed Eagles together feeding on a couple of goose carcasses on the Killinallan side where there was a Merlin and 2 Canada Geese.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th January

Another couple of days of mixed weather - rain and shine - with a few birds being noted.

Billy Stitchell  saw a total of 5 Buzzards on Saturday morning: one on its usual pole at Limekiln, two on fence posts at Cluanach, one on  road-kill at the cattle grid near Barr and another one taking off with its road-kill at the cattle grid at Knocklearoch.

Today Ed B. reports a Jack Snipe at Cornabus and Martin A. had a Pink-footed Goose near Kilchoman distillery. 

Visitor Rudolf Hummel sent in more records: 2 Brent Geese at Port Charlotte on Friday afternoon, 4 Whooper Swans at Ardnave yesterday and 5 at Gruinart today where he also saw a Pink-footed Goose. A couple of Great Northern divers were seen up towards Nave Island, with Gadwall on Ardnave Loch. He reckoned that 3 Golden Eagles were feeding on a dead Barnacle Goose at Gruinart where he also mentions two further dead Barnies and one looking sick. I hope this is not a further outbreak of Bird Flu? Other birds of prey seen by Rudolf were White-tailed Eagle, a male and female Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk at Sanaigmore.