Friday 28th February

 Light southerly winds and sunshine.

Gary T. was up at Garbh Breac, north of Bunnahabhain this morning notching up a number of raptors: 5 Buzzards, 2 Golden Eagles and 1 White-tailed Eagle, with 2 Sparrowhawks at Staoisha plantation.

Kathy & John Evans returned to Islay  for another birding visit and were out on the Rhinns gaining great views of a pair of sub-adult White-tailed Eagles near Cladville and both immature and adult Golden Eagles SW of Beinn Tart a Mhill.

Clive McK. was watching from Creag Mhor and Gruinart where 7 Little Egrets were seen this evening, while in the morning he had a count of 29 Skylarks feeding on RSPB wild bird cover crops then going up on to territories on the adjacent hills.

Thursday 27th February

 Mainly dry and sunny with a few squally showers in the afternoon.

David Astins had the/a Cackling Goose in a field at Blackrock this morning (photo below). Steve Percival noted the Red-breasted Goose in the "usual field" beside Gruinart house shortly afterwards, with David Astin finding it still there at lunchtime when he had a good count of 5 White-tailed Eagles on the east side of Loch Gruinart.

Bob Davison and I went that way in the afternoon but had no luck locating any of the above. however, it was a pleasant afternoon with mostly bright sunny conditions making the commoner ducks and Lapwings look very spiffy. There were 170+ Shelduck on Loch Gruinart, 15 Whooper Swans from the S. Hide with a further 4 up at Ardnave Loch along with 8 Goldeneye.

Several people commented today on the Lapwings beginning to display across the island - at Gruinart, on The Oa at Kinnabus and down at Portnahaven, where Mary Redman counted 50 Fieldfare at Ballameanach and saw a couple of Buzzards at Claddach, one with an Adder in its talons.

David Astins had read a few marked birds yesterday on his travels: a couple of Twite at the car park at RSPB The Oa, and 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese near Cornabus - photos below. I've sent emails with photos to the relevant Twite ringers regarding the Twite and will report back, but anticipate that others reading this blog will be able to tell us more, and sooner, about the GWF Geese?

Wednesday 26th February

 A greyer, drizzly day with light winds that brightened up with patches of sunshine in the afternoon.

Ken Reeves watched a replay of mating White-tailed Eagles in Loch Gruinart, plus 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Red-throated and a single Great Northern Diver. Up at Loch Skerrols he found single Moorhen, Tufted Duck plus Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Coal Tit  and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland.

David Astins managed to find the Red-breasted Goose again on the east side of Loch Gruinart and checked the geese around Loch Gorm in case a second RBG was lurking there, but found nothing except a regular Canada Goose.

Tuesday 25th February

Similar weather again today with a breeze from the west bringing fairly mild but changeable conditions of sunshine and showers.

White-tailed Eagles were in the news again today, Mary Redman reporting an adult at Claddach yesterday and Ken Reeves being treated to a pair mating out on Bridgend Merse this morning.

Otherwise the Red-breasted Goose was seen  at Gruinart on the road towards Craigens by David Astins, prompting Malcolm O. to speculate if there might be more than one present, as they and the Barnacle Geese that they associate with are thought to be very site faithful (not even venturing from one side of Loch Gruinart to the other!) yet the RBG has been seen on both sides of the loch and further afield towards Loch Gorm and Sunderland.

Monday 24th February

A moderate breeze from the west in a mostly sunny, dry day.

Reports of birds reflect the changing seasons, with David D. noting many singing Skylarks on The Oa, and visitor Keith Tinworth counting 80 Fieldfares at Sunderland and Gary noticing more at Finlaggan.

Ken Reeves is here for another visit and also mentioned plenty of Skylarks around Loch Gorm - but these may have been migrants? He also made a substantial count of 123 Twite at Coullabus.

Following on from the recent reports of day-time hunting and bedraggled Barn Owls looking as if they are having a ahrd time surviving in the recent poor weather, Ed B. found a dead Barn Owl at Cornabus. However, Fiona McG. noted a Barn Owl alive and actively hunting at Portnahaven.

Over at Kildalton, Mary-Ann Featherstone had 3 Bullfinches feeding on emerging willow buds, plus all the usual woodland species.

Sunday 23rd February

 Back to strong winds and rain overnight and into the morning, turning sunnier and drier by the afternoon.

The Cackling Goose was seen today by Ed B. down at Cornabus, otherwise it weas fairly quiet: 

Michael & Elspeth Anderson noted a flock of 60+ Chaffinches on the Kilchiaran to Port Charlotte road late morning and, later, out in the open,  a Ringtail Hen Harrier, and two Mistle Thrushes.

Christine Menzies sent in this photo of a Treecreeper seen at Cnoc Bay over at Kildalton:

Craig McKay sent in this photo of yesterday's Red-breasted Goose:

Malcolm O. recorded a single Siskin on his feeders - never a common species for us here in Bruichladdich.

Saturday 22nd February

 A brighter day, dry with lighter winds and lots of sunshine.

Ed B. reported the Cackling Goose still over at Cornabus yesterday, while Clive McK. had the Red-breasted Goose again today up at Gruinart. Later Clive found an adult Mediterranean Gull over at Octovulin (near to Skerrols) amongst large numbers of Common Gulls (Craig McKay taking the photo below).

I went to look for the Med, Gull in the afternoon, but the gulls had all dispersed. In adjacent stubble fields were plenty of Fieldfares (c.25) and a flock of 65 Skylarks. Loch Skerrols was fairly empty of anything of interest other than a lone male Goldeneye. Other Fieldfares were noted in mixed flocks with Redwings and Starlings at Gruinart (c.40) and Ballinaby (c.55).

Steve Williams relocated the Cackling Goose at Cornabus today and noted 2 White-tailed Eagles near The Machrie.

Michael & Elspeth Anderson had c.20 Twite on feeders at The Oa RSPB car park.  the Oa car park there were 20 (+/-1) Twite on the feeders, but no raptors in sight. Down at Port Ellen Bay they had good views of two Great Northern and one Red-throated Diver. On the Mulindry road, they had brilliant views of a hovering Buzzard and a Golden Eagle being harassed by Hooded Crows, and then further north a Male Hen Harrier.

Thursday 20th & Friday 21st February

Two days of fairly unpleasant weather - breezy, mostly overcast or cloudy with a lot of rain and just a few drier, sunnier patches at times.

Yesterday, Steve Percival reported the Red-breasted Goose still present up at Ballinaby, while James How noted his first singing Skylarks of spring. Mary Redman reported a Barn Owl out and about at 5pm near Portnahaven.

Today, Mary confirmed Skylarks singing in the rain and possibly the Barn Owl she saw yesterday seen in the same area this morning by Mark Whitcombe. He commented that it looked very wet and bedraggled and various folk suggested that the awful weather was taking its toll on feeding opportunities for them.

Steve Williams counted 27 Brent Geese at Blackrock, 25 Chough up at Ardnave and a Sparrowhawk down towards Gruinart.

Recently arrived birders Michael and Elspeth Anderson sent in the following account of their day's activities: "In spite of the weather we had a great day. First we went to Kilchoman and down to Machir Bay. In the last field on the right was a quite large flock of Fieldfares. I started counting and got to the mid-40s, but the whole flock then rose up and flew away, including many that had been hidden behind vegetation/a slope - so, certainly 60, very likely 80 to more.

We then drove on, and just before Ballinaby we were surprised to find a flooded field beside the road, with at least a dozen Turnstone, at least 20 Ringed Plovers, 2 Golden Plovers (one in full summer plumage), and a Knot, all feeding furiously amid the vegetation in the pouring rain. 

At Ardnave we saw 2 Tufted Ducks on the loch, and 6 Choughs flew by calling as they passed. Finally, once the rain stopped, we went to the hides at Loch Gruinart. 3 Little Egrets, at least 15 Shoveler and at least 20 Pintail, several hundred Golden Plovers, at least 100 Knot, a big flock of Lapwing, and good numbers of other ducks, waders, etc. not as many geese about there today.

Wednesday 19th February

A grey, coldish, day that became increasingly unpleasant with an increase in the wind and the rain that accompanied it.

Understandably much less bird news today with the deteriorating weather and several of our visiting birders heading off-island: thanks to you all for your valuable contributions of data while here.

Steve Percival reports the Cackling Goose on stubble near Sunderland Farm, while David Dinsley reported it earlier this morning at Kinnabus. It seems more likely that two birds are involved?

The only other report comes from Steve Williams who found yesterday's 1Y Mediterranean Gull plus two Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Bridgend merse this afternoon.

Tuesday 18th February

 Cold, cloudy and windy again today, but at least there was no rain.

First report of the day came from David Dinsley finding an early returning Lesser Black-backed Gull down at Kinnabus. A first portend of spring perhaps along with Ed Burrell noting that the Song Thrushes were in song at Cornabus and that there were 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Kintra. 

John Matthews reported a number of raptors sightings during the day: Sparrowhawk at Alwynds, single Golden Eagle at Kintour and 2 at Gruinart, 4 Buzzards at Fairy Hill, male Hen Harrier and a pair of White-tailed Eagles at Lyrabus with another (female) Harrier and a Merlin at Gruinart. Further raptor sightings came from Steve Williams with 4 White-tailed Eagles up at Killinallan. Mary Redman also found a couple of Golden Eagles down at Port Charlotte.

The Red-breasted Goose was seen again today - firstly by Steve Percival up at Sunderland then in the same location a little later by Steve Williams. Ed Burrell had a/the Russian White-fronted Goose at Corsapol.

Clive McKay turned his attentions to gulls and  counted 1,450 Common Gulls roosting at Bridgend Merse - a substantial number, and with them a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

Monday 17th February

A cold, blustery, cloudy and, towards the evening, a rainy day.

Despite some fairly unpleasant weather all of our visiting birders were active. The Red-breasted Goose was seen by Steve Percival in fields near Gruinart House where it remained long enough for Steve Williams to find it. John Matthews was at Bowmore harbour this morning finding a Slavonian Grebe, Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Eider, Rock Pipit and Greenshank. Later he found a female Hen Harrier at Loch Gorm, White-tailed Eagle at Gortan, and then at Finlaggan in the afternoon 2 pairs of Crossbills, a Woodcock, Buzzard, Golden and White-tailed Eagle and Goldcrest with another Hen Harrier on the high Road.

Steve Williams had another Hen Harrier near The Machrie and was up at Gruinart in the afternoon finding a further White-tailed Eagle, 250 Fieldfares and a Barn Owl between Bridgend and Bowmore. Mark Whitcombe upped the White-tailed Eagle tally to 3 immatures in the Gruinart area.

Our resident birders also chipped in with Shona Isla noting 2 Barn Owls at the woods near Laphroaig. Ed Burrell recording Crossbills coming to drink at Cornabus from the plantation forestry over the past few days, with 3 seen this morning and David Dinsley scoring the Cackling Goose, still at Kinnabus with the Barnacle Geese - photo below............

Sunday 16th February

 Another day with a light to moderate breeze, with rain coming in towards the late afternoon evening.

A note came in today from Mary-Ann Featherstone of a Great Spotted Woodpecker over at Kildalton on 7th February - always good to have records of this species to try and assess if the small population that has fairly recently colonised Islay is still holding its own.

Fiona McG. reports 36 Brent Geese over on Jura yesterday at Glas Eilean.

Olivier and Edgar Joly were up at Loch Gruinart this morning, first finding Peregrine near the Visitor centre then the Red-breasted Goose further north up the loch, with an adult and young White-tailed Eagle flushing the Barnacle Geese. A little later they had a Brent Goose north of Bruichladdich and 2 White-tailed Eagles over Loch Skerrols.

Steve Percival is back on the island and found a Russian White-fronted Goose at the end of the Corsapol track.

John Matthews over at Bowmore had both Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, then a male and 2 female Goosanders on Loch Skerrols. Later they found a male Hen Harrier at Sanaigmore and female Sparrowhawk between Gruinart and Loch Gorm.

Steve Williams found 2 immature White-tailed Eagles and an immature Golden Eagle towards Ardnave and a Greenshank at Bowmore.

I saw two immature White-tailed Eagles making their way down the coast from Bruichladdich to Port Charlotte at lunch time, making it quite likely that a total of 6 were seen today.

Saturday 15th February

Winds still from the east, but dry and not quite so cold today.

Clive McK. sent in a video clip of a very white winged Barn Owl hunting at Eresaid yesterday afternoon.

Olivier Joly was watching 11 Choughs up beyond Ardnave this morning while Chris Mills was at Machair Bay with 12 Gannets, 6 Kittiwakes, 3 Red-throated Divers and 8 Black Guillemots offshore, plus a further 2 Choughs in the dunes and a young White-tailed Eagle in the area.

John Matthews was finding plenty of eagles - 2 Golden at Tynacoille and another at Kilchoman, with a White-tailed at Loch Gorm. He also had a male Hen Harrier near the RSPB Visitor Centre in the afternoon. Up at Ardnave in the later afternoon he found the flock of Choughs - 30 in all, plus 5 whooper Swans, 6 Goldeneye and 6 Tufted Ducks on the loch.

Steve Williams also had 2 White-tailed Eagles up at Gruinart, another Hen Harrier by Eresaid then 3 Bullfinch and a Dipper in Bridgend Woods, finishing with a Barn Owl between Bridgend and Bowmore this evening.

I took a walk around Loch Skerrols in the afternoon finding it completely free of Tufted Ducks, but with 2 female-type Goosanders and a drake Goldeneye in residence.

Friday 14th February

A cold, blustery wind from the SE and rainy at times.

All today's records came from our valued visiting birders. John Matthews had a Golden Eagle at Finlaggan and 4 White-tailed Eagles at Bunnahabhain. Chris Mills noted plenty of waders on Loch Indaal including 2 Greenshank, 300 Bar-tailed Godwits, 200 Knot and his first (6) Sanderling of his week-long visit. There was also a Brent Goose with the Barnacle Geese. Newly arrived Olivier Joly had a variety of birds up at Gruinart - further Greenshank and 2 White-tailed Eagles included.

Thursday 13th February

 A light, but cold breeze on a dry slightly cloudy day.

Many thanks to Malcolm O. for keeping the blog going these last three weeks when there has been a lot of activity and bird news to report. Today there were only a couple of messages: 2 large canadensis type Canada Geese in the bay at Port Ellen this morning seen by Nick Parsons and a note from Chris Mills from Finlaggan of 4 Crossbills (including a perched male), 2 Redpolls, 2 White-tailed Eagles and a Golden Eagle.

Wednesday 12th February 2025

Still a bit cold and overcast with a persistent easterly wind. The day started with yet more geese, with 13 Pale-bellied Brents (just 1 first-winter) seen at Blackrock by Nick Parsons, quickly followed by him spotting 2 Russian White-fronted Geese at Gruinart. These turn up fairly regularly having strayed north from the flocks that winter in southern England. Chris Mills was back at Ardnave watching 2 White-tailed Eagles  and an immature Golden Eagle showing well just short of Ardnave Loch, while, at Ardnave Point, he saw 2 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Grey Plovers and  3 Choughs, with a further 14 Choughs in the dunes.

Some collared Greenland Whitefronts were reported from different places, including one ringed at Loch Ken, Wigtonshire, back in 2008-9, which turned up here two years later and has been regularly wintering on Islay ever since.

Clive McK had a count of 177 Shelduck on Gruinart estuary in good counting light, while Henry Wyn-Jones saw what he described as the smaller of the two Cackling Geese at Kinnabus, and Chris Mills had a male Merlin on the south side of Loch Gorm, as well as 20 Skylarks and 12 Reed Buntings on barley stubble, later passing on a sighting by someone else of 100+ Skylarks on the Gruinart flats. The sighting of two Greenfinches in Port Ellen by Tony Parsons is sadly of an increasingly rare bird here. Finally, a Barn Owl was seen on The Oa by Nick Parsons and another between Bridgend and Bowmore by Chris Mills. Our best estimate is that there are about 25 pairs on the island, which have been helped over the years by the number of of ruined cottages and farm buildings.

Today's cracking photo is of a Russian White-fronted Goose seen and photographed by Joe Graham at Killinallan on 9th February and quite probably different from the two at Gruinart this morning.

 

Tuesday 11th February 2025

 Another dry but cold overcast day, with the easterly wind keeping the temperature at or below 6 Celcius. Bird records are well down on recent days, but a pair of Goosanders seen by Chris Mills on Loch Skerrols is quite unusual, while at the same time a pair of White-tailed Eagles were feeding on a carcase on the far shore. My apologies to Chris for spelling his name wrong yesterday. He later saw 2 immature Golden Eagles and 2 ring-tailed Hen Harriers at Ardnave, a male Gadwall on the east shore of Loch Gruinart, and, earlier, a Dipper on the River Sorn at the Woollen Mill.

Nick Parsons found a Cackling Goose on the sandflats at Bridgend among sleeping Barnacle Geese, a sure sign they've been night-feeding under the moon. Later on, the flock woke up and headed north towards Ballygrant.

Finally, Clive McK had a substantial flock of 800+ Lapwings flying around over the Gruinart flats.

Here is the latest Cackling Goose, with apologies to anyone who is bored with them.

 

 

 

Monday 10th February 2025

Another fairly cold but often sunny day with an east wind. Lance Degnan sent in some records from yesterday, of 13 Long-tailed duck off Blackrock area plus 2 White-tailed Eagles, 12 Chough at Sanaigmore, plus 4 or 5 round Loch Gorm, and, at Gruinart, 5 Little Egrets  and a Carrion Crow, the first for quite a while.

First thing this morning, regular visitor, Chris Mills, spotted 2 White-tailed Eagles sitting on the the Loch Indaal shoreline opposite the entrance to Whin Park, and, a little later, the Red-breasted Goose was seen again, by Henry Wyn-Jones, this time behind Loch Gruinart House. 

The afternoon was mostly taken up with discussion of Canada Geese and Canada Goose X Barnacle Goose hybrids! This was started by Dave W seeing a Cackling Goose at Kinnabus, while, at almost the same, Chris Mills found a hutchinsi type among the Barnacles at Gruinart. Will Scott responded to my question yesterday asking whether there were two Canada X Barnacle hybrids by helpfully pointing out differences between the one seen yesterday at Pennycraig and the one he saw and photographed at Gruinart.

Finally, Chris Mills sent in some nice records of other birds seen during the day, with, at the head of Indaal, 20 Long-tailed Ducks, 12 Slavonian Grebes, 60 Common Scoters, 60 Eiders, and 10 Great Northern and 3 Red-throated Divers. At Gruinart, he saw a male Hen Harrier, no less than 5 White-tailed Eagles perched on the flats and the Red-Breasted Goose, while, at Sanaigmore, there were 3 Golden Eagle, 2 adults and an immature, and 12 Choughs. 

Here's the hutchinsi type Canada Goose.

 

 

Sunday 9th February 2025

 A lovely sunny day after a frost, gradually clouding up in the afternoon. Not many records received today, but Lance Degnan found the Red-breasted Goose at Gruinart again, just along the lane towards Craigens, while Patrick Cavanagh found a Cackling Goose X Barnacle Goose at Pennycraig between Bridgend and Bowmore (see photo). It isn't that usual for geese to move between Gruinart and Loch Indaal, particularly as the winter progresses, so do we have two here, or just the one? 

 

 Patrick Cavanagh also had some good news today. The Pallid Swift which he and Jacob New saw at Coullabus near Gruinart on 9th November last year has been accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee. This was not only a first record for Islay, but for Argyll, too.

This is a photo of the Pallid Swift taken by Jacob New.

Saturday 8th February 2025

Will Scott ended his week on a high, spotting the Cackling Goose that Ed has been seeing at Cornabus and Ballivicar, but this time at Leorin, on his way to the ferry. So, he saw all three unusual geese that are wintering here and had a total of 109 species in the week. On the way back to Kennacraig, he had lots of Divers off and in West Loch Tarbert, including 51 Great Northern, 18 Black-throated and 9 Red-throated, plus 5 Slavonian Grebes.

Our other visiting birder, Lance Degnan, kindly sharing his sightings was at Loch Indaal in the late afternoon seeing 72 Common Scoters, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, 9 Slavonian Grebes and 21 Light-bellied Brent Geese.

 Thanks, both.

Other sightings received were of a White-billed Diver seen well from the ferry by Peter Cavanagh near the mouth of West Loch Tarbert, a "HUGE" first-year White-tailed Eagle flying inland over Mary R's house in Port Wemyss, and Collared Doves taking nesting materials into gorse bushes at the back of Gary T's house near Ballygrant.

 

Friday 7th February 2025

A sunny day with, at times, a coldish easterly wind, but otherwise very pleasant for Will Scott on his last full day here when he ended with a bang - sighting the wintering Red-breasted Goose among the Barnacle Geese on the Gruinart Flats. This is the first report on the blog since 20th November, though apparently a sighting of it on 29th December was posted on the BirdGuides website by someone who, sadly, presumably didn't know about this blog. Not content with this find, Will also spotted a Cackling Goose X Barnacle Goose at Gruinart hybrid, likely the one that was seen there back in early November.

Additional highlights from Gruinart by Will this morning included 4000 Barnacle Geese, 35 Pintails, 1,000 Golden Plovers, 74 Redshanks, 150 Dunlins, at least 2 White-tailed Eagles, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine, Chough, 2 Little Egrets, 16 Fieldfares and a Yellowhammer.

I missed a report by Will of a Great Spotted Woodpecker yesterday at Trudernish, but was reminded by a record of one today at Balaclava from Ed B. Presumably they are beginning to be a bit noisy!

In the early afternoon, Lance Degnan carried out the circular walk on The Oa and saw 50 Twite by the car park, 2 Stonechats, and "a magnificent 4 White-tailed Eagles circling over the American Monument, later joined by 2 Golden Eagles". At much the same time, Will was back at Bowmore where he counted 29 Common Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Goldeneyes, 5 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers (1 looking ill heading towards the harbour) and 3 Greenshanks, which flew up the Loch towards Bridgend. A little later, there were 4 Greenshanks off Gartnatra, presumably involving the 3 that flew past Bowmore.

Finally, Lance went to Gruinart and duly found the Red-breasted Goose. Here are two photographs, supplied by Will Scott, of the Redbreast and the Cackling X Barnacle hybrid.

Many thanks, Will, for these and for all the records you've supplied this week. It gives us locals satisfaction when visiting birders, often coming a long way, have a good time here.

 

Thursday 6th February 2025

A much better day, with sunshine and lighter winds. Will Scott saw yet more Fieldfares, including 35 at Cornabus, where he also had 3300 Barnacle Geese, and 50 near Duich along the Low Road, while 2 Woodcocks flew out of the woods near Corrary. He then did a count of the birds on the mud/water of Loch Indaal at Gartnatra, which included 19 Greylags, 12 Light-bellied Brent Geese, 150 Wigeon, 130 Golden Plovers, 50 Bar-tailed Godwits, 91 Knots, and 120 Dunlins. He also spotted a single Light-bellied Brent among 1000 Barnacles at Carrabus. His final observation of the day was a flock of 38 Twites in the RSPB's carpark on The Oa.

Newly arrived visitor, Lance Degnan, did well in the late afternoon at Gruinart seeing 3 Whooper Swans, 2 Golden Eagles, a Sparrowhawk and a male Hen Harrier, and 150 Fieldfares.

Wednesday 5th February 2025

I think Will Scott has had a good day's birding. The weather was mixed, with some prolonged showers in the morning, brightening and drying up in the afternoon. Will started his day with 12 Great Northern Divers in Kilnaughton Bay and an Otter in the area of Carraig Fhada lighthouse, together with no less than 17 Song Thrushes in a small patch of bushes by the cemeteries near Kilnaughton Beach. Going round the Rhinns, there were yet more Fieldfares, 40, near Cultoon, and 12 Mistle Thrushes and 19 Reed Buntings at Gearach. There were 130 Fieldfares at Kilchoman, compared with 220 on Sunday, but 34 Blackbirds, confirming that there has been a recent movement by the thrush family, as Will has also been seeing Redwings round the island. Two Hen Harriers were also present at Kilchoman, while, back south at Cornabus, there were about 2000 Barnacle Geese and a lone Whooper Swan, as well two White-tailed Eagles. As the day ended, two Barn Owls were out hunting between Bowmore and Bridgend.

Will noted that one of the Song Thrushes he saw at Kilchoman beach was darker brown with blacker spots on the breast than the other birds present, and wondered if it could be hebrediensis, the race which occurs in the Outer Hebrides. Darker birds like this have been seen on Islay from time to time, but, while it is possible that this race does turn up here, there has been a suggestion that they may be intermediates between hebrediensis and clarkei, the race which breeds here and is found over most of the UK and on the near continent. Will contrasted the dark bird with the hebrediensis with many of the other Song Thrushes, and other seen around the island, which looked cold and grey, suggesting a continental origin, probably of the race philomelos.

I'm appending Will's photograph, the bird in question being at top centre. What do you think?

 Tuesday 4th February 2025

Will Scott has once again produced the great majority of bird records. A Coot on Loch Skerrols is an uncommon bird, with rarely more than one or two seen each winter. Yet, in the early 1980s, as many as 50 were seen on a single loch. There were also 6 Goldeneye on the loch, while a Shelduck flew high to the NW and a male Hen Harrier also flew N. There was a single Pink-footed Goose with the Barnacle Geese north of Esknish and 10 Tufted Ducks on Loch Finlaggan, with two Crossbills in the trees close by. Looking across to Jura from Ardnahoe, Will spotted 4 White-tailed Eagles chasing each over on Jura. His flock of Fieldfares on Sunday weren't the only ones on the island, as 93 were foraging on the Gruinart Flats, there were 52 in fields near Loch Skerrols and 30 at Ardnave. This is many more than usually seen in winter. Also at Ardnave there were 41 Bar-tailed Godwits, 27+ Chough and an immature Golden Eagle.

Elsewhere on the island, Ed B. heard singing Mistle Thrushes at Cornabus and David W. saw an Iceland Gull flying over Giol on The Oa. Billy Stitchell in Caol Ila continues to attract birds to his garden feeders. For the past week, he's been feeding about 15-20 Goldfinches, was well as the "normal" Blue, Great and 2 Coal Tits, plus a few Siskins which he's not seen for a while. A Wren has apparently been checking the feeders (!) and 6 Dunnocks have been feeding on the spill from the feeder on the ground below. Meanwhile, two Bullfinches have been stripping the new growth in the garden.

Not on Islay, but certainly worth looking out for in the spring as the Barnacle Geese now in Ireland head north, is an albino Barnacle seen  last weekend in a flock of c.1000 at a haunt in the west of the country and reported to me by my good friend, Martin Enright. Such birds are very rare. I've not seen one as white as this for many years, though "washed-out" birds are seen a little more often.

 Monday 4th February 2025

Visiting birder, Will Scott, has provided us with these records for today, which was breezy with a fair amount of rain. On Loch Indaal, at Gartnatra, he saw some Light-bellied Brent Geese, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, 120 Knot, and 100 Dunlin, and, off Bowmore, he found 5 Slavonian Grebes, a Great Northern Diver, 20 Common Scoter, and 5 Long-tailed Ducks, and there was also a Greenshank on the shore just east of the harbour. In addition to those, there were two White-tailed Eagles at Ballivicar, while the female Scaup was still present on Loch Skerrols. Thanks, Will.

 Sunday 2nd February

Will Scott, on his first day here, covered quite a lot of ground and, despite the rather murky start to the day (though it improved a lot later on), has produced a nice list of sightings, beginning with a female Scaup, 3 Goldeneye, a Goosander, and a singing Mistle Thrush at Loch Skerrols, then, at Loch Gruinart, mostly seen from the hides, he had 32 Whoopers, 39 Pintail, 1100 Golden Plover, 6 Little Egret, 2 White-tailed Eagles, 2 Goldcrests, and a Grey Wagtail high up heading south. Later, near Kilchoman Distillery, he saw 220 Fieldfare, a very good number for the time of year as normally rather few winter here, a male Hen Harrier and 2 Chough. There were 46 Ringed Plover, 70 Curlew, 16 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpiper, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine and 2 Chough at Machir Bay, and, finally, there were 45 Eider, 40 Ringed Plover, Slavonian Grebe, and 5 Great Northern Divers on Loch Indaal, seen from the road round the head of the loch.

Here's a fine Gordon Langsbury photograph of a Fieldfare

 Saturday 1st February 2025

Some not quite Islay records have been sent in by visiting birder, Will Scott, on the ferry from Kennacraig this afternoon, from which he saw 21 Great Northern Divers (mostly near the mainland), 6 Black Guillemots, 7 Guillemots, 3 Kittiwakes and a Fulmar. He said he's looking forward to the next week on Islay and we wish him some very good birding while he's here.

 Friday 31st January 2025

My apologies to George Jackson who, responding to my appeal for records at the beginning of the week, e-mailed some sightings to islaybirds@gmail.com which I forgot to check! And what's worse, he e-mailed them four days ago!

Anyway, on 27th January, he  saw an adult WT eagle west of the road below Ardnave, four Redwings flying out of trees near Rock Mountain on the Kilchoman road, and finally, on Loch Finlaggan, a single Whooper being harassed by two Mute swans.