Monday 29th September 2025

 A mostly overcast day with fairly light southerly winds and a wee bit of drizzle.

 After the flurry of sightings yesterday, the only records received today came from The Oa, where David D. saw a Little Grebe on Loch Kinnabus, while, at Upper Killeyan, he had a nice quartet of raptors, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Buzzard.

Trying my hand at migration forecasting, the wetter and windier weather expected later this week looks as if it may offer some nice tailwinds for migrants from Iceland, so we may see some Whooper Swans and geese, as well as smaller species, arriving.

 Sunday 28th September

A much nicer day, quite sunny and little wind. This also brought out the birders and so plenty of sightings were sent in.

Clive McK was out and about at Ardnave, finding 5 Little Grebe on the loch, with 3 White-tailed Eagles in the area, while, at Traigh Nostaig on the west side of the peninsula, he found 25 Pied Wagtails, 10 Rock Pipits and 2 Greenland Wheatears, along with Bartailed Godwits, Ringed Plovers, Sanderlings and a few Dunlin, as well as 9 Choughs. However, a seawatch by him at Frenchman's Rocks yesterday evening was very disappointing, with 2 Great Northern Divers heading south the only highlight.

Two larger than usual flocks reported were of 45 Red-breasted Mergansers on Loch Gruinart seen by Clive, and 50 Mallards on the ponds at Shorefield, Bruichladdich, seen by Fiona McG. 

David D. found a Pinkfoot among the Greylags at Bruichladdich and, later on, a lone Whooper Swan at Coul, while Clive's final offerings of the day were a lonely Swallow at Creag Mhor, Gruinart, the rest around that area having departed, along with the House Martins, though there were still half a dozen Swallows at Nerabus and 10 at Easter Ellister.

Finally, I have been informed that the photograph I posted yesterday of a White Wagtail was in fact of a Pied Wagtail. I have duly slapped myself on my wrist for making that mistake, and now wait to see if this photograph of a White Wagtail taken by Gordon Langsbury meets with approval. 

 

Saturday 27th September

Not a day for birding outside, with 25 mm of rain recorded at the airport (a fraction under an inch for those who prefer old-fashioned units), mostly in the morning, and accompanied by the continuing strong SE wind.

So, no bird records received, though an interesting (perhaps to a few) exchange about leeches. An addition to yesterday's tally was a Magpie seen by Mary-Ann F. near the airport.

I can offer two photographs sent to our companion e-mail address of islaybirds@gmail.com, which I confess I overlooked until being reminded by Peter, messaging me from Angola! The first, from Christine Menzies, is a  striking one of two White-tailed Eagles cruising over Emeravale, outside Port Ellen, last Wednesday, while Billy Stitchell sent in one of the attractive White Wagtail, close relative of our Pied Wagtail, and a passage migrant from Iceland or the near Continent.

 

Friday 26th September

Similar weather to yesterday, some sun with a strong SE wind.

Dave W. provided the first report of the day, of a female Merlin at Kinnabus, The Oa. Gary T. then had a good morning, posting news of the birds he saw in a wander down the High Road, starting with loads of young Swallows over Laggan Bridge and the adjacent moorland and forestry, followed by the first sighting of a Short-eared Owl for some while as one flew off near one of the ruined croft houses at the bottom of Duich Lotts, and flew southwards past the trig point close to the Low Road. He then moved to the Glen Road where he saw a flock of 20+ Ravens flying off near Cluanach towards the plantations along the road there, while just north actually on road there were 18 wagtails, 16 Pied and 2 White. Finally, at Barr, there was a sizeable group of 21 Mistle Thrushes in the garden there and along the mown verge. Thanks,  Gary.

Thursday 25th September

Another mostly sunny day with a stronger SE wind.

The Black Tern continues its residency in the same easterly area of Loch Gorm, but still no photograph. Mary R. reported 3 Wheatears at Claddach Loch, along with a few reed buntings, stonechats, meadow pipits, and skylarks. Earlier on, she had a Sparrowhawk by the house. The only other observation came from Dave W. of a flock of 42 Twite, the first gathering of the autumn, by the RSPB's carpark on The Oa.

Here's a Gordon Langsbury photo of a Twite.

 

 

 Wednesday 24th September 2025

The mostly sunny weather has continued, although with more of a southerly breeze than yesterday.

The only bird record received is a nice one - the Black Tern at Loch Gorm is still present, with Marc Eden giving detailed instructions on where to look for it. However, it remains rather distant so no photographs as yet.

Tuesday 23rd September

The first day of fairly continuous pleasant weather for weeks! Bright, sunny, calm and mild.

Bird notes for today started with a Chiffchaff seen by David D. at Kinnabus, followed by Ed B. reporting the same 3 Brent Geese still on the beach at Port Ellen this morning. Marc Eden, a regular visiting birder to Islay arrived and started off brilliantly with a great rarity for Islay -  Black Tern feeding on Loch Gorm around lunchtime.  I took a look later, but it had moved on by then, leaving me time to count 50 Tufted Ducks on the loch. David D. found the autumn's first Jack Snipe flushed on The Oa in the afternoon. Mary R. counted 100 Greylag Geese and the 13 Barnacle Geese still on Claddach Loch - and still being disturbed by a young White-tailed Eagle. Finally, Mary-Ann Featherstone had Tawny Owl calling this evening over at Kildalton.

Sunday 21st & Monday 22nd September

Yesterday's weather continued cold, slightly breezy and with rain showers - today was much the same but slightly less cold - all very autumnal!

A group of 14 Barnacle Geese seen by James H. at Gruinart yesterday morning was certainly an indication of late autumn. Ed B. had 3 Brent Geese at Port Ellen and Gary T. found 5 Common Scoter off Carabus burn. Away from winter wildfowl, Mary-Ann Featherstone watched a flock of 10 Long-tailed Tits at Kildalton

Today Gary T. found the possibly same Kingfisher that keeps showing up at Bridgend on Loch Indaal along with 2 young White-tailed Eagles. Marty R. had another young White-tailed Eagle at Claddach while Clive McK. saw two adult White-tailed Eagles over Eresaid woodland chasing a young bird to the point of talon-grappling with it.

Fiona McG. contacted me today mentioning intriguing reports of a sighting of several Black Grouse in the Cladville/Ballymeanach area adjacent to the forestry there. It would be very useful to find out who saw them and when, as, according to records in the databases etc., the last sighting of the species was 14 years ago on The Oa and it is thought to now be possibly extinct on Islay. If anyone has more information I would be delighted to hear from them via the blog email address.

Friday 19th & Saturday 20th September

Friday's weather was "sunshine and rain" but mild. Saturday was sunnier, with much less rain, but the wind increased a little and ended up coming from the north making it feel very wintry all of a sudden.

Friday saw further groups of Pink-footed Geese passing through - 10 at Kinnabus and 41 at Gruinart. There were also Brent Geese on the move with 28 at Gruinart during the day and 50 seen with a thermal imager by Clive McK. passing over Gruinart after dark (he also "thermal-imaged" a Tawny Owl in the bushes in his garden)! Clive also did a sea-watch from Frenchman's Rocks between 5pm and 7pm, clocking another 40 Brent Geese, 6 Arctic Skuas, 2 Leach's Petrels and 3 Red-throated Divers amongst more regular finds.

The group of 13 Barnacle Geese seen by Mary R. a day or so back were still on Claddach Loch where she also saw a Wheatear. Another 3 Wheatears were noted by David D. at The Oa RSPB Car Park plus 40 Lesser Redpoll at Kinnabus along with a Merlin at Upper Killeyan. A further Merlin was noted by Ed B. at Cornabus. David Protherough saw another portend of late autumn with 15 Whooper Swans flying down the Sound of Islay between Islay and Jura near the ferry.

I saw a Carrion Crow with a Hoodie down at Nerabus Cemetery.

On Saturday Mary R. had 3 Whooper Swans at Claddach Loch, then 7 more near Bowmore. David D. noted Merlin at the Oa RSPB Car Park and Jamers How did a quick look across Loch Gruinart from Bun an uilt finding 2 White-tailed Eagles, single Hen Harrier and Peregrine, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Ruff, 1 Grey Plover, 12 Golden Plover, 21 Pintail, and a Greenshank amidst lots of regular waders.

Thursday 18th September

A dull, but dry day with light winds and some cloud turned into overcast and drizzling by the late afternoon.

Clive McK. watching from Creag Mhor at Loch Gruinart counted more smallish groups of Pink-footed Geese arriving from the north today. While watching he noticed an odd warbler in his garden  - a Barred Warbler, which would be the first Islay record after acceptance by the ABC rarities committee. Val and I zipped up to try and see it, but the weather had deteriorated quickly and we had no luck, though did see with Clive his first "garden tick" Treecreeper! (Incidentally, Tiree also recorded a Barred Warbler today).

At the North hide this evening, James H. recorded 15 Pintail, 5 Ruff, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Snipe and a Golden Plover - Mary R. seeing 10 Goldne Plover flying over in the Port Wemyss area this evening.

Wednesday 17th September

A little more sunshine than rain today. Winds moderately breezy from a mainly southerly/south-westerly direction with mild conditions.

The two main bits of bird news come from the two ends of the island and concern two different lots of geese. Mary R. found us our first, quite early arrival of wintering Barnacle Geese this morning with a group of 13 on Claddach Loch. Later this afternoon Clive McK. saw the first group of migrant Pink-footed Geese - 30 flying up Loch Gruinart.

Val P. and I took a look from the RSPB Gruinart hides at high tide this afternoon where there is now a good build up of water from the North Hide attracting ever-increasing numbers of wildfowl with 350+ Teal and a few Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler too. 

Back at Bruichladdich this evening there was a noticeable presence of terns with 12 Arctic and 3-4 Sandwich Terns working their way south down Loch Indaal, fishing as they went. With them were 4-5 immature Kittiwakes plus the usual feeding Gannets and a couple of Razorbills offshore.

Tuesday 16th September

A slight improvement in the weather with only very occasional and lighter rain showers and sunny conditions with light winds mostly from a southerly direction.

Yesterday Clive McK. did a sea-watch from Frenchman's Rocks between 4pm-7.30pm with further good results. Highlights were a total of 183 Brent Geese passed by, along with 2,411 Kittiwakes, 15 Arctic Skuas, 3 Little Gulls, 3 Great Skuas, 42 Fulmars, 543 Manx Shearwaters and 453 Gannets. The Arctic Skua count is the second highest day count ever - and in one of the shorter sea-watch periods. It is also noteworthy that the count of 3 Little Gulls in one day is a record for a species that is far from annual (noted in 24 years since 1973). All previous records are of single birds except for 2 on 31 October 1976 and 2 seen by Clive on 13 September this year.

Today's only recording comes again from Clive McK. with an excellent record of a Black Tern at the mouth of Loch Gruinart this late afternoon. There have been only six previous records for Islay, the last in 2009 and four of those in September.

Sunday 14th & Monday 15th September

Two more days of mostly unpredictable and unpleasant weather with heavy rain showers, though a bit sunnier for longer periods today after a horrible day yesterday.

The only birds reported yesterday came from James H. who counted 42 Black-tailed Godwits from the north hide at Gruinart RSPB.

Today Clive McK. had a Whitethroat in his garden at Creag Mhor and 2 Sandwich Terns on Loch Gruinart. He also commented on large numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks showing up with 90 pipits and 25 larks flushed by a passing Sparrowhawk at Gareallabus.

Saturday 13th September

More of the same: sunshine between heavy showers, the moderately breezy wind turning towards the SW then more westerly.

Billy Stitchell braved the elements this morning and photographed four White-tailed Eagles (2 adults and 2 young) at the top of Loch IUndaal.

Clive McK. had his eye on the weather and got down to Frenchman's Rocks this afternoon when the conditions looked good for some seabird movement as the wind veered more towards the west. His sea-watch between 3.45pm - 7.30pm proved very worthwhile, with the following tally:

Brent Geese 100, Whimbrel 3, Little Gull 2, Kittiwake 651, Sabine's Gull 1, Mediterranean Gull 1, Arctic Skua 3, Black-throated Diver 1, Leach's Petrel 7, Fulmar 6, Manx Shearwater 399, Gannet 188, Cormorant 1.

The Leach's Storm-petrels are the first since 2022 (probably because nobody has done much sea-watching from Frenchman's Rocks in the past few years!) and the Med. Gull is only about the 10th record for Islay.

Jim Dickson travelled back to the mainland on the ferry today and recorded 300+ Kittiwakes, 5 European Storm-petrels, 5 Arctic Terns and an Arctic Skua.

Friday 12th September

 The weather continues in the same vein - short sunny spells between sometimes heavy downpours of rain on a southerly breeze.

Jim Dickson was at Carnain this morning finding what he describes as "the usual suspects" - 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Little Stint, 2 Ruff and 1 Black-tailed Godwit. He then turned his attention to Craigens where the single Glossy Ibis was still in residence with 22 Black-tailed Godwits on Loch Gruinart.

There were further movements of Brent Geese today, with Martin Armstrong noting a colour-ringed bird  near Laphroaig this morning (Blue with a C on right leg and Yellow with an L or 1 on the left). Jim had 20 at the top of Loch Indaal and then a total of 113 on Loch Gruinart where Clive McK. noted 62 remaining into the afternoon. Clive also noted 74 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving through Loch Indaal during the day, plus 9 Greenshank, 7 Commic Terns, 30 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 5 Little Egret, 15 Wigeon, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and a fishing Osprey. Making the day sound a little more like summer Clive also had a brood of 3 well-grown Swallow chicks still in a nest.

Elsewhere on the island Mary R. had a good count of 33 Collared Doves down at Octofad taking advantage of spilt barley at the grain drying facility there.

Over on Jura, visitor Gary Patrick watched a Golden Eagle with prey being troubled by a Common Buzzard - photo below.

Thursday 11th September

 A further stormy day with occasional very heavy downpours between sunny spells.

Jim Dickson was up at Gruinart first thing this morning finding just one of the two Glossy Ibis present at Craigens. A total of 186 Brent Geese arrive into Loch Gruinart while there and Clive McK. added two further groups totalling 76 birds a little later. Other odd sightings of the morning were 2 Common Scoter in Loch Gruinart - not a common sight here and Clive's first. Jim had a Manx Shearwater far up into Loch Indaal at Carnain feeding along a stormy high tide line - very strange! Later in the morning, back at Gruinart, there was a female Marsh Harrier hunting alongside a juv male Hen Harrier, then 4 Ruff at Craigens, while Clive had an Osprey over Loch Gruinart at Bun an Uillt this afternoon. Jim took a look at Loch Gorm finding the first influx of Tufted Ducks (41 birds) and finished back at Gruinart where a partial count of Knot tallied at an impressive 205 birds.

This evening James H. was out birding Loch Gruinart and reports further large counts - 325 Teal, 14 Wigeon, two groups of terns - probably Arctic - totalling 40 birds passing through and 124 Brent Geese still on the loch.

Wednesday 10th September

A foul day of blustery SW winds and almost constant, often quite heavy rain showers. However, this didn't stop Jim Dickson from spending much of the day birding - albeit a lot of the time from the shelter of his car.  The 2 Glossy Ibis were still present in the same area at Craigens this morning and Jim counted 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 65 Redshank, 7 Little Egrets and 2 Arctic Terns in the Loch Gruinart area at about the same time. Later on Loch Indaal close to Blackrock he found a juv Little Stint and juv Curlew Sandpiper and dozens of "alba" -  mostly White - Wagtails. There were 2 more juv Little Stints and a Greenland Wheatear further up Loch Indaal at Carnain.

Later, back at Loch Gruinart Clive McK. noted 30 Black-tailed Godwits flying into the loch against a strong headwind and Jim returned there finding a very high count of 17 Curlew Sandpipers, a couple of golden Plover with a possible American ?Golden Plover which moved on before it could be confirmed. There were also 13 Pintails, 6 Greenshanks and a final tally of 66 Brent Geese for the day.

Being more of a "fair weather birder" myself, I stayed indoors today  - no such options for this male Sparrowhawk sat on my lawn outside, photographed by Jim as he visited to dry out late in the afternoon.

Tuesday 9th September

 Lots of blustery southerly winds bringing occasional rain - some of it heavy.

Steve & Lyn Rogers did their WeBS count at Loch an t-Salein near Kildalton finding 14 Curlew and 11 Red-breasted Mergansers and a probable Ruff amongst other species.

Jim Dickson came over to Islay, counting 6 Storm Petrels on the crossing, and confirmed that the 2 Glossy Ibis were still present at Craigens. He also notched a good selection of migrant waders on Loch Gruinart including 12+ juv Curlew Sandpipers and 1 juv Little Stint, followed by 6 Ruff and another juv Curlew Sandpiper at Carnain on Loch Indaal.

Malcolm O. reports that the massive and unprecedented arrival of Glossy Ibis continues, with a friend of his in Eire telling of a flock of 77 in County Cork!

Sunday 7th & Monday 8th September

Sunday saw strong winds from a southerly direction accompanied by rain in the morning gave way to brighter, drier weather in the afternoon. Monday was much brighter - dry and sunny with lighter SW breezes.

There were no reports of any birds yesterday until a message came through to James H. this morning of two Glossy Ibises seen yesterday afternoon just south of Craigens by visitor Bruce Taylor (picture below). Val P. and I went out this morning and found them still there, showing well in a very wet field of barley stubble - almost the exact same location as the last one seen on Islay in 2020. There have been just five previous Islay records, but today's birds are a northward extension of an unprecedented influx of the species into the UK at the moment, with over 359 sightings this week including numerous flocks of up to 30 birds. 

Other records from Gruinart today were 6 Little Egrets and 14 Brent Geese seen by us this morning and 2 Ruff, c.100 Lapwing, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Golden Eagles and single Sparrowhawk and Peregrine seen by James H..

Friday 5th & Saturday 6th September

 A couple of days of increasingly blustery weather with rain showers on mainly southerly, mild winds.

Yesterday Louise Muir noted a build up of Swallows (30-40) gathering at Craighouse on Jura. Gary T. had a Ruff and 4 Black-tailed godwits again at Gartmain. Clive McK. was on the other side of Loch Indaal at Carnain and did a fairly comprehensive count including 200 Greylag Geese, 74 Teal, 85 Oystercatchers, 100+ Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 15+ Redshank, 40 Dunlin and 190 Common Gulls. Later in the day up at Bridgend Merse on Loch Indaal his count of Greylags went up to 500 along with 9 Mute Swans, 35 Wigeon, 140 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 White-tailed Eagles.

Today Elliott Bowman sent in a splendid photo and video clip of a female Sparrowhawk tucking in to a Rock Dove or feral pigeon  that it had caught at Port Ellen:

Wednesday 3rd & Thursday 4th September

 A further mix of rain showers and sunshine over the past two days.

Yesterday Ed B. found 3 Greenland-type Wheatears at Cornabus and a flock of 50 Goldfinches feeding on soft rush seeds and Mary R. had a flock of 10 Brent Geese in Loch Indaal.

Today Gary T. was noting good numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and small flocks of Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches and Linnets at Finlaggan - another sign of autumn. Mary R. watched a White-tailed Eagle down at Ellister again while up at Loch Gruinart James H. counted a substantial 1530 Greylag Geese plus16 Brent Geese, single Canada Goose, 6 Little Egrets and 22 Black-tailed Godwits.

Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September

Weather still dominated by low pressure systems with southerly and south-westerly breezes bringing in rain between sunny spells.

In yesterday's rainy conditions, Elliott Bowman sent in videos of a family of young Swallows just fledged and sheltering from the rotten weather at mid Cragabus. Yesterday also saw the first arrival and passage of Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Clive McK. counted five groups totalling 215 at Gruinart then 200 more on a sea-watch at Frenchman's Rocks later (where he also noted 40 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 6 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Skuas). James H. had a further 113 Brent Geese at Gruinart in the evening along with a flock of 155 Teal. Thus a likely minimum of 528 Brent Geese during the day - one of the higher daily counts. Ed B. at Cornabus had a Greenland-type Wheatear.

Today, Martin A. had an Osprey perched on a telegraph pole at Cnoc Fada on the east side of Loch Gorm. Gary T. saw the Kingfisher again at the top of Loch Indaal, a Sandwich Tern at Gartmain and a Buzzard taking an Adder along the road between Loch Gorm and Gruinart. Up at Ardnave, Gary T. had another Wheatear looking very "Greenland" and 2 White-tailed Eagles which then moved on to Loch Gruinart where there was a count of c.40 Bar-tailed Godwit. The White-tailed Eagle tally increased to an adult and 2 young at Gruinart later when Fiona McG. had 5 birds above Bruichladdich. James H. was on Gruinart during the day and added Peregrine, Barn Owl, 2 Little Egrets and 4 Curlew Sandpipers to the mix.

A few Brent Geese came though, though nothing like yesterday's tally: 26 at Loch Gruinart seen by Clive McK. and 38 on Loch Indaal seen by Fiona McG.