tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69210216802544439012024-03-18T21:58:26.954+00:00Islay BirdsThis blog was started by Ian Brooke on the 1st of May 2007 and aims to provide information about the birds of Islay.Ian Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09032144806627376574noreply@blogger.comBlogger5588125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-64416536420371873582024-03-18T21:57:00.000+00:002024-03-18T21:57:13.763+00:00Sunday 17th & Monday 18th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The nice sunny weather yesterday lasted until lunchtime today, then deteriorated into rain and wind this afternoon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">No bird news for yesterday, though several of our regular contributors sent in notes about interesting moths and seeing their first Adders of the spring.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today, Morven from NatureScot kindly sent in the counts for the <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">final international goose count of the season, carried out on 12/13 March, totals as follows: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">27,648 Barnacle Geese, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">4,926 White-fronted Geese and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">918 Greylag Geese.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Continuing the goose-themed blog, Jim Wells, who was over from N. Ireland on 11th March, sent in details he'd received back from Steve Percival on colour-ring sightings of Barnacle Geese his group noted while here. There was an interesting mix of birds:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">5 were only ringed on Islay this winter</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 was ringed at Inishkea, Ireland in March 2019 and was wintering there until winter 21/22, since when it seems to have been wintering on Islay</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 was ringed in Donegal in March 2018, but all other sightings each winter have been on Islay, apart from one in Iceland</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 was ringed on Islay in 2018, was on Islay in subsequent winters, but had spent time on N. Uist in winter 20/21 and 21/22 and has returned to Islay to winter since</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">2 birds ringed on Islay in October 2019 have been returning here each winter since</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Another ringed on Islay in October 2018 has been seen here in each subsequent winter</span></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 ringed as an adult here in October 2014 has been here each winter since</span></span></li></ul><p></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-61555592521856457932024-03-16T22:36:00.004+00:002024-03-16T22:37:30.608+00:00Friday 15th & Saturday 16th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A sunny day yesterday with a cool breeze turning into a drizzly, windy afternoon today.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mary Redman saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Claddach and a White-tailed Eagle over McKenzie Island yesterday, while <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Elliott Bowman had a p</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">air of White-tailed Eagles in woods near Mid Cragabus where he found a G</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">olden Eagle today. Clive McKay reports 70+ Dunlin on wet pools close to the road at Gruinart flats today.</span></span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-55822838544682894092024-03-14T21:09:00.001+00:002024-03-14T21:09:31.030+00:00Thursday 14th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A mostly rainy, cool day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">After seeking some help on our WhatsApp group yesterday on where to find Red Grouse, Mel Chowns, on her last day birding on Islay, was delighted that the info actually worked - finding a couple of grouse on the Bolsay track, up behind Port Charlotte. Mel also found a couple of Great Northern Divers at Loch an t Sailein in the morning.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-42794545664579720542024-03-13T21:23:00.002+00:002024-03-13T21:23:17.182+00:00Wednesday 13th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mostly dry, cool and fairly sunny. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Craig Walker saw a Kingfisher at Daill burn and Mel Chowns found a male Hen Harrier on the low road near Laggan River.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-61768353924522590922024-03-12T21:19:00.002+00:002024-03-12T21:19:31.720+00:00Tuesday 12th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Back to a very rainy Islay this evening - but it was rainy all the way along the journey north from Lincolnshire. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Jim Wells had been over to Islay with a group by boat from N. Ireland yesterday, noting at least 4 White-tailed Eagles, 4 Hen Harriers, 3 Little Egrets and 36 Choughs. His group also read over a dozen numbered darvic rings on the Barnacle Geese which will be passed on to Steve Percival.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today Mel Chowns reported another very enjoyable day of birding. Nothing sensational seen, but a good variety seen well including lots of waders in Loch Indaal, where there were 8 Brent Geese, plus 2 Dippers and Grey Wagtails at the Woolen Mill and another close view of Golden Eagle up towards Ardnave.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">James How did see something a little more towards the "sensational" end of the scale with a re-sighting of the Red-breasted Goose at Craigens while doing one of the regular goose counts. He also noted a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Nave Island, plus Golden and White-tailed Eagles at Gruinart.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-80990266240154280202024-03-11T18:54:00.000+00:002024-03-11T18:54:17.164+00:00Sunday 10th and Monday 11th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Late news from Saturday from Fiona McGillivray of 18 Whooper Swans over Bruichladdich.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">No news on Sunday.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today Mel Chowns was out birding and sent in the following observations:</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Female Hen Harrier at RSPB Gruinart. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Nice views of Treecreeper on woodland walk plus Goldcrest..T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">wo Choughs at Kilnave and a further 40 choughs at Ardnave. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">One immature Golden Eagle being mobbed by a pair of Buzzards, </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">then 3 fabulous immature White-tailed Eagles on the sand at Ardnave on north end of Loch Gruinart. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Finally a single Peregrine and 25 Whooper Swans on the Ardnave loch. What a first day! "</span></span></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Down at Cornabus, Ed Burrell counted 50+ Skylarks and noted 6 Eiders at White Hart beach. At Claddach, Mary Redman had 3 Whooper Swans this morning, 2 White=tailed Eagles on McKenzie Island and another over Nerabus.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Over on Jura Louise Muir had two Yellowhammers on her bird feeder at Craighouse.</span></span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-40228886661911464872024-03-09T20:38:00.003+00:002024-03-09T20:38:43.600+00:00Friday 8th & Saturday 9th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">There was some late news for Thursday including 18 Whooper Swans at Cornabus and 4 Little Egrets at Gruinart.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Yesterday (Friday) Theo found a Russian White-fronted Goose with the Greenland White-fronts at Gruinart - quite a rarity on Islay.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqsUw-riMtbuYo3cLG564_RHbpT82HvVgHBnCBAlfc0PmfvPA6Unl5sybUDiL0YjBogc8RZUp6nzxWtPkr1Lkx1hAU19Tho74eIs_izGf50O0Ht0KJSDLEJYVj3uvxsuBPSzZzaijvOhc8vGQxMW2JorfR0HDEVFWRuS83H4cSbyzReqIqiRJWOIQiGbc/s1600/IMG-20240308-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqsUw-riMtbuYo3cLG564_RHbpT82HvVgHBnCBAlfc0PmfvPA6Unl5sybUDiL0YjBogc8RZUp6nzxWtPkr1Lkx1hAU19Tho74eIs_izGf50O0Ht0KJSDLEJYVj3uvxsuBPSzZzaijvOhc8vGQxMW2JorfR0HDEVFWRuS83H4cSbyzReqIqiRJWOIQiGbc/w379-h275/IMG-20240308-WA0000.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No reports on birds for Saturday.</span><p></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-31832071493394951992024-03-07T18:18:00.001+00:002024-03-07T18:18:52.175+00:00Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> Two days for the price of one tonight!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Yesterday Theo from Nature Scotland had seen, amongst other things, a Pink-footed Goose at Claddach and another flying over at Gruinart where there were 2 Grey Wagtails and a White-tailed Eagle. Up by Kilchoman Distillery were three more White-tailed Eagles (2 adult and 1 young bird), plus a Male Hen Harrier. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But his highlight of the day was just SE of Loch Gorm in the morning where a Golden Eagle was watched nearly, but not quite, catching a Hare, but soon after, successfully taking a Common Gull. Whilst feeding on its prey a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles came in, chased it off and polished off the remainder of the gull.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mary Redman was on Jura yesterday watching a couple of Peregrines tussling with each other near Craighouse.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today Mary noted a White-tailed Eagle having a go at the geese at Octofad as she did her school run to Port Charlotte.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-78721417873270003722024-03-05T20:16:00.000+00:002024-03-05T20:16:24.153+00:00Tuesday 5th March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I don't know what the weather was like on Islay today as I'm writing this from southern England. But it was obviously good enough for folks to be out birding and send in the following reports:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Theo from Nature Scotland was at Gruinart first thing where there were two Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Little Egrets, 2 Hen Harriers, 2 White-tailed Eagles and a Golden Eagle. Up at Ardnave were 18 Choughs, 33 Whooper Swans, 10 Goldeneye, another Hen Harrier and some Twite mixed in with a flock of Linnets. This afternoon off Bowmore he noted 18 Long-tailed Ducks, 7 Slavonian Grebes, 15 Goldeneye, 8 Red-throated and 10 Great Northern Divers, 50 Eider, 80 Common Scoter, 20 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Black Guillemot. Finishing up at Loch Gorm there were 7 Tufted Ducks and a further 12 Goldeneye. Assuming that all the Goldeneye seen today are different from each other, that would be a substantial total of 37 birds.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mary Redman reported from Claddach down on the Rhinns, where there were 4 Whoopers this morning, and 10 there in the afternoon. Also down her way were 2 White-tailed Eagles, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Mistle Thrush and a few Choughs.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-49650195103713703432024-03-04T21:19:00.004+00:002024-03-04T21:38:28.944+00:00Monday 4th March<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Another mostly sunny day, but breezy and cold.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It was Kathy Evans's last day and she made the most of it, watching the 2CY Glaucous Gull at Bridgend (photo below) and a distant female Goosander on Loch Skerrols. A couple of Hen Haariers popped up at Kilchoman and Gruinart where she read a few colour rings on the Barnies (info on those tomorrow ?). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9oDelE8q7yvWPIIWsBt9xibA_5W7v_vlPEnTjrsLjOvLPoH4kNhZw-uXDmyuuht3-OSFnUy7DXk5D165OzVR9UztF3XpCgMhBe62VXYZAQjADg-kLedLxSjNqC10tC8M7BHZJ_soyHVCygeNSUajqKsR29p3cBJ2JHuIG4XwLWrVnbI3VvUsqNTmzR8d/s1600/IMG-20240304-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1600" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9oDelE8q7yvWPIIWsBt9xibA_5W7v_vlPEnTjrsLjOvLPoH4kNhZw-uXDmyuuht3-OSFnUy7DXk5D165OzVR9UztF3XpCgMhBe62VXYZAQjADg-kLedLxSjNqC10tC8M7BHZJ_soyHVCygeNSUajqKsR29p3cBJ2JHuIG4XwLWrVnbI3VvUsqNTmzR8d/w368-h275/IMG-20240304-WA0001.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-18587059222183678182024-03-03T20:48:00.001+00:002024-03-03T20:48:27.850+00:00Sunday 3rd March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mostly pleasant and sunny today, but a few moderate rain showers at times.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Not a huge amount to report today, but David Dinsley saw 14 Choughs on the lawn in front of the Machrie Hotel. Kathy Evans was pleased with a <i>"good raptor day": </i>2 Golden Eagles, up to 4 White-tailed Eagles near Claddach and Hen Harriers near Portnahaven and Gruinart. She also had 5 Little Egrets at the Gruinart viewing platform.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-57133814483089199212024-03-02T21:43:00.002+00:002024-03-02T21:43:22.249+00:00Thursday 29th February - Saturday 2nd March<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A triple-billing to catch up the blog today. No bird news at all on Thursday and yesterday the only news was from Valerie Wilson of the Glaucous Gull still at the top of Loch Indaal and a couple of White-tailed Eagles at Portnahaven.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today was a bright sunny, very pleasant day that produced a bit more to tell you about:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Valerie saw a Pink-footed Goose amongst the Barnies on fields near to the Woollen Mill. Later, David Wood wandered away from The Oa to look off Blackrock and reported 10 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Great Northern, 1 Black-throated and 4 Red-throated Divers, 80 Eider, 4 Slavonian Grebes, 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Common Scoter and 3 Black Guillemots.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Ed Burrell provides us with the first valuable nest record of 2024, having seen a Collared Dove incubating on a nest in his cow shed at Cornabus (he also reports dolphins this evening in Kilnaughton Bay).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Kathy Evans got lucky up at Gruinart with a sighting of the long-staying Red-breasted Goose. She had also seen a couple of White-tailed Eagles from the viewing platform, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle at Ardnave and another Golden Eagle plus15 Chough at Sanaigmore (but none up at Ardnave).</span></p><p><br /></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-32711391712628814662024-02-28T22:16:00.005+00:002024-02-28T22:16:58.456+00:00Wednesday 28th February<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A mainly unpleasant grey and rainy day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Despite the rotten weather, there was a slight portend of spring with the first Lesser Black-backed Gull of 2024 seen by David Dinsley at Kinnabus.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-63458816070091235412024-02-27T20:39:00.000+00:002024-02-27T20:39:08.785+00:00Tuesday 27th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Rain and cloud with odd sunny spells in between.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Despite the not too great weather, it did feel a bit like spring with Dunnocks and Robins singing here at Bruichladdich and Song Thrushes at Kildalton.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Valerie Wilson was watching Choughs and a White-tailed Eagle at Sanaigmore and Steve & Lyn Rogers had had 43 White-fronted Geese at Cornabus.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-70316994599788623012024-02-26T21:28:00.001+00:002024-02-26T21:28:16.873+00:00Monday 26th February<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A lovely bright and sunny day throughout.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Gary Turnbull had an impressive count of 5 White-tailed Eagles calling over Finlaggan this morning.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Whooper Swans seem to be on the move, with Mary Redman finding 20 on Claddach Loch and James How noting 29 up at Gruinart. James also saw a Peregrine and 6 Woodcock at Gruinart.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Joanna Dailey on a return visit came across the regular Chough flock up at Ardnave - 24 in total, at least 17 of them colour-ringed, while over on Loch Indaal she watched a White-tailed Eagle chasing a gull, which presumably got away.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Other than birds, Mary Redman took a photo of some Marsh Fritillary caterpillars warming up in the sun.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNNbtD8MWc3nunp7Ktuu_xSItbjv7WdSGWb_fgHwaTd5RPWFRWbm8wvCkCU6KTfnsheVHZhUfrq5Tf7fXLNlUbLekksY__FeCyqcoy7X58-SxY0XM2BhnXhHQeMzIyibeLEVdj_1_2EcpI2FmrJm73YArBFOMMjD4P0cR57xPJHmrRvbrF6XLWhNEo_GY/s2016/IMG-20240226-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNNbtD8MWc3nunp7Ktuu_xSItbjv7WdSGWb_fgHwaTd5RPWFRWbm8wvCkCU6KTfnsheVHZhUfrq5Tf7fXLNlUbLekksY__FeCyqcoy7X58-SxY0XM2BhnXhHQeMzIyibeLEVdj_1_2EcpI2FmrJm73YArBFOMMjD4P0cR57xPJHmrRvbrF6XLWhNEo_GY/w272-h363/IMG-20240226-WA0000.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-46652673017692988512024-02-25T21:05:00.004+00:002024-02-25T21:05:32.313+00:00Sunday 25th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A cold but sunny and dry day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Martin Armstrong saw a couple of Red Grouse at the Ard, Port Ellen this morning, while James How reports Golden and White-tailed Eagles at Gruinart, 10 Slavonian Grebes, 15 Long-tailed Ducks, single Scaup and the presence of Common Scoter, Red-throated and Great Northern Divers on Loch Indaal.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I took a walk up to Killinallan this afternoon and noticed 3 White-tailed Eagles together at the north end of Gruinart. All three flew off towards Ardnave as the tide rose and pushed them off the sand banks.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Visitor Valerie Wilson started her visit to Islay well, with the young Glaucous Gull asleep at the top of Loch Indaal, then the Red-breasted Goose on the west side of Gruinart in the afternoon. A little later she was at Blackrock where the Slavonian Grebes were accompanied by a Great Crested Grebe - quite a rarity here. It was rare enough for me to go straight out on receiving the Whatsapp message and go on a "twitch" for it. Unfortunately, despite close scrutiny of the various assembled ducks, grebes and divers there was no further trace of it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This evening Mary-Ann Featherstone heard a couple of Tawny Owls calling at Kildalton.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-39515662530120744742024-02-24T21:33:00.000+00:002024-02-24T21:33:12.524+00:00Saturday 24th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A dry, sunny but chilly day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Jonathan Farooqi reported plenty of activity off Bowmore in loch Indaal this morning, with 20 Slav. Grebes, 20 Red-throated Divers, 15 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 25 Long-tailed Ducks, 100 Common Scoters, 100 Eider, 30 Red-breasted Mergansers and a single Scaup. (The Slav. Grebe and L T Duck numbers are quite high counts). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Jonathan also found the Red-breasted Goose, 2 White-tailed Eagles and 5 Greenshank at Gruinart Flats, a Golden and White-tailed Eagle over the Ballygrant end of the Glen Road, 2 more White-tailed Eagles at Finlaggan and a Dipper at the Woollen Mill.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Louise Muir was on Islay seeing additional White-tailed Eagles at Kilmeny (a young bird) and Gearach (an adult) - so a possible tally today of 5-8 birds?. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Margaret Brooke is back at Kilchoman where a Hen Harrier flew across her garden.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">There was a bit of belated, but very welcome and interesting bird news from Jim Duncan and John Graham who had been on the island recently. They had taken a photo of a collared Greenland White-front that Ed Burrell confirms as a bird caught on Greenland in July 2008 that has been wintering on Islay every year since - a good age for a goose!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_dOSpkcKr1tX0aV3NqYz5XloEl4MXzdz49q6DaTEBHvc5dtMOtd8M8d9HLinYajtAVX4WTGEJEgc5oKEcfdnzhejbL7WTRUkb-zUnd4LRF6C8G_CUbWjtW2Y3bJjqJ1YfiCUlrb3tOM3FcM7cjesEPuuiMRGOU2mu2UmPdvxmAgFkdqSy6iZafG2oLDL/s1024/IMG-20240224-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1024" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_dOSpkcKr1tX0aV3NqYz5XloEl4MXzdz49q6DaTEBHvc5dtMOtd8M8d9HLinYajtAVX4WTGEJEgc5oKEcfdnzhejbL7WTRUkb-zUnd4LRF6C8G_CUbWjtW2Y3bJjqJ1YfiCUlrb3tOM3FcM7cjesEPuuiMRGOU2mu2UmPdvxmAgFkdqSy6iZafG2oLDL/w450-h283/IMG-20240224-WA0003.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">John and Jim also sent in a series of excellent photos of a couple of happily boxing Hares, followed by an attempted catch of the two Hares by a Golden Eagle, with an end result photo of a forlorn eagle and two lucky lagomorphs!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEySBtsC5Sf9rFSawg6cyPxnA-2mS5etMnCdfZMY761BuOQkjbt2FaHNV33qeyzeHF7iDlDVpJ4uHFY-RE-FrAU6gaYmZMkHpA9FsrqxHAOct9l9xpg0qKTDMUKAAQdNmHlKAp4jpP7zAnOlG6Y6xiNvuLLc6WYIothNvGhCAneFMgy5ZspoB-Q86o2yIA/s589/IMG-20240224-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="589" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEySBtsC5Sf9rFSawg6cyPxnA-2mS5etMnCdfZMY761BuOQkjbt2FaHNV33qeyzeHF7iDlDVpJ4uHFY-RE-FrAU6gaYmZMkHpA9FsrqxHAOct9l9xpg0qKTDMUKAAQdNmHlKAp4jpP7zAnOlG6Y6xiNvuLLc6WYIothNvGhCAneFMgy5ZspoB-Q86o2yIA/s320/IMG-20240224-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2aVhtNZ8Dxx7Dy3kYP3IZRMlDDBU2zD6NUu9-_GNHv5jMTM3YIdUa90pDmfNifv4HH3MgZZ5hr39GfPMjF_f3gdmuAD5hWv_XgmJ2G-0aDOSIqvDVX2n8pEOMDdPbS88GOINFa6STvj-0X5qLS9WyytbcT_gsAgd3qb2wnuSrPt9B13_e7mSmmX8O4GX/s707/IMG-20240224-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="707" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2aVhtNZ8Dxx7Dy3kYP3IZRMlDDBU2zD6NUu9-_GNHv5jMTM3YIdUa90pDmfNifv4HH3MgZZ5hr39GfPMjF_f3gdmuAD5hWv_XgmJ2G-0aDOSIqvDVX2n8pEOMDdPbS88GOINFa6STvj-0X5qLS9WyytbcT_gsAgd3qb2wnuSrPt9B13_e7mSmmX8O4GX/w366-h306/IMG-20240224-WA0001.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSMbPdCMhWPn_rwqS6daUscgObwC4F_TxypCxCi0n4VzEuZkHTJhpeOI6rne_B6xmnb-PfpJF2B5dL7Auk65iXuHRhjeGtZ1dsWFNAz7dFT7BMEBi4PH73Jzp39xtf0OGaaoIVRyN4ID-NkBax2Y6KZ5kOhmcFHFH9Ec7Ex-enoC9r85aZPnv95knLuiC/s707/IMG-20240224-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA77XHr8N87hi9skqJk_BNtaGCAt0rAxh8SoLXOvQlbqnW9tzynUXTRv2DHasDFedpFMjf7tFY7fpRBcCm8NR-RrIa0yh50oc4jB9EySyoUlCMb2P5Ab3PW5VuVCU6reZMBb5sJt9wZfq0NUQDYo7i6HZgf_M7l2gHx4pXtAYlWxWYGVCEbfuOALHMjLd/s892/IMG-20240224-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="892" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA77XHr8N87hi9skqJk_BNtaGCAt0rAxh8SoLXOvQlbqnW9tzynUXTRv2DHasDFedpFMjf7tFY7fpRBcCm8NR-RrIa0yh50oc4jB9EySyoUlCMb2P5Ab3PW5VuVCU6reZMBb5sJt9wZfq0NUQDYo7i6HZgf_M7l2gHx4pXtAYlWxWYGVCEbfuOALHMjLd/w393-h285/IMG-20240224-WA0002.jpg" width="393" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Great action photos - many thanks for sending them in - and thanks to everyone for their records which all go to the Argyll Bird Club database and help fill in an overall picture of what and how many birds are here.</span></div>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-79629110880804967562024-02-23T22:29:00.000+00:002024-02-23T22:29:01.755+00:00Friday 23rd February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Very rainy overnight and into the morning, brightening to a sunnier, dry afternoon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Martin Armstrong had an impressive count of 4 White-tailed Eagles over in the Cairnmore/Kilnaughton area this morning. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The young Glaucous Gull was seen again at Bridgend this evening by Jonathan Farooqi.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Ash Cooper had another White-tailed Eagle, plus a Peregrine and 18 Choughs at Sanaigmore. </span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-58703679707396863882024-02-22T20:23:00.003+00:002024-02-22T20:23:53.792+00:00Thursday 22nd February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Another day of two halves - this time a sunny morning giving way to a rainy and cloudy afternoon. However, this didn't deter the keener birders from getting out and about.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">David Livingstone <span style="background-color: white;">watched a White-tailed Eagle taking a Barnacle Goose in the air at Kintra this morning.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A Glaucous Gull identified as a 2Y was seen by several observers today at the top of loch Indaal - Steve Lister pointing out that it must be a different bird to the other older immature bird that has been hanging around Uiskentuie for months. Jonathan Farooqi found the Red-breasted Goose again today on the Gruinart Flats this evening. Other sightings include Golden Eagle up at Carrabus, Hen Harrier near Machrie, 2 Canada Geese at Ardnave and a flock of 40 Ravens up at Laggan Bridge.</span></span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-26653134210267484962024-02-21T20:58:00.005+00:002024-02-21T21:02:16.692+00:00Wednesday 21st February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The day started out grey and rainy, but slowly improved with some sunny spells in the afternoon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Visiting birder and wildlife photographer Ash Cooper sent in a few records from the last few days:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>17th:</b> 6 Little Egrets at RSPB Gruinart</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>18th</b>: a male Marlin nr Ardnave Loch</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>19th:</b> a flock of c80 Linnet in stubble fields between RSPB and Ardnave Loch, c.15 Yellowhammers near Ballitarsin, being chased by a Marlin and 8 Ravens flying around the American Monument on the Oa</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>20th:</b> a flock of c.75 Twite in stubble fields nr Sunderland Farm, and a Golden Eagle over the moorland on W side of Loch Gorm. He:took this great shot of a male Hen Harrier up at Glean Mor yesterday.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Also on 20th: Jonathan Farooqi is back birding on Islay and noted a single Pink-footed Goose at Kilmeny and a Carrion Crow at Kintra where he read neck collars ADX, AHD & ADZ on four collared White-fronts. Malcolm O.& David Dinsley confirmed that they were all ringed at Cornabus in winter 2017/18 and have been regularly seen in that area this winter.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Steve Willis had seen a young Glaucous Gull up at the top of Loch Indaal yesterday evening.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Today's news:</b> Val Peacock watched a male Hen Harrier hunting and displaying out over Ballimony where a Woodcock and a couple of Buzzards were also noted. Ash relocated the Glaucous Gull up at the top of Loch Indaal (photo below - is it the long-staying bird or a different one?), while Jonathan had found a Russian White-front with the Greenland White-fronts at Gruinart and got distant views of the elusive Red-breasted Goose from the RSPB Visitor Centre.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljmMsN47sgahrE1mg543lSuKqAjvwhURkCTzY2U-9kWOlm-Ku6vhNnbGlZLzLAX3xeRbwOUUxlFZ5ktr5gSidRlUWN2dGkoNGj6e-w0pfa5tk7maGCgmNw6JuDTxH1EJHoGmy29pdTSj5D-e0OuYK4XMF4CEB-kVkN0j8GzcwpHklyaDZv48S9B1g-6NI/s2000/P2206929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2000" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljmMsN47sgahrE1mg543lSuKqAjvwhURkCTzY2U-9kWOlm-Ku6vhNnbGlZLzLAX3xeRbwOUUxlFZ5ktr5gSidRlUWN2dGkoNGj6e-w0pfa5tk7maGCgmNw6JuDTxH1EJHoGmy29pdTSj5D-e0OuYK4XMF4CEB-kVkN0j8GzcwpHklyaDZv48S9B1g-6NI/w403-h303/P2206929.jpg" width="403" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fmOeyVx2STPEkreP_DVO8bMef6YxHmz0Yh4aFCFDi_dzWpjNLcnCT8eKUBod6eEZIFRQbg-yEotIARJJjYxU7id41wJCyHmv3TofIpjSITyNHLgZ4i4bx2hvNuoUvHsZjCstnIE2RHu9qbidG6rE5rpXbMHE0d6SBduPfH8tGw4KF1cZUncmHbQQEqQe/s2000/IMG-20240221-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fmOeyVx2STPEkreP_DVO8bMef6YxHmz0Yh4aFCFDi_dzWpjNLcnCT8eKUBod6eEZIFRQbg-yEotIARJJjYxU7id41wJCyHmv3TofIpjSITyNHLgZ4i4bx2hvNuoUvHsZjCstnIE2RHu9qbidG6rE5rpXbMHE0d6SBduPfH8tGw4KF1cZUncmHbQQEqQe/w402-h301/IMG-20240221-WA0000.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-4594762522324220842024-02-20T20:47:00.003+00:002024-02-20T20:48:37.611+00:00Tuesday 20th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The day developed into something tolerably pleasant with plenty of sunshine if a bit breezy, and it was good enough to get me out in the afternoon to the Gruinart hides.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Nothing sensational was seen, but it was full of activity with large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover, smaller groups of Dunlin, Curlew and Redshank and 3-4 Greenshanks showing in good light. The ducks were numerous and a delight in the sunshine. 10 Whooper Swans were pootling about and a Little Egret present.</span></p><p><br /></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-38001432851981207822024-02-19T20:29:00.001+00:002024-02-19T20:29:10.856+00:00Sunday 18th & Monday 19th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A grey, drizzly day on Sunday meant very little birding news, though Mary-Ann Featherstone reports a total of 200 Lapwing north of Port Ellen mobbing a Buzzard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today was a little bit brighter - mostly dry with a bit of sunshine at times. Gary T. saw a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers towards Lily Loch - always good to receive records of this species to assess how many pairs might be breeding.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">David Dinsley saw a Snow Bunting down on The Oa and Steve Williams watched a Golden Eagle over the Glen Road in the afternoon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Malcolm O. sent in a note to say that 4 White-fronted Geese were caught at Kintra on Saturday and fitted with numbered neck collars. They were seen just a few km away at Coillabus today, but any further sightings of these or any marked White-fronts (including numbered leg rings) would be gratefully received.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-24505183420701602592024-02-17T20:41:00.000+00:002024-02-17T20:41:17.315+00:00Saturday 17th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Ghastly weather today - at best overcast, grey and misty, at worst, grizzly, or breezy with rain.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Understandably, the birding news is limited, though Steve Williams did get out and found a White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier up at Gruinart.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Otherwise, there was a note posted on the Islay Facebook page that Malcolm O. picked up on regarding birding etiquette on Islay. There has apparently been some fairly dodgy and potentially dangerous behaviour from a photographer (presumed to be a birder) who has parked up in awkward places on bends on our narrow roads to wander off and take pictures. It is sometimes quite frustrating when something good is seen in a spot that is unsafe to stop in. However, the plea is to be careful and thoughtful to other road users, and find somewhere that is safe to pull off the road and if necessary walk back to where you want to be.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-21969921877998745242024-02-16T18:23:00.000+00:002024-02-16T18:23:03.298+00:00Friday 16th February<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A grey, dreich sort of day - but mild and calm.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Steve & Lyn Rogers saw a Barn Owl last night near the airport.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Today there are further reports from Steve Percival and Steve Williams of the Red-breasted Goose in the Gruinart area and the two Cackling Geese up at Skerrols - a lone Pink-footed Goose with them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The Kingfisher was seen again by Steve Williams at Bowmore Harbour, while Gary Turnbull was seeing Golden Eagles at Carrabus and the Glen road, a Merlin at Newton and Hen Harrier at Scarabus, plus Crossbills on the Cluanach road near the Abbatoir.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I was down at Port Ellen in the afternoon and counted 8 Whooper Swans at what appears to be a new outfall associated with the rebuild of Port Ellen Distillery. This is attracting large numbers of greylags, mallard, corvids and gulls. I'm sure someone with the necessary, devotion, will-power and know-how could carefully check through all those gorgeous immature gulls and rustle up something rare....................</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6921021680254443901.post-57304606250366833572024-02-15T20:05:00.001+00:002024-02-15T20:05:44.340+00:00Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th February<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A couple of days of varied, but mild winter weather - sun and showers yesterday and fairly overcast, misty, drizzly today.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Nothing reported yesterday, but a few bits and pieces coming in today:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Steve Percival noted 2 Cackling Geese with the Barnies at Bridgend, also seen by visitor Tricia Cuninghame at Gruinart this morning. White-tailed Eagles also noted - 2 seen by Gary Turnbull and later by Tricia on their usual rocky island at the mouth of the River Sorn at the top of Loch Indaal. From the other side of the island, Ed Burrell sent in a note of a Carrion Crow seen by Larry Griffin at Kintra.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Gary also watched a couple of Otters at Carrabus Burn near Blackrock this morning.</span></p>Islay Birdinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08877245599269865792noreply@blogger.com0