Thursday 20 January

It still comparably warm here, there is a green colour to the fields with signs of fresh grass. The geese will be in fine fettle on departure if this keeps up.  The scanner was on the Island this week for the first round of livestock scanning. A case of counting your chickens before they hatch, (or your lambs before lambing) and feeding them accordingly. I got a shock with 3 sets of triplets forecast in my modest flock of sheep! But Scan-man Ryan noted that most farms he has been to are up 10% compared to last years scanning. 30% in mine! A sure sign of good sheep condition, in turn reflecting the grass condition.  The geese on Spain might not have needed to detour so far for the mild weather! (see Mondays blog).

Nothing to report on the bird front today, luckily I saved some sightings in from Peters last contribution with his birding group on Monday:

"My birding group had a very productive last day that they all thoroughly enjoyed, starting with an Otter just outside the Port Charlotte Hotel where they are staying. We first went to Bolsa Track outside Port Charlotte where we got a brief glimpse of Red Grouse plus a young male Hen Harrier and a pair of reed Buntings. At Portnahaven we counted 190 Grey Seals and 25 Ringed Plovers on the offshore islands and some good Red Deer stags along the way. Up at Loch Gorm there are still 3 Pochard - now on their own as most of the accompanying Tufties have disappeared. Machir Bay produced the first distant Choughs and a flock of 35 Ringed Plovers. By the time we got to the Viewing Platform overlooking the S. hide in the afternoon it was glorious sunshine that stayed with us for the remainder of the day. Nothing unusual from the platform, but masses of the expected geese and ducks looking fine in the sunlight. Up at Ardnave we connected properly with the Choughs - the flock of 40 or so giving some fine fly-by and feeding views in bright sunshine. Turning our attention to the mouth of Loch Gruinart we scoped a couple of sub-adult White-tailedEagles that eventually flew over and spooked the masses of Barnies on the flats. A 3rd bird joined them, then a 4th from the direction of Ardnave Point. During this excitement one of the group spotted a Golden Eagle perched up, first on the dunes then briefly on a fence-line and in flight, giving some very reasonable views of a bird they'll not be seeing back home in the SE of England."

Friday 12 November

 

A wild day here today, very strong winds so any bird id had to be quick!  Huge seas off the west coast.  The photo here at Port A'Reidhlein, Claddach where around 50 gulls were feeding with 4 eider where the burn enters the sea.  Overhead a flock of 60-70 starling and around 12 (visible) turnstone on the shore. A busy spot on a blowy day!

The sheltered lochs harboured this seasons star finds still. American wigeon and lesser scaup at Skerrols (Bob McMillan) with a long tailed duck and 45 whooper swan (Peter Roberts) and the ring necked duck on Gorm with 4 pochard (Peter Roberts).  From the North Hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart Peter counted 8 greenshank and 34 redshank.  Mark Sullivan later saw an Arctic Skua harassing the gulls there.   Mark also went on to 'Smelly Corner' where he counted 62 pale-bellied Brent with knot, turnstone and ringed plover.  Peter added 2 little egret at the same spot.

An other visitor counted around 350 lapwing on the flats at Loch Gruinart with some curlew.

The forecast is better tomorrow, let's see what the wind may have blown in!

Thursday 11 November

 

2 photos taken from the same spot overlooking Port Charlotte just one hour apart.  A bright and breezy morning gave way to a raining gale in the afternoon.  

Driving out the village this morning I saw my first woodcock of the season. It apparently used to be said they would arrive on the first full moon of November, but this year that event is late in the month.  I've heard from local gamekeepers that this year there was a big fall of them last week with that Northerly wind.  At Octofad 2 WTE were high above the farm, but not so high to be missed by the 500 or so barnacle geese who rose from the fields in fright.

Today was Phil and Mike's last days.  Thank you both for your contributions to the blog and WhatsApp group, greatly appreciated. Hear from you both next time!

Mike was looking over Loch Gorm and counted 5 pochard and 2 goldeneye with 104 tufted duck.  SW Kilchoman were 45 fieldfare and 35 redwing.  Opposite the Whin Park entrance were 2 little egret, then on Loch Skerrols the American Wigeon was still present.  A golden eagle was seen an hour before 2 WTE at Cnoc Don Mor.

For Phils last day he sought out the cackling goose before a pesky golden eagle put the flock up, disturbing his chance to find the red-breasted goose. What a complaint to have!  Gary spotted a 'cackling/canada type' goose in a flock near Eorrabus.

At RSPB Loch Gruinart, James' highlight was one golden eagle, 2 WTE and a carrion crow.

Thursday 1st October

 Gary had been out this morning along his wife Sam, who spotted some of the birds..

Down where the River Sorn enters Loch Indaal they had a White tailed Eagle. Along at Blackrock,  5 Scaup, 32 Common Scoter  and also 7 R TDs were present on the water there, up on Loch Gorm they had seen a Pochard, 2 Slav Grebes, 147 Tufted Duck, 32 Barnies, loads of Greylags, and also 16 Mute Swans. They also had seen 7 Yellowhammers on the land as they drove round Loch Gorm.

Peter today had been over at Bowmore and on his way home stopped at Gartmain, he counted the following birds from there... 66 Pale bellied Brent Geese; 102 Barnacle Geese, 37 Red-breasted Mergansers and 65 Wigeon. A walk along the sand at Uiskentuie provided 56 Turnstone mixed in with about 45 Ringed Plover.

This morning, we had a ringtail Hen Harrier fly past here, and also last night the Sparrowhawk was out sitting on a fence post, as long it says that far away from the wee birds I do not mind... 

Saturday 10th November

Yesterday was the last full day on Islay for this visit for Mike Bell and also the Bolton birders... Many thanks for all your birds folks... Not to be outdone, no, I have not gone without their sightings from Friday... the Bolton birders had seen 200 Whoopers on the merse at Bridgend and a juv. White tailed Eagle was also present there as well. Over at Keills, they counted 6 Brambling among the Chaffinch flock there. They also saw the 2 Golden Eagles out from Storakaig. Over at Bun an Uisg, at the edge of Bowmore, 34 Scaup were sheltering up from the wind, as were 16 Pale bellied Brent at Carnain. Mike made the most of the windy day as well, a bonus as he should have gone back home yesterday, but had to delay his trip on the ferry as it had ben cancelled... On Loch Skerrols, Mike counted 32 Mute Swans, 4 Whoopers, 98 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 29 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, a Moorhen, a Heron, a Grey Wagtail with 20 Siskins seen in the Alders there as well. He saw an imm. White tailed Eagle up towards Octovullin with an adult Golden Eagle seen over Scarrabus. Close to Skerrols House, Mike saw a male Merlin. Up the East side of Loch Gruinart, he had 400 Dunlin, while on the fields at Craigens, 1,550 Golden Plover and also 350 Lapwing seen. Along the flats at Gruinart, he had a flock of 220 Linnets. Along the road, his "friend" the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again!!! On the barley stubbles at Coull, the Whoopers were up to 120 in total while the Starling mumeration came to 1,500 birds. Down on Machir Bay, he saw 42 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 3 Turnstone and 10 Chough. Coming back up from Machir Bay, down at the Coastguards' a female Merlin zipped across the road in front of his car!!   Thanks again for your birds folks....

This morning, Martin had walked from Bridgend down along the River Sorn to where it joins Loch Indaal. Martin saw the following birds, a pair of Bullfinch, 12 Siskins,  a pair of Goldeneye, a Peregrine Falcon, 26 Wigeon and also 2 Whoopers. Back home at Glenegedale, Martin had a Sparrowhawk and a Treecreeper along with the usual Blue Tits and Coal Tits in his garden. Up here today in our garden, the Sparrowhawk was perched up on the fence while the Brambling was still along with our "wee" flock of 47 Chaffinches!!

Friday 9th November

Just as well that I have got some sightings up my sleeve from yesterday. The weather has not been that great here today, ferries cancelled with heavy, dirty squally showers in the mix as well as the wind huffing and puffing as well...

Back on Wednesday, the Bolton birders had seen 6 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, 2 Turnstone and they also counted 30 Dunlin at "smelly corner". Yesterday, they had seen a female Merlin as they drove up towards Rockside, and also 2 distant Golden Eagle were seen out over Gleann Osamail.. Over the moorland they saw 2 different ringtail Hen Harriers. Over behind Kilmeny, they had a Sparrowhawk, and past Storakaig 3 Golden Eagles. Down at Mulindry and towards Ballytarsin, 400 Whoopers were present. Mike Peacock had seen a male and a female Pochard on Loch Skerrols. Also yesterday,  James  had 2 Brambling, as well as a Golden Eagle on the reserve at Gruinart while up at Sanaigmore, he saw a Merlin. Mike Bell yesterday,  had counted 104 Whoopers at Rockside with a further 117 at Sunderland. He also had counted 240 Rock Doves at Sunderland. A walk from the car park at Bridgend up to wards Octovullin was quite productive...a total of 140 Redwing seen, 26 Fieldfare, 65 Skylarks, 450 Chaffinch along with 2 Brambling noted up close to Octovullin. Raptors/ birds of prey seen included an imm. White tailed Eagle and a Raven picking a carcass, a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier, an adult and also a imm. Golden Eagle, Mike also counted 180 Woodpigeons and he also saw the 2 Pochard on Loch Skerrols as well. On a drive from Ballygrant along the Glen road, he saw another adult and an imm. Golden Eagle in the air up past Knocklearoch while out past Storakaig another Golden Eagle away out over the hills. He also saw 65 Redwing and 3 Fieldfare at Barr Farm with 45 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare down at Cattadale. At Gruinart, on the floods, Mike counted  2,150Teal, 165 Wigeon, 65 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 9 Blackwits, 1,500 Golden Plover and a ringtail. On his way back to his cottage, Mike had a male Hen Harrier at Carnduncan and then another seen past Ballinaby and then a ringtail just before Coull road end. Up at Coull, in at the farm steading, Mike had a Starling mumeration of around 1,000 birds in all

Tuesday 22nd October

Many thanks to Michal and James for writing the blog over the last 10 days or so while I have been away on the mainland.

Carl Reavey had  heard a Great spotted Woodpecker calling in Port Charlotte on Sunday, yesterday, Carl had seen the Little Egret flying low out over Loch Indaal, from his office window in Bruichladdich. Visiting birder, Ciaran Hatsell, one the team from Fair Isle Bird Obs, yesterday had 2 GND, 1 RTD, 3 R B Merganser and 2 Goldeneye in Port Ellen Bay. over the  cottage where he is staying in, a flyover of a mixed flock of Thrushes including 2 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, 28 Fieldfare, and 3 Blackbird. Also seen were 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.  A walk round the Oa produced a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine with kill, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. A mixed flock of finches there included 37 Twite, 3 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch and 3 Reed Bunting. Michal had been up at Ardnave yesterday, on Ardnave Loch he counted 38 Whoopers, 21 Mute, 53 Greylag, 38 Teal, 1 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck and 7 Goldeneye. Also up on Ardnave, Michal had 136 Whitefronts, 57 Golden Plover, 200 Starling, a Buzzard, and also 39 Lapwing. Out on Nave Island, 37 Oystercatcher and 35 Shag were present. Today, on the floods at Gruinart, Toby Green saw a Green winged Teal amongst the flock of around 150 Teal. Toby was the visitor who saw the Little Egret earlier this week at Machir Bay.

Thursday 17th November

James saw 16 whooper swans, peregrine and a water rail on the reserve and pochard on Ardnave Loch. 7 whooper swans were seen flying over Loch Indaal heading south. Yesterday Mandy saw 7 red-legged partridges at Carrabus, male hen harrier at Ballimartin, dubchick at Loch Skerrols and 5 whooper swans at Gartmain.

Wednesday 11th December

Another good day over here again for the time of year, with the temperature in double figures... This afternoon, Mary had been up at Ardnave where she saw a Merlin out over the dunes, also there were 7 Ravens, a Buzzard and 2 Hooded Crows. Back down on Ardnave Loch, Mary counted 65 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 10 Wigeon, 9 Goldeneye, 1 Heron, 1 Pochard, 39 Whoopers including 3 juveniles and a family group of 2 Mute with 2 youngsters. There were also a further 2 Hooded Crows present there as well. Over the reserve at Gruinart James saw a Golden Eagle, while down at Blackrock he counted a group of 53 Pale bellied Brents.

Saturday 30th November

Visiting wildlife photographer, Marcus Conway sent through some sightings he had yesterday, at Bruichladdich, Purple Sandpiper were present. Up at Ardnave, Marcus had a Pochard present on the loch there, a Hen Harrier and also 25 Twite were also seen, while over at Bunnahabhain, a Black throated Diver was in the Sound of Islay. Today Ed, who is over doing work on behalf of WWT into the Greenland Whitefronts, had a quick scan along the shore at Bruichladdich with Purple Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling and some Pipits noted. Earlier on, in the bay at Port Charlotte, Ed had a GND. He was also saying that he has been listening to Starlings mimicing other birds, with one the other day trying to be a Barnie...The other day, I heard that the large flock of Starlings down at Gretna had caused a power outage when they landed on the overhead power lines!!!

Sun 13th November 2011

Had a trip to Loch Skerrols today, great weather and lots of birds- no American wigeon, 3 pochard and 4 gadwall. At Loch Gruinart a golden eagle flew over the reserve at lunch time.

Fri 19th Feb

This image of an Otter was kindly sent in to me today by a visitor over on Islay on holiday. He also said that he had seen the Little Egret on the floods at the reserve at Gruinart, and also present was a Water rail and further on he saw a Woodcock. Down on the foreshore at Bruichladdich, he had seen 6 Purple Sandpiper as well as 6 Snipe.

George had 2 Pochard and 7 Whooper Swan up at Ardnave yesterday, and today there were 60 Scoter in Loch Indaal off Bruichladdich.

Thurs 22nd Oct

More Whoopers coming through again today, 34 adults on Ardnave while down on one of the lochans at Loch Gorm, there was a group of 25, comprising of 16 adult and 9 youngsters, and on the other lochan were 2 adults and 4 young.

Back to Ardnave, and our friends had 1 Dabchick, 2 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck with a ringtail Hen Harrier over the back of the loch. At Traigh Nostaig, there were 90 Twite, with a Great Northern Diver offshore. Back onshore were 4 Bar tailed Godwits along with Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Turnstone. Later on and they had 36 Golden Plover down at the coal yard. I forgot to say that they had seen a Treecreeper in Ballygrant Woods and also down at Kildalton, also at both places, Long tailed Tits had been observed.

Mon 19th Oct

This in an image of a Brindled Ochre Moth, sent in by Danny Arnold who was staying in the cottages last week. Danny was one of our "visiting birders" who gave me some of his sightings while he was here. He caught a total of 12 different species of Moths in his Moth trap during his stay. Thanks for that Danny.

Last night just at the darkening, there were 8 Red Deer at Sunderland in a grass field alongside the road. Later on, while coming home there was a Barn Owl perched on a fence post further along the road. Today, there were 18 Goldfinch down near to the old lime kiln below Foreland House.

This afternoon, James was up at Ardnave and had a total of 110 Greenland Whitefronts arriving in 3 separate groups in off the sea. He also had 3 groups of Whoopers too, 11 on Ardnave Loch, 20 on the reserve at Gruinart and a further 9 flying over his house. Also on Ardnave Loch were 3 Pochard and a Goldeneye, while on one of the beaches there were 9 Chough and 35 Twite.

Catherine just phoned in with a Barn Owl at Woodside at Gruinart this evening, while this afternoon she had a Golden Eagle between the Kilchoman School and Loch Gorm.

Thurs 16th Oct

Although some Whooper Swans have already been seen already, certainly there were larger numbers passing through and on the wing. While going over to Gruinart this morning we had 3 groups in all totaling 56. Our friends, also in the morning had 8 over Machir Bay, 74 in Loch Gruinart, and 19 up at Ardnave Loch. After lunch they saw 16 down on the lochans beside Loch Gorm, and 51 resting up in a stubble field at Rockside. They also had a male Pochard and 4 Tufted Duck at Ardnave. On Loch Indaal, at Bruichladdich there were 6 Common Scoter, and just before returning home they had a really close sighting of a male Hen Harrier out quartering its ground.

The past few days, James has been over on Oronsay, and he was in touch earlier this evening with some sightings. Today, he had been having Whoopers flying South towards Islay, a group of 16 and another 9 later on. Also seen flying towards here were several Greenland Whitefronts, a Merlin and some Redwing. Earlier on in the week, James had 8 Great Northern Divers calling to each other, 2 Red throated Divers, a Sparrowhawk and 23 Golden Plover. He also had a good view of an Otter catching and later eating a fish close at hand. On Oronsay, he had 40 Grey Seal Pups on shore and reckons that there are around 300 pups over on Seal Island just off Oronsay. JRH