Saturday 19th November

Mark and Alison had a swallow near Lagavulin, and then a good old Islay WTE day, with 4 imm at Loch Indaal, 2 at The Oa and 2 more at Ardmore, with an adult over Bridgend in the afternoon to give them a bit of variety. 

BOTD goes to this waxwing in a garden in Port Charlotte. First Islay record of this year, I think?

pic c/o John Livingstone

Lastly, a belated sighting from Friday of a common swift from Stuart Graham at Port Wemyss, per David Wood. Given the date and other recent UK records, there's a chance this was a pallid swift. Keep those eyes peeled!

Thanks to all the above. 

Friday 18th November

8 woodcock at least around the reserve at Gruinart, plus 6 hen harriers at a communal roost site in the NW Rhinns. 

Mark and Alison Agnew continued their Islay adventure with "Early morning dog walk: Water Rail flew from the marsh near our holiday cottage at Lyrabus south of Gruinart. Loch Indaal, viewing from Blackrock to Port Charlotte:

c. 7 Slav Grebe

c. 10 G N Diver

c. 12 RT Diver

2 LT Duck

12 C Scoter

A few Goldeneye etc

Loch Skerrols had a few Tufted, Goldeneye. Most of the Teal were sheltered on the banks. E side of Loch Gruinart late pm: Imm male Hen Harrier, Purple Sandpiper. A young W T Eagle was flying W to E along the coast as we returned to our cottage towards dusk so we managed to get it on our holiday home list "

 

pic from Neil McMahon

Angharad had a pod of dolphins in Port Ellen bay in the morning. And that's yer lot. Thanks to all. 

Thursday 17th November

pic c/o Neil McMahon

5 barnacle geese were dead at Loch Gruinart this morning. They were swabbed for bird flu and we await the results, but it is probable that they will test positive. The advice hasn't changed - report dead wild birds to DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77, and do not touch or approach sick or dying birds. More information at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu  

In more cheerful news, visitors Mark and Alison have just arrived for their first ever Islay visit and seem to be enjoying it, reporting "Ardnave Point: 12 Chough, 50 Twite,45 Ringed Plover, 50 Sanderling, 3 Reed Bunts. Ardnave loch: 6 Goldeneye, 2 Little grebe. Road to Gruinart: 2 young W T Eagle tussling together headed off N. Gruinart: 2 WT Eagle on sands soon after those above so we believe different. Also 2 young Golden eagle. 18 Whooper S. 9 Grey plover. Loch gorm this afternoon 24 Tufted duck, 5 pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Little grebe". 

Stuart had 3 WTE and 2 goldies at Gruinart, 3 species of diver on Loch Indaal, plus LT ducks, slav grebes, common scoters and an otter. 

Mary (remember her?) gets BOTD with a water rail at Octofad. 

That's all, thanks very much to everyone above for contributing. 

Wednesday 16th November

MARY?! MARY?! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARY?! 

I'm starting to think that Mary might have left to start her own bird blog. 

Anyway, Stuart had a few hundred fieldfare and redwing at The Oa, plus twite, 3 golden eagles, chough, peregrine and merlin. Louise had a jack snipe on Jura. Mary-Ann had 3 WTE at Kildalton. 

pic c/o Neil McMahon

More importantly, Malcolm was in touch to confirm yesterday's parsley ID and to point out the inadequacies in my mushroom knowledge. They were, of course, button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). 

Thanks to all

Tuesday 15th November

Mary is still on strike, so unfortunately that means more sausage chat. Parsley seems to be the consensus opinion for the unidentified herb, so that's that mystery solved. 

BOTD without doubt yesterday was Stuart's yellow-browed warbler in Port Charlotte. Stuart's other highlights from a busy day were 3 WTE, marsh harrier, 3 greenshank and little egret at Gruinart, and 2 black throated, 5 red throated and 10+ great northern divers on Loch Indaal in the afternoon. Also present there were 40+ common scoter and 10 slav grebes. Kingfisher and 3 purple sands near Bowmore. 

pic by Neil McMahon

James had a flock of 30 snipe, 3 gadwall, 32 whoopers, 1100 teal and 450 whitefronts at Gruinart.

Monday 14th November

David Double D Dinsley had 3 whooper swans at Loch Kinnabus, and that was it for bird records. 

Fortunately, we have one of the nation's foremost ornithologists resident on the island, with over 50 years of goose surveying and several books to his name. He sent us 5 sausages, 3 mushrooms and some unidentified herbs - any opinions as to their ID very welcome. Thanks Malcolm!

Sunday 13th November

 Not a sausage to report today, I'm afraid.  

photo by Neil McMahon