Saturday 3rd October 

A mainly southwest and quite strong breeze with the occasional heavy shower.

Rogan W was out early, finding 13 Light-bellied Brent on Loch Indaal between Bridgend and Bowmore, with 183 Wigeons, 3 Turnstones, 2 Knots, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Cormorants in front of the Gaelic College, as well as a White-tailed Eagle having its breakfast out on the flats. On his way round the head of the loch, he found a flock of 27 Goldfinches at Carnain, with a Red-thoated Diver offshore, and 12 Common Scoter at Blackrock, just 2 of which were female. On the way to Gruinart, he saw a ringtail Hen Harrier and 7 snipe, before reaching his target, the Great White Egret, which was still present, along with 6 Shovelers, 2 Pintails and a Little Grebe, plus the Glossy Ibis, a male Hen Harrier and 2 Moorhens. 

Around midday, Cathy Earle saw the resident Whooper Swan, which has a wing condition and has been at Gruinart for some years now. Visitor Jeff was happy to find the Great White Egret later in the day, and also watched a Peregrine hunting Lapwing, an Osprey flying low over the reserve as well as a sparrowhawk. Earlier in the day he had seen a Merlin near Carnduncan and a Kestrel at Saligo, then on the east side of Loch Gruinart he saw another Merlin, as well as Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Little Egrets, and, finally, a Red-throated Diver at Uiskentuie and a Swallow west of Port Charlotte.

The Great White Egret obliged Rogan by posing for this photo. 

 

 

Friday 2nd October

A strong southerly wind with quite a lot of rain in the middle of the day.

Quite a busy day on the birding front, starting with Louise M seeing 10 Ravens sitting on and flying around the telecoms mast at Craighouse, Jura. Then, still in the morning, David D reported 7 Whooper Swans on Loch Kinnabus, clearly newly arrived migrants, while he also noted a Corncrake still present on the farm. About 2 hours later, Ed B saw 7 Whooper Swans dropping in at Ballivicar, clearly the same birds now needing to feed. In between, Rogs had a Common Sandpiper at Loch Ballygrant.

Billy Stitchell's garden at Caol Ila this morning held 4 BlueTits, 2 Lesser Redpolls, a Robin, 6 Great Tits, several House Sparrows and a Grey Wagtail 

Bird of the day was undoubtedly the Great White Egret spotted by Ctahy Earle from the South Hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart around the middle of the day. She didn't have her camera with her but managed the photo below showing the Egret beside a Grey Heron. In the late afternoon, it was joined by two Little Egrets.

Elsewhere, Mary McR saw 25 Golden Plovers at Claddach, Rogs saw a female Hen Harrier at Loch Lossit, Teresa May reported a White-tailed Eagle near Craigens Cottage, Gruinart, while Clive McK counted 23 Greenshanks on Loch Gruinart, one short of the Islay record, as well as noting a sudden increase in Red-breasted Mergansers, up from the usual 8-9 to 22. He also saw 7 Little Egrets.

Here's Cathy's photo of the Great White Egret. It may not be of the standard we usually try and post here, but the bird is unmistakable. Note the Grey Heron just to its left.

 

 

Thursday 1st October

Weather very similar to yesterday, but basically drier, with light to moderate winds from a generally southerly direction.

Cathy Earle  and Rogan W. both noted male Hen Harriers as they birded across the island today - one between Portnahaven and Kilchiaran, the other near the airport. Mary R. saw a Grey Wagtail at Gleann near Octofad then a couple of White-tailed Eagles at Uiskentuie. Clive McK. up at Gruinart  confirms the late nesting House Martin still with a single fledgling plus 4 Mistle Thrushes and 8 Brent Geese out on the flats. Ed B. saw a further 3 Brent Geese at Port Ellen and in the evening Rogan counted 22 Turnstone, 9 Knot and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers from the Gaelic College.

However, James H. scored the best birds of the day up at RSPB Gruinart from the North Hide where he saw either another or the same lingering Glossy Ibis, and a strong supporting cast of 3 Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Gadwall, 150 Wigeon, 21 Shoveler, 40 Pintail and 1000+ Teal. Clearly the RSPB Floods and hides are back on form again after the earlier autumn period when they have to be drained to cut back emergent vegetation and get them prepared for the winter arrival of wildfowl.

Wednesday 30th September

The strong winds reduced to a moderate southerly and the sun shined a bit more, though there were a few sporadic showers of rain.

David D. noticed a record on Facebook of a Turtle Dove reported at Kilchoman Distillery yesterday - quite a good run of records of this species on Islay this autumn.

Today Rogan W. had the pleasure of getting 2 White-tiled Eagles on his "garden list" at Dunlossit this morning, followed by 3 Cormorants, a pair of Tufted Ducks and a family party of 4 Little Grebes on Loch Ballygrant. Visiting birder Frank Cavanagh returned to the island this morning seeing a Leach's Petrel from the ferry. Cathy Earle saw a Golden Eagle at the NW end of Loch Indaal and Clive McK. counted 22 Greenshanks in Loch Gruinart this afternoon which is one of the 4 highest tallies ever for the species here.

Thanks to Billy Stitchell who sent in some photos of birds putting Rowan berries to good use to brighten the blog - 

Tuesday 29th September

Very strong SE winds all day, with lots of cloud but no rain.

Few records coming in during such dodgy weather, but Clive McK. noted 7 Little Egrets at Bun an Uillt on Loch Gruinart - the wintering population building up. He also recorded White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier and Peregrine there. Rogan W. had a male Hen Harrier near Islay Airport, and 3 Curlew up at Ballygrant. Cathy Earle had male and female Hen Harrier at Gruinart alog with small flocks of Twite.  Mary Redman had another White-tailed Eagle low over Claddach spooking 30 Mallards.

Monday 28th September

Another moderately pleasant day with light southerly winds and a lot of sunshine.

Mary R. reported 9 Chough with her down at Claddach this morning along with 3 Rooks which she notes are less common than Choughs down there! Rogan W. got a high count of 11 Grey Herons on Lily Loch, while David d. confirmed the first large gathering of the autumn/winter of Twite - 110 at Upper Killeyan accompanied by Linnets, Reed Buntings and Skylarks. He also noted Peregrine and Sparrowhawk there.

Clive McK. and visitors Ken and Sarah White had up to 3 White-tailed Eagles at Gruinart and later in the day Ken watched a "stand-off" between a Golden Eagle and immature White-tailed Eagle where the road up to Kildalton and Loch Gorm turns off from the coastal A847 at Traigh an Luig plus relocated the leucistic Starling in a flock at Ardnave. Clive noted 36 Brent Geese at Gruinart today and visitor Cathy Earle had Snipe, Peregrine and Buzzard there in the evening.

Below are some fine photos taken by Ken of the Twite at The Oa RSPB.

Sunday 27th September

Light to moderate southerly winds continued to bring a lot of rain at times throughout the day.

Despite the rain there were one or two sightings sent in including 2-3 Choughs at Saligo (Lou Austin) and Claddach (Mary R.). All other records came from Rogan W. who seems impervious to the awful weather! He counted 27 Chough at Ardnave, 2 Golden Eagles at Loch Gruinart, 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Carnain, 4 Snipe and a White-tailed Eagle at Craigens finishing up at 8pm with a Tawny Owl back at home at Dunlossit.