Monday 2nd February

As forecast, the east to south-east wind quickly returned, though so far only of moderate strength, plus one or two light showers.

The only records came from Gary T., who will definitely be missed when he leaves the island. In the morning, he watched a murmuration of 100+ Starlings at Finlaggan, and saw 4 Golden Plover flying down the loch, as well as a Barn Owl quartering the ground west of the visitor centre. On returning home, he added to the recent Yellowhammer records by having 4 visit his bird table.

Saturday 31st January & Sunday 1st February

The easterly wind blew all day Saturday and finally relented on Sunday when it was actually almost calm during the afternoon, though the relief was short-lived and the easterlies are set to return.

First, a Friday observation which I overlooked of the first Glaucous Gull of the winter, a juvenile among the gulls at the Gartbreck tip, seen by Gary T.

No records were submitted on Saturday, but, on Sunday morning, Dave W. saw 4 Bullfinches at Lenavore on The Oa, quite a long way from what one would regard as typical habitat for this species. Then, in the afternoon, Clive McK. photographed a very pale White-tailed Eagle which was sat waiting for a Barnacle Goose that it had hit in mid-air to reappear from the rushes into which it tumbled. His highlights of the day were a very unexpected flock of 45 Meadow Pipits in a field below his house at Craig Mhor, and a brief burst of song from a Mistle Thrush in Gruinart Wood, perhaps celebrating the (temporary) disappearance of the wind. 

Also on Sunday, following Friday's report of about 6 Yellowhammers just outside Bowmore, Billy S. had 4 in his garden at Caol Ila, 3 of which are shown below.                

                                            

 

Friday 30th January

The easterly wind continued all day carrying just one or two small showers.

Just one bird record was received, from Fiona McG, but an interesting one of about 6 Yellowhammers just outside Bowmore close to the Cruach turning. This species is resident on Islay with low tens of pairs, very scattered in both farmland and in coastal gullies. It is thought to have declined as a breeding species in the last 20-30 years, as it has in the whole of Argyll, while small flocks, like this one, can turn up in winter almost anywhere, sometimes on their own, sometimes in flocks of buntings and finches.

And here's a Gordon Langsbury photograph.

 

Wednesday 28th & Thursday 29th January

The easterly winds continue unrelentingly, though at least the last two days have been a bit drier than Tuesday when 25 mm (an inch in old money) fell at the airport, and there has even been a bit of sunshine.

On Wednesday, Clive McK watched a white-winged Barn Owl hunting over Moine Mhor, RSPB Loch Gruinart, in broad daylight. As he commented, it was doubtless very hungry after the last few days of weather. On Thursday, Mary McR saw a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles on the Rinns between Octofad and Ellister and a Sparrowhawk at Octofad, while the usual three Choughs were at Claddach.

First-time visitor, Peter Emery, with a birding friend, had a good three days here the previous weekend and has sent in some records, plus a promise to come back!

On Sunday 18th, a Golden Eagle over Port Ellen bay, and another on a ridge close to Port Charlotte. Loch Indaal held Red- and Black-throated Divers, a Long-tailed Duck, a raft of Common Scoters, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Light-bellied Brents, while there were Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and Goldeneye on Loch Skerrols. A mixed thrush flock near Gleannagaoidh contained Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare.

On Monday 19th, there were 4 or 5 White-tailed Eagles on the sand in Loch Gruinart and up to 8 Whooper Swans on the RSPB reserve, and a male and female Hen Harrier were quartering the moors to the west of the road from L. Gruinart to Ardnave.

On Tuesday 20th,  there was a Golden Eagle and, a bit later, 2 White-tailed, on fields opposite Kilnaughton cemetery, c. 20 Twite at the RSPB carpark on The Oa, a Merlin on the way to the American Monument, and 2 Gannets off Kintra.

Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th January

Very little to report other than nasty weather as Storm Chandra moved through bringing gale force easterly winds and plenty of rain.

The only bird news comes from Malcolm O. who had a record count of 104 House Sparrows in his garden during the RSPB Garden Birdwatch  session on Sunday.

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January

Another couple of days of quite blustery winds from an easterly direction. Saturday was fairly bright and dry, but Sunday was back to grey and rainy. 

On Saturday Gary T. was birding in the Finlaggan area and had Golden and White-tailed Eagles patrolling the hilltops there. He also watched Crossbills in the deciduous trees, picking at moss and lichen on the branches  at Finlaggan house which prompted some discussion about why they regularly go there and do that.

Talking of Gary T. and his imminent departure from Islay, regular visiting birder Ken Reeves sent in this message and photo of Gary to the blog:

"A big thank you to Gary Turnbull for his friendship and help on our many winter trips to the wonderful Islands of Islay & Jura. We all wish him the best for the future. Cheers Gary from myself, Steve Lister, Keith Tinworth, Richard Cross, Chris Mills and all the members of Burbage Birders travel group!"

Today's birding notes come from Mary R. who counted 5 White-tailed Eagles between Octofad and Bruichladdich.  She also had her regular Merlin sighting near Uiskentuie and a good find of Kingfisher at Bowmore Harbour.

I was sent photos of, presumably the same odd Swan Goose hybrid that reappeared near Port Charlotte.

Friday 23rd January

Strong easterly winds overnight and for much of the day bringing plenty of rain and cloud to start with but brighter towards the end of the day.

The only bird news today comes from Louise Muir on Jura who had received a report of a Nuthatch near Craighouse this afternoon. This species was still regarded as a vagrant in Argyll in 2003, but has since spread as a breeding bird into the county from Cowal, to most of North Kintyre and parts of Mull. There is a single previous record for Jura, noted in the BTO 2007-2011 Winter Atlas and presumably the same as a bird reported at Jura House on 10 December 2008. Similarly, there is just one record on Islay of a single bird at Bunnahabhain on 2 June 2020 and David Jardine messaged to say that the first for Colonsay was found last December. So it is a species on the move into Argyll, on the increase and may, one day, colonise these islands, as did Great Spotted Woodpecker in 2013.