Monday 21st September

The day started grey and drizzly, but cleared up to sunny, though with a persistent westerly/south-westerly wind.

Clive Mck reported that, yesterday, he counted 57 Choughs at Ardnave, the most he has seen there for some years. He also saw 2 Greenland Wheatears, while were 45 Linnets feeding on the weeds of Sea Sandwort. Also yesterday, he noted that there was a flock of c.300 Linnets on the headland overlooking Frenchman's Rocks.

At lunchtime, David D counted 35 Twite at the RSPB's Oa carpark, with a Grey Wagtail nearby, as well as, a little later, at Lower Killeyan, a Greenland Wheatear and a Kestrel. The final observation of the day was by Clive McK of 30 Light-bellied Brent Geese leaving Loch Gruinart and heading south.

Clive found himself reminiscing about the "best ever" seawatch at Frenchman's Rocks by him and Tristan ap Rheinallt, who carried out systematic seawatching there over several years in the 1990s and 2000s. This was on 21st September 2004, from 7am to 3.30pm, when they recorded 8 Sabine's Gulls, 143 Leach's Storm-petrels, 16 European Storm Petrels, 3 Grey Phalaropes, 76 Arctic Terns, 172 Red-throated Divers, 1,247 Light-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Pomarine Skua, plus large numbers of Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets, all flying south in a WNW near-gale, with a grand total of  5,288 individual birds of 26 species. If you want to find out more about seawatching at Frenchman's Rocks, you'll find a detailed account, written by Tristan, in Peter Robert's book (details just to the right).

Sunday 21st September 

Mostly dry, with light to moderate west to northwest winds and the very occasional shower.

Light-bellied Brent Geese continue to arrive, with Clive McK reporting 22 flying into Loch Gruinart from the north in the morning and resting on the tidal island in the middle of the loch, followed by another 11 joining them about 20 minutes later, while, in between, an Osprey was hovering in front of Bun an Uillt.

Just after midday, Rogs heard a Chiffchaff singing from the trees close to the museum in Port Charlotte, and a little later saw 4 Yellowhammers close to Bun an Uillt, while small groups of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were moving south up the loch. In the late afternoon, James H saw 2 Whimbrel south of Bruichladdich, and David D passed on a reported sighting of a Glossy Ibis at Laphroaig.

 

Saturday 19th September

Still quite a strong westerly for most of the day, but with only a few showers.

Clive McK carried out a marathon seawatch at Frenchman's Rocks, starting at 07.30 and carrying on to 14.30. He was rewarded with high counts of 74 Red-throated Divers and 9 Leach's Petrels, as well as 2 Grey Phalaropes, 2 Storm Petrels, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 28 Light-bellied Brent Geese, plus good movements of Kittiwakes, auks, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets. 

The only other records were of a Merlin at Kinnabus (seen by David D), 62 Brent Geese at Loch Gruinart (James H), a dark-phase adult Arctic Skua flying south up Loch Gruinart in the afternoon (Clive McK), and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving south down the Sound of Islay (Rogs). 

I can't resist adding one of my own photographs of a Grey Phalatope, though taken in Svalbard, not on Islay. There was one nearly as colourful as this one at Ballinaby in June 1986, demonstrating that the species was, of course, named when in its grey winter plumage.

  

Friday 18th September

A rather wet day with a westerly wind which, though, was less strong than the last two days, and, unsurprisingly, not many bird sightings.

Light-bellied Brent Geese were on the move in mid-morning, with David D reporting the first of the day, 24 moving south close in at Lower Killeyan, The Oa, and Fiona Morton had a single one on the beach  by the Maltings, Port Ellen. A little later, Clive McK watched two flocks, 23 and 26, fly into Loch Gruinart and rest there for a while. He also saw an Osprey catching a fish.

Around midday, Chris Adler found the Glossy Ibis still in the Eorrabus/Esknish area, while David Hunter, on his way home, saw 12 Manx Shearwaters from the ferry.

 

 

 

 

Thursday 17th September

 A very blustery day of strong westerly winds, bright sunshine between heavy rain showers.

Clive McK. started the day with 2 Great Skuas flying up Loch Indaal and heading overland southwards. Later he and Fiona Morton braved the horrible weather to do a sea-watch at Frenchman's Rocks with moderate results: best of the bunch being 3 each of Storm and Leach's Petrels plus singles of  Arctic Tern, Arctic and Great Skuas and Little Gull, but surprisingly few of the usual species such as auks and Manxies, though there were 291 Gannets.  Billy Stitchell also noted activity from Gannets in the Sound of Islay between Caol Ila and Inver on Jura with 20+ actively fishing there. Further notes from the sea came in from David W. who saw 3 Leach's Petrels on the ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig, though these were all around West Loch Tarbert and Gigha. Again, he commented on the small numbers of the commoner species.

On dry land, I was around Loch Gruinart during the morning, but the stormy weather meant very little of note being observed. However, Ed B. found a Tufted Duck on the loch at Cornabus and David Hunter did particularly well on the far side of the island. He found a Turtle Dove at Ardtalla (photo below) and a Great Crested Grebe in Claggain Bay - both distinctly uncommon here.

Chris Aller had 2 Golden Eagles at Killinallan and Billy Stitchell sent in a photo of one taken at Knocklearach.

Wednesday 16th September

Another quite cool day of rain showers between sunny spells.

David W. was on the ferry today and reports a Puffin and Storm Petrel off Gigha. Clive McK. had 2 Sandwich Terns on Loch Gruinart, while David D. found a drake Scaup on Loch Kinnabus - not a usual location for the species. He also had a female Merlin at Kinnabbus Farm.

Rogan W. was out and about again today finding a male Hen Harrier near the airport then relocating yesterday's Glossy Ibis near Esknish - not far from where first seen yesterday. (There are now reports of 14-16 Glossy Ibis on Tiree!)

Tuesday 15th September

 A day of blustery WNW winds, sunshine and squally showers.

First reports in today were about raptors: Fiona Morton watched a sub-adult Golden Eagle at Coullabus and White-tailed Eagles at Saligo and Bridgend flats. David Hunter had a hunting female Hen Harrier east of Loch Gorm. Martin A. later reported 5 Barnacle Geese on Loch Indaal at Whin Park - presumably the same small group that arrived a day or two back?

Then things got more exciting, with Rogan W. noticing a fly-over Glossy Ibis at Keills as he drove past - only the 5th recent/modern record for Islay, the others being in 2018, 2020, 2025 and last month. There is apparently an influx of the species into the UK and northwards to Scotland happening at the moment with sightings as far away as St. Kilda!