Thursday 30 April 2015
Thursday 30th April
The sun has come out again and all the birds are singing. Yesterday a Golden Eagle over Gruinart and a Corncrake scuttling about. Today whilst out counting breeding waders I had a squeeling Water Rail, 2 Hen Harriers and 20 Black Tailed Godwits. The cold snap seems to have dumped a load of Snipe on the fields - they are everywhere and many are chipping and drumming.
Tuesday 28 April 2015
Tuesday 28th April
A dreich sort of a day, may be it is just as well we cannot "decide" who gets what weather, come to think of it, there is a General Election next week, vote for the Sunshine Party... not that I am standing anyway!!George and Pat Jackson are over for a few days (not our usual George from Bruichladdich!) While waiting for the ferry to leave from Kennacraig, they saw a pair of Black Guillemots entering one of the port holes where the anchor chains come through... I wonder whether it is the same pair that raised a brood there last year!! Later, on Sunday evening a Whinchat flew into the window where they were staying... it recovered and flew off the next morning, none the worse for wear. On Monday, they had seen a male Hen Harrier close to Coulabus. The Rochdale birders yesterday had seen 11 Whimbrel at Gruinart, a Peregrine over the reserve, along at Ballinaby, there was a flock of 270 Golden Plovers, along the road, a Mallard with her brood of 12. A male Hen Harrier was seen at Foreland with another seen at Storakaig. Near to Storakaig there was an Iceland Gull. 2 Whinchat were spotted close to Rockside. Yesterday, James had (£Blackwits on the floods in front of the old hide. Tonight was the Bird nerds meeting at Gruinart with 5 visitors, including one from Oz, Great to meet you all folks. Bob had 7 Whimbrel at Coultorsay. From the hide, we had a Lapwing along her brood, a Moorhen, several Snipe, Redshank, Blackwits, along with the other usual ducks. A pair of Garganey were reported there the other day. The Blackwits were close to the hide
Monday 27 April 2015
Monday 27th April
Another bitter day over here with squally, dirty showers some of which were sleet, others with some snow and others just ordinary rain... The other day Alistair Hucthison had seen a male Hen Harrier over the felled plantation down at Avonvoggie, with a Cuckoo in the trees across the road. Earlier in the week, he had heard a Green Spotted Woodpecker drumming away close to Eallabus just out of Bridgend. Carl had a Cuckoo at Cattadale over the weekend, with a couple of Barnies at Gruinart and a Sparrowhawk at Port Charlotte. Yesterday, Carl saw 15 Whimbrel at Blackrock.
If you are around, remember the bird nerds meeting at 6pm at the car park at Gruinart, going down to the "old hide"
Sunday 26 April 2015
Sunday 26th April
A not bad day with the weather with a beautiful sunset as I write the blog... The Rochdale birders are over for the week again and have sent some sightings from their travels today.. Down at Bruichladdich, there were 2 Purple Sandpipers present, along at the coalyard, 5 Whimbrel flew past. At Loch Tallant, a Sparrowhawk was seen. Round at Ballinaby, they heard 2 Corncrakes as well as 2 Grasshopper Warblers. Also at Ballinaby, a flock of 80 Golden Plover and around 100 Linnets along with a few Linnets. They also commented on hearing some Cuckoos on their way around Islay today.
Saturday 25 April 2015
Saturday 25th April
A cold wind here today giving the air that cool edge, and also a few showers with some hailstones in the mix as well. Yesterday morning, Peter Roberts had a pair of Bullfinches in Bridgend Woods. In the afternoon, close the pier at Bruichladdich, Peter saw 4 Black Guillemots and also 3 Red throated Divers, 2 of them were in breeding plumage. Further out on Loch Indaal, Peter had over 20 GND, a Black throated Diver in almost full breeding plumage, with a distant line of 10 Common Scoter. 3 Whimbrels flew South as well. James yesterday evening had been out with the Canoe Club from Bowmore out to below Gartbreck and had seen 7 Sandwich Terns and 8 Whimbrel, wonder what it looks like from the water rather along the actual shore like what Bob and myself see... Today, George had seen 2 Sandwich Terns on the shoreline at Bruichladdich and wondered whether they were the same pair that nested there last year. Also today, George almost had a Sparrowhawk in his house. Down below James' house this morning, there were still around 100 Barnies and a Pale bellied Brent goose on the estuary at Loch Gruinart.
Before I forget, on Tuesday evening, as it is the last Tuesday of the month, the Islay bird nerds are meeting at 6pm at the carpark at RSPB Loch Gruinart and then we will head down to the hide to see what is around, so if you are over, see you there... A completely informal meeting, so feel free to come along.
Friday 24 April 2015
Friday 24th April
It has turned out a rather dreich sort of an evening outside, with damp smurry rain falling, not a lot, enough to lay the dust and get you wet if you are not wearing a jacket. Yesterda, Steve Elis had seen a distant Golden Eagle and also a ringtail Hen Harrier on the Oa. Kilnaughton Bay and Steve had Linnet, Black throated Divers and Sandwich Terns. Along at Ardmoor, Whimbrel, Whinchat, Red breasted Merganser and Ringed Plover were present. Today, down on the Oa Dave had 2 immature Golden Eagles, a Bonxie and also a Cuckoo. No sign round here today of the Canada Geese that were present yesterday down at the Coastguards.
Thursday 23 April 2015
Thursday 23rd April
A bit cooler today, so may be just as well that I did not put my jersey away... Yesterday, we had 2 large Canada Geese amongst the Greylags which were present down at the Coastguards. James yesterday had spotted a Golden Eagle over the reserve at Gruinart, in the evening he had seen a Corncrake in his garden, Mary had heard one calling at Ardnave, with a visitor hearing another calling up behind Bruichladdich. Steve Ellis had a good day yesterday seeing a male and also a ringtail Hen Harrier on his way along the low road between Bowmore and Port Ellen. Later on he had a further 2 males on his way round Loch Gorm. This morning there were 4 Swallows outside, chattering away as they were perched up on the overhead cables!
Wednesday 22 April 2015
Wednesday 22nd April
More of the same weather again with glorious sunshine, so I managed to finish off digging over the border and hopefully dig out the weeds, no doubt there will be some of the dreaded weeds that I have missed, at least I did make the effort...Yesterday, visiting birder Steve Ellis had gone on the RSPB walk on the Oa where the highlight was seeing a distant Golden Eagle and also a Chough. At Kilnaughton Bay, Steve saw a Shag and 3 Sandwich Terns and along at Claggain Bay later on he had a Common Sandpiper, a Shag, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Red breasted Mergansers. Today Bob had a Sparrowhawk fly through his garden, Bob also had 2 Redpolls and 3 pairs of Greenfinches in his garden as well.
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Tuesday 21st April
Another day of wall to wall sunshine, with no need for a jersey at all, but it will not be put away, just in case the weather changes back, early days yet!! On Sunday, David Jardine had counted 8 BTD, 53 GND and a Slavonian Grebe on Loch Indaal, David also noted several Red throated Divers there as well. On Sunday as well, down on Kilnaghton Bay, visiting birder, Steve Ellis from Nantwich had seen 4 GND, one in full summer plumage, 4 Sandwich Terns, an Otter and some Bottle nosed Dolphins. Yesterday, Steve had a Redwing and 5 Snipe at Gruinart and up at Ardnave, he saw a male Hen Harrier, 2 Chough and a flock of Golden Plover. Yesterday we had a Merlin down towards Foreland and today there was a Sparrowhawk closer to Foreland with a Kestrel on the way home just after Rockside and before the Coastguards.
Monday 20 April 2015
Monday 20th April
A wee shower of rain through the night, but followed by a great day with a beautiful sunset as the blog goes out to the world... Some sightings from yesterday, so here goes... yesterday morning I went and acted as Bob's secretary and helped out with the odd bird here and there as we did the WeBS count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck. Our tally was 7 Shag, 1 GND, 6 Barnies, 15 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 120 Eider, 1 Red breasted Merganser, 52 Oystercatcher, 1 Barwit, 4 Redshank, 22 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 37 Golden Plover, 5 Lapwing, 4 Turnstone, 3 Sandwich Terns, 4 GBB Gull, 2 LBB Gull, 12 BH Gull, 4 C Gull and 4 Herring Gull. Off our beat but further out on Loch Indaal, there were 56 Red breasted Mergansers. In the afternoon, Bob had been along the top of Loch Indaal from the coalyard along towards Traigh an Luib seeing 2 White Wagtails, 12 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plover and 16 Turnstone, 2 of which in full summer plumage. David Formby heard a Cuckoo over at Balitarsin. Visiting birder, David Jardine, one of the committee members of the Argyll Bird Club had been over at the weekend. On Saturday, on the reserve at Gruinart, a Cuckoo and 5 Blackwits, at Bruichladdich 5 Sandwich terns were present with a House Martin and Blackcap over at Bridgend. On Sunday, David saw a Mallard with a brood of 7 ducklings on the reserve at Gruinart, with 8 White Wagtails and a Whimbrel along the top of Loch Indaal. No word of the Great White Egret, so I had better check with Gruinart tomorrow to see if anyone has seen it of late.....
Sunday 19 April 2015
Sunday 19th April
It is that time of year again, with Mary and the team from RSPB starting early shifts doing survey work... Yesterday Mary had noted "good numbers" of Lapwings on nests up at Ardnave. Up there as well, she had a Merlin as well as a flock of 230 Golden Plover. At Kilnave, Mary saw a male Hen Harrier. The sunset last night was something else , followed by a great showing of stars, earlier on we had counted 7 ships out on the West and down towards Donegal, most them were Navy boats of different flags returning from the large NATO exercise held through the week off the North West coast of Scotland. Today off Ardnave, Mary had a good mix of birds on the water including GND, BTD, RTD, Eider, Guillemots, Razorbill, Gannet and a single Great Skua, all of which proved difficult to count due to the bright sunshine... Carl reported through having seen Sandwich Terns all week off both Bruichladdich and also Port Charlotte. Today, he had a RTD off Port Charlotte, Whimbrel flying over Port Charlotte and a Chiffchaff at Bridgend.
Saturday 18 April 2015
Saturday 18th April
On the walk over the moor at Gruinart led by Mary on Thursday, they had a pair of Hen Harriers displaying, a Buzzard, large flocks of Barnies, 2 Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Yesterday, James had a Redstart on the reserve at Gruinart. Here at home this afternoon, in the glorious sunshine, in the garden a Wheatear and also 2 Swallows, and this evening I counted a flock of 26 Linnets. Bob and Martin had been over the hill from here at Kilchiaran Bay where they saw a pair of Common Sandpipers, 4 Wheatear, 20 Sand Martins inspecting nest holes and counted 9 pairs of Fulmar on nests. No word of the Egret today as our phone is the blink again, so messages through...
Friday 17 April 2015
Friday 17th April
Breaking news.... There is a Great White Egret over at RSPB Gruinart, the best place to view it is from up beside the visitor centre and look over to the extreme right in the far floods, it was actively fishing in the pools there around midday. More sightings later on as usual.. Later on now, so here we go, been a great day with lots of sightings coming through...There was a reported sighting of an albino Swallow seen the other day down at the Limekilns up past Newton out of Bridgend. One was seen there a few years ago... Also from earlier this week Joan Brown had heard a Corncrake on her croft at Cruach out of Bowmore. Yesterday, a Common Sandpiper was seen by a visitor down at Carraig Fhada at Port Ellen. Yesterday evening, whilst we were out looking at the International space Station pass by, several Snipe were heard drumming away. Earlier on, we saw a close male Hen Harrier out quartering his patch down beside Loch Gorm. This morning Jack Fleming had seen a Corncrake on the reserve at Gruinart. There seem to be more Swallows and Sand Martins around with James also seeing 2 House Martins today at Gruinart, certainly a lot of Willow Warblers around now too!!! On the walk over on Jura today, the walkers had seen a White tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle far out, a Short eared Owl took off from the track they were walking on, 2 Ravens and a Cuckoo heard at Kinuacdrach, they heard another Cuckoo close to Ardlussa on their way back to their vehicles. They also had seen 2 Adders and a Lizard out in the sun!!! James also heard a Cuckoo at Gruinart, 2 Blackwits, a count of 1690 Barnies along with 9 Whitefronts
Labels:
Common Sandpiper,
Corncrake,
Cuckoo,
Great white Egret
Thursday 16 April 2015
Thursday 16th April
Down at Portnahaven this morning, Mary had a Grasshopper Warbler. Another glorious day , great for the folk on the walks today. Armin had been on Tam's walk out from Ardlistillery and out over the hills, there was a distant Golden Eagle. They also had a Buzzard on the wing too closer to them with many Skylarks singing away. Down at Kinnabus on the Oa, Dave today had 2 Tree Sparrows, at least 4 Willow Warblers and a male Blackcap. Yesterday Margaret had a Wheatear out on top of the Sanctuary cross out towards the War graves cemetery. Also yesterday, there was a report through to Gruinart of a Grey Plover amongst the flock of Golden Plovers over at Ballinaby, but not heard any more of this sighting today.
Wednesday 15 April 2015
Wednesday 15th April
Somebody must have listened as we have had a great day with the weather for the walk over on Colonsay today, the folk that came us, well done, a great crowd of folk and the craic/ gossip was worth it too... Needless to say that the bird news is low on content, and yes I did take my bins with me! Behind the hotel and over the hill at Scalscaig, a Raven was seen with a male Hen Harrier flying past a few moments later. Over at Loch Fada, there were 3 Whoopers, in the field on the far side of the loch were some Barnies and then 2 large Canada geese flew in. Just before we reached Kiloran Bay, 2 Sand Martins flew past.
Tuesday 14 April 2015
Tuesday 14th April
A dreich sort of a day, with low cloud and swirling mist thrown into the mix, certainly no sunshine coming through, hope it is better tomorrow as I hope to head out across the water to Colonsay for the walk there tomorrow, so the entry tomorrow night could be a bit later than usual...Yesterday down the road towards Foreland House, we saw a ringtail Hen Harrier. Gary and Wendy had gone on the walk yesterday and had seen 12 Lapwing up and 2 Skylarks at Balole, a total of 20 Snipe seen over the length of the walk. Afterwards along past Uiskentuie, they had a couple of Pale bellied Brent Geese with a Red throated Diver seen further out on Loch Indaal. This morning, I had a Merlin zip across the road in front of me just after the Coastguard cottages, and this afternoon after Ballinaby another ringtail Hen Harrier was out on the wing. This morning as well, Martin spotted 2 Sandwich Terns on the rocks down at Bruichladdich.
Monday 13 April 2015
Monday 13th April
Back to wearing a jersey again, with the jacket not far away, somebody has turned the temperature down big style...Not much good if you are on our walking week, walkislay. 22 hardy souls went on the walk today and got caught in some of those squally showers! Malcolm had 11 Whoopers fly over Bruichladdich earlier on this morning. Mary had carried out the WeBs count over at Ardnave Loch where she had 4 Black headed Gulls, 4 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 11 Tufted Duck, 4 Wigeon, 4 Mallard and 2 Mute Swans. On Loch Gruinart her count was as follows, 3 GND, 1 Shag, 1 Heron, 158 Shelduck, 18 Wigeon, 18 Eider, 11 Red breasted Merganser, 174 Oystercatcher, 255 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot, 58 Sanderling, 50 Dunlin, 84 Curlew, 75 Redshank, 17 Turnstone, 58 Common Gull, 5 Black headed Gull, 5 LBB Gull, 10 GBB Gull, 39 Herring Gull and 2 Mute Swans. Here at home today, there have been over 30 Goldfinches busy on the food out for them... Fulmars have been present on the crag, but possibly they are on possible nest sites rather than a sign that we are due for some coarse weather in a few days time!!!
Sunday 12 April 2015
Sunday 12th April
A better day here today with the odd shower thrown in along with a slight edge to the air too... Bob today had 2 Pale bellied Brent geese one with rings on, down at Gortan. Also there were 3 Sand Martins and he had 3 different Snipe flushed out of the marram grass along he top of the loch. Back at Bruichladdich, 4 Purple Sandpipers were present. Gary and Wendy, the Hampshire birders are back over for the walking week. On the merse at Bridgend, there were around 200 Barnies and 6 Shelduck. Along at Bowmore, they had a raft of over 50 Eider and 8 Red breasted Merganser. Just as they came to Port Ellen, a Stoat ran across the road... On their walk out from Port Ellen, they had a male Hen Harrier, 2 Greenland whitefronts and around 1,000 Barnies. Armin is over for walkislay as well and had noted seeing a Buzzard, Ravens and also some GNDs diving into the clear seas.
Saturday 11 April 2015
Saturday 11th April
Sorry nothing of note to report this evening, and over and above that I admit to being square eyed and glued to the TV watching the Melrose Rugby Sevens tournament for the best part of 5 hours, my old stomping ground at one time with many a "happy" night spent there in the bar... So I suppose I can now change the channel to watch the golf in The States for the next 2 days, see this "retirement" it is just great... The weather is not so warm today, but after some rain last it has ben not too bad really, with the Paps of Jura wearing a white hat, so it must have had some snow sometime...
Friday 10 April 2015
Friday 10th April
There was a reported sighting of a Short eared Owl seen up behind Port Charlotte from earlier this week, but nobody else has seen it as of yet...Mary yesterday had seen a Sand Martin over the floods at Gruinart and had seen 2 Willow Warblers while on the Moorland trail. Visitors had written in the diary at the visitor centre at Gruinart of "lots of Wheatear and a Swallow up at Ardnave". Today, Mary was in touch to say that Willow Warblers were "singing everywhere". She also had seen a Swallow at the reserve, and earlier on this morning had a Sand Martin at Claddach. Around midday when coming back home, we had 4 Swallows up behind the coalyard at Gortan. Over the last few days the Lapwings here have been very noticeable with their aerial displays, often quite high up in the air, on the ground the male Pheasants are busy trying to woo their mates...there certainly appear to be more around here this Spring.
Thursday 9 April 2015
Thursday 9th april
What a suntan I am getting this week, other weeks it could be weather beaten....Yesterday, Dave and his team had carried a survey round the coast down on the Oa with a good number of returning birds seen with their tally being as follows, 5 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins, 1 Wheatear, 1 Black throated Diver, 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Peregrines and 4 Hen Harriers. Today, Dave had a Willow Warbler on the Oa. This morning there was a reported sighting of a Corncrake round at Ballinaby. Also today, Bob had seen a male Greater spotted Woodpecker over near to Eallobus and shortly after heard another one drumming away in the woods around Bridgend. This evening, Carl had seen a Sandwich Tern off Port Charlotte. Peter Gill yesterday had taken a walk out from Ballygrant down to the Sound of Islay, they had 2 Grey Wagtails just out of Ballygrant, and a Golden Eagle over the broch above Lossit Farm. Further on they had a pair of Hen Harriers, also on their walk they had heard a Tawny Owl hooting away in the middle of the day. Yesterday evening, they seen some Sand Martins and returning back into Port Charlotte, 3 Hooded crows were seen mobbing a Buzzard, and then a Golden Eagle joined in the fray... Today along the road to Gartbreck, they saw their first Kestrel of this trip. Down on the shoreline, there were 50 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin, another first. Finally up at Gruinart, they had a Willow Warbler in the scrub opposite the car park.
Wednesday 8 April 2015
Wednesday 8th April
Wonder long I can keep repeating myself, yes another great day again...Some sightings through from Mary. Yesterday morning down at Claddach, she had a "seemingly really small" Wheatear. Coming up to work, at Ellister, she saw a Buzzard carrying nesting material while at Gortan, the coalyard, 15 Whoopers were on the high tide line on Loch Indaal. On the reserve at Gruinart, Mary found a freshly built Robin's nest. Mid afternoon, there were 40 Whoopers on the flats which had just arrived as they had not been there at midday. On the floods, amongst the usual birds seen there, a pair of Dabchick were present. There appear to be fewer Geese around today, so possibly some have flown on, will try and find out that tomorrow...On the down side yesterday and now on going, is the simple matter of one of ferries breaking down yet again, so no Colonsay sailing today and down to a reduced timetable for the next couple of days, though Calmac are sending a ferry down from Oban both days to ease things a bit, then there is the big cattle sale on Saturday... On top of it all our land line has gone awol, so no phone line, wonder how long it will take before that gets sorted...watch this space!
Tuesday 7 April 2015
Tuesday 7th April
What can you say, another great day with the weather again, so no complaints on that front...Forgot to say that at the weekend there was a Peregrine out over the crag, today there was a Fulmar out along the front of the crag and this afternoon a Sparrowhawk swooped down across the garden, no doubt looking for a tasty morcel in the form of one of the wee birds that we have been feeding for most of the winter!!! Yesterday Peter Gill had counted 14 Whoopers flying North up over Loch Gruinart. Ardnave Loch held 4 Goldeneye and some Tufted Duck which proved difficult to count as they kept diving. On a walk round Ardnave Point, Peter reckons he had at least 6 Wheatears. On the East side of Loch Gruinart, he saw a ringtail Hen Harrier. Today down on the Oa, he saw a distant Golden Eagle and also 2 Chough.
Monday 6 April 2015
Monday 6th April
Another great day, so working in the garden again in the shirt sleeves, and I got the whitewash out and made a start to that job instead of planting trees and shrubs, mind you I planted some tatties in some big tubs, so we will wait and see what comes of them...We saw our first Wheatear this morning down at the Coastguards' cottages. Dave had 2 Swallows and 3 Wheatears down on the Oa today. Visiting birder, Lance had seen an Iceland gull on Loch Indaal. Today he saw another Iceland Gull on the Oa, he also had a flock of 40 Twite and a Peregrine there too. Over Port Ellen he saw 2 imm. White tailed Sea Eagles.
Sunday 5 April 2015
Sunday 5th April
What a glorious day it has been today, once the early morning mist had rolled away. I even got the jersey off and worked away out in the garden, making inroads with planting some trees and shrubs and putting guards around them as I went along so the rabbits and hares do not think that I am planting the said plants for their benefit!!! This afternoon, 10 Whooper Swans flew over and in a Northerly direction, no sign of them resting on Loch Gorm so I wonder if they have just kept on flying with the weather holding good...Back on Friday, James had seen his first Wheatear of the year, up at Ardnave. Peter Gill on Friday had gone up the East side of Loch Gruinart where he had a count of 30 Sanderling, a Greenshank and 2 Chough were present too. Over the flats he had a count of over 500 Golden Plover, and he saw 2 Wheatears. Yesterday, he heard a Greater spotted Woodpecker drumming away in Bridgend Woods. 2 Grey Wagtails and a Dipper were present along at The Woollen Mill. On the road up to Scarrabus, close to a "pheasant feeder" there were 20 Yellowhammers. Finally over at Bruichladdich, Peter saw 5 Purple Sandpipers.
Saturday 4 April 2015
Saturday 4th April
Nadia and Darren sent some more sightings from their visit... they had a tally of 80 species seen which was really good considering the weather that we have had this week!!!On Loch Finlaggan, they had some Tufted Duck, a pr of Dabchick, and a Red throated Diver. Later on, over that way too, a White Tailed sea Eagle was seen... At The Woollen Mill, 2 pr of Siskins on the feeders present. Over at Bruichladdich, on the Loch Indaal itself, Loch Tailed Ducks were added to their list with Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the shore there too. On Thursday they had a male Hen Harrier and also a Buzzard fly over the front garden of the cottage they were staying in. Other highlights included seeing an Otter over on Jura, just after Craighouse. On the Oa, they had a flock of Twite, Peregrine, Raven and some Fulmars present along the cliffs. Thanks for your input folks and safe journey home. Today, Carl had seen 4 Canada Geese at Easter Ellister as well as another 3 earlier on at Octofad. Down at Portnahaven, Carl saw a Peregrine was seen carrying prey, 2 Wheatear, 2 Ringed Plover and 10 Goldfinches at Claddach, a Stonechat was down at Currie Sands as well.
Labels:
Red Throated Diver,
Siskin,
White tailed Sea Eagle
Friday 3 April 2015
Friday 3rd April
Yesterday, Dave over on the Oa had a juvenile White tailed Sea Eagle being seen for most of the afternoon over the reserve. He also had saw a male Hen Harrier. Today on the reserve on the Oa, Dave had a Snow Bunting along with 2 Fieldfare and also 3 Redwing. Down at Upper Cragabus, on the Oa too, 3 Bullfinches were present. Late yesterday afternoon, a male Hen Harrier soared over the garden... Later this evening on the TV on BBC2 at 9pm there is a programme titled "Easterwatch".. I believe that there were some cameramen over recently doing some filming, so I wonder if there will be some footage from Islay?
Thursday 2nd April
I know it is not Thursday, but due to a computer glitch at this end on Thursday evening, well need I say more.....Peter Gill had seen 4 Long tailed Ducks on Loch Indaal, off Uiskentuie, also on Loch Indaal he had seen 5 Pale bellied Brent Geese over at Bowmore. While walking down to Gartbreck along the coastline, a Golden Eagle flew inland in an Easterly direction.. Down at Kintour, he had 2 large Canada Geese on Wednesday, probably the same 2 that Bob and Malcolm had seen . Peter also had seen the Yellowhammers at the keeper's cottage close to Kildalton. On Wednesday, James had spotted the Green winged Teal out from the hide, also present were 2 Greenshank, and 5 Gadwall. Along the flats, 220 Golden Plovers were present. Today (Thursday), Bob had been out goose counting with Catherine and on the "laundry loch" up above Laggan Farm had seen a Goldeneye, 3 large Canada Geese were present there too.... Also out on Laggan Point, they saw a Wheatear.
Wednesday 1 April 2015
Wednesday 1st April
Well, that is another month in with the rainfall tallying at 4.7 inches, mind you some days could have been even more but the rain just kept going past the collecting funnel, rather than actually falling into the funnel, one of the problems of horizontal rain....This afternoon, we had a male Hen Harrier out at McNichol's croft. Danny and Wanda saw another one today over close to Buildbase above Glenegedale on the "high road", earlier on they had counted around 50 young Reed Buntings at Ballinaby. Bob had been out with Malcolm goose counting on the Port Ellen route... They had an adult Glaucous Gull amongst some Herring Gulls up at the "sea shell dump" up behind Kilnaughton Bay. While having their sandwiches at lunchtime, a Kestrel screamed over Port Ellen Bay, just above the waves. Finally out towards Ardtalla they spotted 2 large Canada Geese...As I write this entry I am watching the hares in the garden, they appear completely oblivious of us humans through the big glass windows!!!
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