Wednesday 15th July

Peter sent through this e mail relating to an Oystercatcher seen over the past few summers down at Port Charlotte...
"Thought this might be of interest for your blog regarding the sighting of a colour-ringed Oystercatcher on Islay (all information courtesy of Val Peacock):

• A colour-ringed bird was ringed at Dawlish Warren, Devon on 4th February 2018, where it was presumed wintering and was seen there until at least 10th February 2018
• Seen back at Dawlish Warren on 5th August 2018 and again on 29th January 2019, where it is presumed it wintered
• Seen at Port Charlotte, Islay on 13th May 2019
• Seen back at Dawlish Warren on 4th July 2019 and again on 1st December 2019
• Seen back at Port Charlotte on 30th March 2020
• Seen again at Dawlish Warren  on 5th July 2020

So this bird seems to be faithfully returning to Islay to breed each year, and leaving for its regular wintering area of Dawlish Warren in Devon surprisingly early - as it has been noted there on 4th & 5th July in consecutive years. Although this seems an early departure from its breeding grounds, it is apparently quite usual, and gives them time to breed and rear young. They reach potential wintering areas to moult, winter there and begin returning north to breeding areas in early spring - so perhaps about 5 months on Islay and 7 months in Devon each year for this bird! Presumably many of the Oystercatchers that breed on Islay depart south early, being replaced by others migrating through and wintering on Islay from other populations further north?

On another note: I checked with the lucky folks in Bowmore who had the Rose-coloured Starling in their back garden on 18th - 19th June. They confirmed that it stayed there until at least 2nd July. Shame it was all during lockdown when few birders could get there to see it."