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 - 110at 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.

Saturday 26th September

Moderate southerly winds with rain, but a bit more sunshine by the afternoon.

Rogan W. was out early on Loch Indaal at the Gaelic Centre finding 16 Brent Geese, 163 Bar-tailed Godwit,  a Greenshank, 23 Knot, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and the feral Chinese-type goose that has been seen on-and-off for a few months. He also found again the American Wigeon among the 195 Eurasian Wigeon there.

Clive McK. found a Whitethroat near his house at Creag Mhor, Loch Gruinart, along with additional flocks of Brent Geese coming into the island - 47 at Gareallabus, and 21 at Gruinart. Clive searched for the am. Wigeon and added 4 Pintail, 2 Sandwich Terns and 2 Greenshank to the birds on Loch Indaal, then back at Loch Gruinart at Bun an Uillt the Osprey with a fish.

Elsewhere on Islay David D. had what I think is the first Pink-footed Goose of the autumn at Kinnabus.

Spot the American Wigeon!

Friday 25th September

A day of moderate SSW winds and some sunshine between heavy rain showers.

Thanks to Malcolm O. for blogging while I was away birding on Tiree for a few days.

A variety of sightings came through today, starting with David D. noting the drake Scaup still present on Loch Kinnabus. Clive McK. watched  an Osprey with a large fish at Bun an Uillt, Loch Gruinart and found House Martins still with young in the nest at a neighbour's house at Creag Mhor. Mary R. reports a Greenland type Wheatear at Claddach yesterday and a count of 7 Choughs there today, plus a male Hen Harrier at Loch Gorm. Visitor Pete McCormick took a good photo of one of two young White-tailed Eagles at Gruinart this afternoon.

 

Thursday 24 September

A rather wet day with a mainly SE breeze.

Unsurprisingly, there were few bird sightings. George Jackson saw 2 Grey Wagtails in the morning on the path down to Lily Loch, while, a little later, Rogs saw a Dipper at Cattadale on the burn which becomes the River Laggan, as well as 2 ringtail Hen Harriers close by, while there was a male Hen Harrier at Avonvogie. He later found a Coot on Loch Lossit, a bird that has become quite rare in recent years.

Here's a cracking photo by Rogs of the Dipper. There are an estimated 10-20 pairs on the island, widely scattered on the rivers and some burns.

 

 

Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd September

Tuesday started drizzly but cleared up as the wind went round to the north, where it stayed for much of Wednesday with very occasional slight showers.

The only observations on Tuesday were of a Turtle Dove at Ardbeg, seen by visitor, Ben McCook, perhaps the same as last Thursday's bird at Ardtalla, or perhaps a different one, a male Hen Harrier seen by Rogs near Bridgend and a Tawny Owl roosting near Lily Loch.

Wednesday began with Rogs counting a Moorhen, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Cormorant and a family of 5 Mute Swans on Loch Ballygrant, the three juvenile swans "looking good". In the afternoon, David D saw a Goldcrest at Kinnabus, while David W also saw a Goldcrest, plus a Wheatear, at Risabus, both on The Oa. Rogs counted no less than 32 Mistle Thrushes at Avonvogie Farm; flocks of over 30 are unusual here.

Finally, in the evening, Clive McK was watching lots of restless Common Snipe on the Gruinart Flats, with two flocks (29 birds) heading off, and another six flocks (a total of 61 birds) flying up high, then faffing around for ages before eventually dropping back in. Also, there was an Osprey hunting over the loch near Craigens.

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! 

Sunday 13th & Monday 14th September

 A fine, dry and fairly sunny day on Sunday, but mostly raining and overcast on Monday.

Yesterday visitor Chris Aller wrote the following enthusiastic account: We've just had a very successful day at Ardnave: female Hen Harrier, pair of Golden Eagles on 4 separate occasions, White-tailed Eagle (also seen and photographed by David Hunter) and Merlin. Good numbers of Chough, plentiful Buzzards and a Kestrel. Good to see many Skylark, plus all the regular cast - a great day out!

Elsewhere, David D. reports 6 Barnacle Geese at Gartnatra that Ed B. suggests might be birds from the Icelandic breeding population as they are arrived so early. Ed also posted further fascinating info on "his" tagged Greater White-fronted Goose movements as they depart breeding grounds in Greenland and rest up in Iceland. Clive McK. saw a Chiffchaff in his garden near Eallabus on Loch Gruinart with a Golden Eagle seen overhead escorted by 5 Buzzards. There were also 4 Brent Geese flying up Loch Gruinart.

Steve & Lyn Rogers did their WeBS count at Loch an t-Salein with unusual sightings of a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 9 Gadwall - one of the higher counts recorded on Islay and never before from this location. Rarer still was a report by Mary R. of a Turtle Dove at Portnahaven flying over towards Port Wemyss in the afternoon.

No records so far today - perhaps due to the unpleasant weather conditions.

Saturday 12th September

 A day of slowly decreasing winds and improving weather from light showers to more sunshine.

Bird notes were:

James H. found an Osprey at Loch Gruinart in the afternoon. Louise M. counted 4 Tawny Owls calling around Craighouse on Jura in the evening. I watched an adult White-tailed Eagle in an aerial interaction with a young Golden Eagle at Leorin, both being mobbed by a Buzzard. Clive McK. counted on the Big Strand in the afternoon and found a good tally of 85 Sanderling, 30 ringed Plover and a Dunlin.

Friday 11th September

Mostly sunny and mild with light southerly and SW winds. 

Despite the pleasant weather there were no sightings reported today other than 7 Brent Geese on Loch Indaal by the Gaelic College seen by Wendy & John Mattingley.

Tony Evans sent in a "back of camera" shot of the Barnacle Geese seen yesterday - no doubt the first of many Barnacle Goose photos to be taken this coming winter!

Thursday 10th September

 A day of moderate southerly winds with lots of cloud and drizzle for much of the time.

Tony Evans kindly sent in some notes for yesterday: 2 White-tailed Eagles sat on a small islet at Traigh Cill an Rubha where the River Sorn comes out into Loch Indaal. He also found the Kingfisher on the river there, while the flats around held 12 Knot, c.20 Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank and 3 Barnacle Geese: very early arrivals?  Over on the Oa he saw 3 Twite at the RSPB car park and 2 more White-tailed Eagles in the edges of the plantation woodland at Cornabus.

Today, the only record comes from Wendy & John Mattingley who saw a Great Northern Diver in Kilnaughton Bay.

Wednesday 9th September

Winds lighter and going to a more southerly direction during a day of sunshine with isolated light showers.

Rogan W. noticed 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying south down the Sound of Islay past Port Askaig this morning. Wendy & John Mattingley saw a Barn Owl fly out of a farm barn at Ardnave and in the Ardnave area a Sparrowhawk, 35 Chough, a flock of 26 Linnets and a Wheatear. Farm. Towards Ardnave Point they noted 2 White-tailed Eagles, one a first year bird flying to join another on Nave Island. At Stonefield, just inland from Blackrock and Loch Indaal they counted a further 40 Linnets and another Wheatear, then a further White-tailed Eagle nearer to Bowmore.

Tuesday 8th September

A day of blustery, mostly NW/WNW winds, and rain showers between long sunny spells.

With reports of good birding sea-watches off Tiree today including Leach's Petrels Grey Phalaropes and Sabine's Gulls, it was good that Clive McK. went down to Frenchman's Rocks to take a 2 hour look and show again that for much of the time Islay doesn't quite compare! Best finds were a Storm Petrel and 2 Sooty Shearwaters, with a supporting cast of 1,300 Manxies going north and 2,489 going south along with most other birds: 114 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Red-throated Divers,104 Brent Geese, 5 Pintail, and a small selection of waders.

Other bird news included comments from Rogan W. and Louise M. of small build ups of Swallows prior to migration - 36 together at Dunlossit and 30 around Sanaig Wood on Jura. By contrast David D. pointed out that Swallows were still producing recently fledged broods at Kinnabus at this late date. Wendy & John Mattingley recorded the summering Whooper Swan still lingering at Gruinart and Jim Dickson had a juvenile Common Tern and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Carnain. Clive saw a further 26 Brent Geese coming in to Islay at Ardnave along with a Great Northern Diver, a Storm Petrel and 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flying up Loch Gruinart. 

Monday 7th September

Moderate SW winds, mostly dry, fairly sunny.

Yesterday evening Clive McK. watched a Little Gull at sea from the ferry off Gigha.

Mary Redman noted large numbers of feeding Gannets off the islands around Portnahaven this morning through till evening.

Jim Dickson was very busy again - quite a marathon - producing several good records. This morning off the Gaelic College in Loch Indaal he noted an adult Sandwich Tern, 89 Red-breasted Mergansers, 390 Mallard 76 Wigeon a single Pintail, 7 adult Red-throated Divers and 38 Brent Geese flying SW. A White-tailed Eagle was feeding on the Gruinart flats where a juvenile Peregrine flew by. He also noted groups of Pied/White Wagtails, 115 Black-headed Gulls a probable total of 13 Greenshanks, 35 Turnstone a couple of Wheatears and 3 more White Wagtails. Better still was an Osprey  which moved on to Loch Gorm where it was seen hunting. Up at Braigo a Golden Eagle was seen hunting low over the ground and further on at Sanaigmore there were 3 Arctic Terns and 70+ Manx Shearwaters offshore in 20 minutes of sea-watching. Back at Loch Indaal Jim relocated a couple of Curlew Sandpipers along with 150 Rock Doves at Carrabus. and scored the best bird of the day with a lovely adult Mediterranean Gull (photos below) - possibly the same bird as seen by Clive McK. a few weeks ago? Back at Gruinart there were 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint.

Other observations came in from Rogan W. with a Sparrowhawk at Eas Fora and a juvenile Corn Crake seen by David D. at Kinnabus.

Sunday 6th September

Blustery winds from the south , so quite warm despite lots of cloud but surprisingly little rain.

Rogan W. started the ball rolling this morning with a juvenile White-tailed Eagle over Keills (probably the same bird I saw there in the afternoon). At Gruinart he noted another White-tailed Eagle a Little Egret, 27 Brent Geese and 11 Pintail with a Yellowhammer by the Oyster Shed on the Killinallan side. Jim Dickson was also up that way finding an all-white Starling at Craigens.

 Visitors Wendy and John Mattingley increased the Brent Goose count at Gruinart to 33 and added a Sparrowhawk and Golden Eagle to the day's sightings. 

Over at Coullabus Jim took a photo of a juvenile Whinchat and noted a count of 10 Wheatears since Thursday with 5 together at Carrabus. The Brent Goose count rose to 36 birds with 3 at Carnain. Over at Gartnatra on Loch Indaal there was a large count of 51 Red-breasted Mergansers on the shore, thought to be post-moulting males.

I tried my luck at doing a sea-watch from the fery to Kennacaig and back this morning finding an adult White-tailed Eagle perched atop Glas Eilean off Jura, 2 Puffins, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua on the outward trip, but precious little on the return.

Saturday 5th September

 A dry, mostly sunny day with moderate winds.

Jim Dickson and Rogan W. have been out birding the island for much of the day. They found the first (3) Brent Geese of the autumn at Gartnatra and Carnain. In the same area were 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint, 2 Little Egrets and later I added 7 Black-tailed Godwits and 33 Wigeon to the mix. 

Jim counted 46 Common Scoter off Blackrock along with 3 immature Arctic Terns, with an adult and juvenile Peregrine there too. Later at Loch Gruinart he counted the first sizeable arrival of Teal with a total of 130 birds and 11 Pintail. Other raptors were an immature Golden Eagle watched above Gruinart Farm, 2 White-tailed Eagles on the mud at Bridgend and a Kestrel at Craigens. Back up at Loch Alan Rogan W. had a pair of Bullfinch and 12 Redpolls.

David Jardine did a ferry journey to/from Islay with a bit of birding on Jura in between. He counted 10 Turnstone at Inver and a Great spotted Woodpecker at Inver plantation. On the return ferry crossing he had 2 Great Skuas and a Storm Petrel.

Friday 4th September

Fairly strong blustery westerly winds brought plenty of heavy rain showers between sunny spells.

Jim Dickson the Argyll Bird Club Recorder is over for a week and began finding a few birds of interest despite appalling weather: 5 Curlew Sandpipers (phot below of 2) and 3 juvenile Little Stints at Carnain and a Great Skua, Little Egret and 8 Black-tailed Godwits on Loch Indaal off Bridgend plus 2 Hen Harriers at Cruach to start with. This was followed by 10 Pintail up at Gruinart and a Peregrine at Craigens.

There had been suggestions that sea-watching might be productive today and the only to follow this up was David W. watching off The Oa who noted an expected constant stream of Manx Shearwaters and a few Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and auks, with a trio of Arctic Skuas being the best find in a 2 hour watch.

Rogan W. counted 68 Gannets heading south down the Sound of Islay and David D. reports a Corn Crake seen by one of the stockmen on the RSPB The Oa reserve.

Thursday 3rd September

Another changeable day - light winds with rain and cloud between sunny periods.

Rogan W. saw a Kingfisher plus a fishing Cormorant on Loch Allan and 3 Little Grebes on Loch Ballygrant. Later a White-tailed Eagle flew over Keills.

Wednesday 2nd September

Breezy with rain showers and cloud between bouts of sunshine.

Today's notes come from Rogan W. who heard the Tawny Owls calling at Dunlossit last night and then 2 Whimbrel calling as they passed by Port Askaig this morning. In the garden at Dunlossit were 2 Crossbills, single Spotted Flycatcher, Great spotted Woodpecker, a small flock of Redpolls and an Arctic Skua seen flying along the sound.

He also sent in the non-avian, but appealing photo below:

Tuesday 1st September

Overcast with light winds but rain throughout much of the day - quite heavy at times.

Rogan W. had a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Spotted Flycatcher in the woodland around Lily Loch.

I had a quick look around Gruinart and found a flock of 32 Black-tailed Godwits with an accompanying Ruff on the floods near to the Visitor Centre. On the way home I checked Blackrock and counted 26 Common Scoter offshore.

Monday 31st August

Rain overnight and a few further light showers during a day of variably breezy westerlies and mostly cloudy skies.

Colin McGregor sent in  a sighting of the Kingfisher at Bowmore and a Golden Eagle over the Machrie Golf Course on 28th August.

Rogan W. found the leucistic Greylag again on Loch Indaal and Ed B. had a Corn Crake at Cornabus.

Billy Stitchell sent in some photos of bow wave-riding dolphins to brighten up the blog. 

Sunday 30th August

A dry, fairly calm day with patchy sunshine between cloudier skies.

All observations today are from Rogan W. who had some good sightings around Loch Indaal. This morning he spotted a couple of White-tailed Eagles perched up on the rocks towards Bridgend with the Kingfisher still at the Gaelic College where he heard a Quail calling. A little later he found the first Little Stint of autumn with other waders out on the mud and sand flats. Later still he carefully watched a duck that looks a good candidate for an immature American Wigeon, though there is the possibility of a Eurasian x American hybrid, so perhaps further scrutiny will be required - but nevertheless an intriguing and unusual sighting. Below are some of his photos taken today.

Saturday 29th August

 A dry, fairly calm, cloudy sort of day.

Mary R. was out and about today finding 3 very vocal White-tailed Eagles around Claddach and the islands this morning, a Golden Eagle over Sanaigmore and a record count of 119 Collared Doves at Octofad in the afternoon. Presumably the doves are gathered there to feed on barley split from the trailers going in to Ocofad to be dried.

On Loch Indaal, viewing from the Gaelic College where some of us were gathered for the Islay Book Festival, Fiona McG. noted the first Wigeons of the autumn/winter - a count of 41 birds. Rogan W. was watching here too and recorded a Kingfisher, a Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. He also noted a female Common Scoter, Tufted Duck with chicks and a White-tailed Eagle on Loch Gorm.

Friday 28th August

Dry, mostly sunny, with light northerly winds.

There were 3 migrant White Wagtails at Ghiol on The Oa seen by David D. this morning and a Carrion Crow at Kilnaughton found by Fiona McG. Down at Claddach Mary R. had 3 White-tailed Eagles plus groups of 10 and 3 Choughs. Along the coast she counted groups of 93 and 60 Shags with others in the sea accompanied by 12 Bottle-nosed and 1 Common Dolphin. David Boggon had a further 2 White-tailed Eagles over the Sound of Islay.

Thursday 27th August

Dry with light easterly winds.

David Boggon saw the first White-tailed Eagle of the day this morning at Gruinart with David D. reporting 4 different White-tailed Eagles on The Oa during the day along with a Peregrine near the RSPB car park on The Oa and a Greenshank on Loch Kinnabus.

James H. found the autumn's first Curlew Sandpiper amongst the usual range of more common waders on Loch Gruinart in the afternoon - all flushed by possibly the same White-tailed Eagle that had been seen there in the morning. Rogan W. counted some substantial numbers of Siskins (80) and Redpolls (20) in a mixed feeding flock at Lily Loch in the afternoon.

Mary-Ann F. noted a Whimbrel and Greenshank at Cnoc and Ardilistry Bays where her two families of Red-breasted Mergansers still survive and thrive.

Otherwise there was much interest in lepidoptera with Mary-Ann F. reporting good numbers of Painted Lady, Peacock, and Red Admiral butterflies including some fine photos and mention of Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which were also noted in recent days across the island by Fiona McG., Rogan W. and Mary R.

Wednesday 26th August

Stronger east/south-east winds and some cloud and rain today, but still quite warm and occasional sunnier spells.

Visitor David Boggon had a Great Skua flying north up Loch Indaal at Port Charlotte this morning and a male Hen Harrier at Killinallan in the afternoon.

Ed B. reports a couple of well-grown Snipe chicks on his fark at Cornabus plus a couple of Choughs and 2 Moorhens - the latter considered unusual out on The Oa!

Rogan W. up at Loch Allan found a pair of Crossbills and 8 Grey Herons. By coincidence, Jo Rosser-Owen sent in this photo of a Grey Heron taken at Old Gortan Schoolhouse on Loch Indaal.

Tuesday 25th August

 A dry, sunny day with a light to moderate breeze from the east and south.

Yesterday Mary R. noticed birds flocking together in an "autumnal way": 20 Meadow Pipits and 12 Goldfinches included, plus young Wheatears and a trio of young Choughs. There was a White-tailed Eagle over Claddach this morning.

David D. had a Whimbrel on The Oa this afternoon while I took a quick look at Gruinart, finding 32 summery Knots and 20 equally summery Black-tailed Godwits on the flats along with a White-tailed Eagle and 4-5 Buzzards - the eagle very sluggish, the Buzzards very active. There were also 8 Canada Geese seen from the North Hide, but not much else.

Later in the afternoon visitor Andy Harris was at Loch Gruinart and was treated to the sight of an Osprey catching a flat fish and then being pursued by a White-tailed Eagle. The Osprey dropped the fish but it was not apparently retrieved by the eagle. Later Andy saw two White-tailed Eagles back sitting on the flats.

Talking of Canada Geese, there was a recent note to the effect that the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) have been reviewing all records of what are considered truly vagrant Canada Geese in the UK and the first accepted record is now a bird at Kilchoman from 24 October - 3 November 1986, pre-dating the previously accepted first record. There are now 65 accepted records of vagrant Canada Geese in the UK.

Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th August

 Two pleasant days of sunshine and light winds.

Alastair McCormick sent in a couple of photos of a Water Rail that showed up in his garden at Craigens overnight on Saturday.

On Sunday Martin A. saw 3 Little Egrets, 2 Greenshanks and 2 White-tailed Eagles at the top of Loch Indaal by the mouth of the Sorn, while David W. counted 8 Greenshanks on Loch Gruinart by the Oystershed. Rogan W. was counting on Loch Indaal near Bridgend - 363 Greylag Geese, 163 Oystercatchers and 2 Cormorants. 

Today Louise Muir reports "thousands" of seabirds active in the Sound of Jura this morning - mostly Razorbills, Guillemots and Gannets, presumably feeding on fish shoals.

Saturday 22nd August

Dry with a light northerly breeze.

Thanks to Malcolm O. for keeping the blog going in my absence. 

David Jardine was on the ferry from Kennacraig this morning and saw c.10 Storm Petrels. Rogan W. saw a Little Egret, a Wigeon and a few Black-tailed Godwits at the top of Loch Indaal and heard the Tawny Owls calling loudly at Port Askaig.

Friday 21st August

A dry fairly sunny day, but with a cool northerly breeze.

The only bird sighting came from Rogan W. whose garden at Dunlossit was visited by 3 Red Crossbills. The birds perched and were silhouetted against the light, but, as he said, "Thank goodness for the bill."

 

 

Thursday 20th August

A fine day with some sunshine but a cool northerly wind.

Jim Dickson started the day off with more news of the GPS-marked Knot, which arrived at Gruinart yesterday morning, to say that it had returned to North Uist which it had visited before coming to Islay. Speculation about this unusual movement centered round it possibly wanting to return to a larger flock, but that really is just speculation. Whatever the reason, there's no doubt that large gaps in our knowledge of bird migration are being filled by the use of GPS tags. What is also of interest is that Clive McK saw Knot moving south from Gruinart yesterday evening, but clearly not including this bird.

In the late afternoon. Clive saw 4 Arctic Skuas, including a superb pale adult, heading south low over his house above the west shore of Loch Gruinart. They climbed and circled as they headed towards Bushmill, then turned west high over Carnduncan, ignoring Loch Indaal and heading to Loch Gorm/Machir Bay. Clive has seen Arctic Skuas follow this line before, and thinks that they might have come from the east coast of Scotland, following the Great Glen to the west coast on the back of the NE and N winds.

And here is a photograph by the late Gordon Langsbury of a pale phase Arctic Skua.

 

 

Wednesday 19th August

A wet morning gradually dried up to a sunny afternoon, but with more rain during the night.

Clive McK once again supplied almost all the bird records for today, starting off at midday with 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff, and 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier on or over the Gruinart Flats. During the afternoon, Jim Dickson, the Argyll Bird Recorder, reported the details of a Knot carrying a GPS tag which had arrived at Gruinart about 07.00. It is part of a Dutch study, with the bird ringed in the Netherlands back in February, presumed to have bred in East Greenland, and picked up in North Uist on its way south. The bird was colour ringed, but, although Clive went to look for it later in the day, it may well have moved on as he saw Knots leaving for the south in the late afternoon. However, a consolation for him was a Glossy Ibis on the Flats. There was a large influx of this species into Britain last September, with 2 spending some time in the Gruinart area.

Clive spent from 19.30 to 20.50 monitoring bird movements at Gruinart and noted the following, all moving south: 17 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 68 Redshanks, 22 Knots, 1 Ruff and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. He also counted 9 Common Snipe feeding in the fields.

Tuesday 18th August 

 Several showers during the day.

 The only reports today came from Clive McK who was at Carnain in the early afternoon, where he found a juvenile Wood Sandpiper, while there were 400 Dunlin, 200 Ringed Plover, 30 Sanderling and 10 Knot on the Bridgend Flats. Wood Sandpipers, almost always single birds, turn up pretty much every year, though more in the spring than in late summer/autumn.

Clive also tried a seawatch at Portnahaven, but it was pretty quiet, though, in the morning, he saw a total of 12 Lesser Blackback Gulls migrating south over Gruinart. In the early evening, there were 4 Ruffs feeding on the Gruinart flats fields.

Monday 17th August 

Rather a damp day, with rain most of the afternoon.

Bird of the month, possibly year, was an adult Mediterranean Gull, "loafing" at Gartbreck in the rain, according to Clive McK, who spotted this rare visitor. 'Birds of Islay and Jura" states that this is about the 13th record for the island since the first in 2010, and only the second adult. Sightings have been slowly increasing in recent years, with 3 last year, although those were the first since 2022.

The only other observation received came from Rogan W., who saw a Little Egret and a Greenshank while driving (!) between Bridgend and Bowmore. 

 

Sunday 16th August 

A quiet, mainly overcast day after overnight rain.

Not much to report today. David D watched a White-tailed eagle flying below the American Monument and also saw 2 Chough on the cliffs below, while Rogan W posted this photograph of a House Sparrow with a beakful of food which he reckons includes both a spider and a caterpillar. It's important to offer one's offspring a nicely varied diet.

 

Saturday 15th August 

Another fine day with light winds.

Rogan W. spotted a pure white goose among a flock of Greylags on Loch na Cachie, which lies between Kilchoman Distillery and Loch Gorm. It is either a leucistic or an albino Greylag, but a closer look is needed, the former retaining normal coloured eyes, bill and legs, whereas in the latter those would be pink/red.

Clive McKay had a late afternoon walk around Ardnave, seeing 5 Sandwich Terns and 15 Common Terns at Ardnave Point, as well as 20 Choughs, 2 Whimbrel flying south, and the usual mix of waders on Traigh Nostaig beach, including 47 Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank. He also had a high count of 440 Grey Seals hauled out on the Loch Gruinart sandbanks. In  the evening a Barn Owl was hunting near the RSPB office, while he noted an evening wader emigration from Loch Griunart of 21 Black-tailed Godwits, 68 Oystercatchers and 8 Sandwich Terns.

 

Friday 14th August 

A dry day with light winds and mainly overcast skies. Yesterday evening, cloud obscured most of the sky, preventing more than very partial views (glimpses) of the eclipse of the sun and almost nothing of the Perseid meteor shower.

Only two bird records received for today. Louise M had a lone Curlew in Small Isles Bay, while Rog W continues his exploration of the northeast of the island, noting 8 Grey Herons, including juveniles, perched on trees at Lily Loch. This is the site of one of the several small heronries on Islay. It survived the felling of some of the nesting trees a few years ago as they had become dangerous, but there were plenty of alternative trees, including at adjacent Loch Allan. Peter Roberts, in his book 'Birds of Islay and Jura', lists no less than 18 heronries that have been noted in the last nearly 100 years since the very first National Heronry Survey of 1928, but attendance at several of them seems to be intermittent, while a number are definitely extinct. Peter estimates up to 30 breeding pairs on the island, of which 8-9 were at Lily Loch in 2023, the last time they were counted, making it one of the largest heronries that year.

This makes a perfect cue for one of the late Gordon Langsbury's photographs.

 

Thursday 13th August

Apart from a short sharp rain shower this morning it was a hot sunny day with light southerly winds for the annual Islay and Jura Show.

Ed Burrell sent in a map lotting the recent movements of one of his tagged Greylag Geese, wandering up and down the island over the past couple of weeks.

Otherwise, Rogan W. watched his fledged Buzzard  attempting to hunt at Dunlossit and witnessed another/the same as a few days ago, White-tailed Eagle journeying from Islay to Jura this morning.

Wednesday 12th August

A warm sunny start with only the slightest attempt of rain, but clouding sufficiently to make the eclipse of the sun this evening somewhat underwhelming.

Mary R. reports a Kestrel at Claddach yesterday. Today Rogan W. confirms the Buzzard breeding on his home patch at Dunlossit with sightings of adult and juvenile flying about. 

 

Tuesday 11th August

 A fine sunny day!

Rogan W. confirms that the Bullfinch pair in the gardens at Dunlossit have fledged two young. He also had a Crossbill flying over.

Up at Kilinallan this afternoon I had a young White-tailed Eagle being harassed by a Buzzard and Hen Harrier. Also a couple of Greenshanks and the Little Egret present.

Monday 10th August

A pleasant, fairly calm, warm, dry and sunny day for a change.

Some further reports for yesterday from Rogan W. include a Sparrowhawk at the airport.

Today, Rogan saw another Sparrowhawk - probably a nesting bird - in woodland near Port Askaig. Clive McK. counted 25 Black-tailed Godwits at the head of Loch Gruinart. I saw a Whooper Swan on Loch Gorm (presumably different to the seemingly resident/damaged bird at Gruinart?) and counted 530 Greylags on Loch Gorm with  further 60 on the shoreline at Bruichladdich - the autumn build-up of the species begins!

Sunday 9th August

The day started out cloudy with drizzle but brightened to sunny and dry with a moderate westerly breeze.

George Jackson sent in some notes for the previous two days:  on Friday a juvenile Grey Wagtail at Coultorsay and 60 Ringed Plovers and c.20 Dunlin at Crosshouses. (over half these in summer plumage). On Saturday at Gartbreck 5 adult Mute Swans and a Ringtail Hen Harrier. 

Val Peacock saw a Little Egret flying up Loch Indaal at Port Charlotte. Jo Rosser-Owen recorded Willow Warbler in Bridgend Woods and Steve & Lyn Rogers had 2 young Spotted Flycatchers in their garden at Kilnaughton Bay this morning. James H. noted an increase in waders  in Loch Gruinart with 40 Redshank, 20 Black-tailed Godwits,  and 16 Canada Geese. Clive McK. checked further on the waders there a counted 120 Dunlin, 180 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderlings and a flock of 66 Oystercatchers passing through. He also noted a Barn Owl hunting in the fields near Mill Cottage. Here at Bruichladdich there was a juvenile Sandwich Tern sat on the rocks for a while. Crystal Maw and friends were up at the RSPB hides in the morning and had, amongst other birds, a White-tailed Eagle, H2 Hen Harriers and a Peregrine.

Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August

Still a very strong contrast here to the drought and heatwaves of southern England and Wales! Winds swinging about and cloud coming and going, bringing increasing amounts of light rain with it - especially on Saturday.

Clive McK. sent in a record for Thursday of a Red-throated Diver feeding on Loch Finlaggan then taking off into the hills, returning 30 minutes later - an obvious sign of feeding young on one of the higher moorland lochs nearby.

Yesterday Rogan W. was birding his patch at Dunlossit and sent in some useful breeding records of Mute Swan with cygnets on Loch Ballygrant, where he also noted a Little Grebe and young Goldcrests.

Today he had Tawny Owls calling overnight, a Buzzard nesting along the Sound of Islay  near Port Askaig, where a family of Spotted Flycatchers was photographed.

Later he watched a White-tailed Eagle flying over to Islay from Jura.

Over at Ardilistry Bay David D. found a Little Egret and a Greenshank - an unusual place for these species more often found on Lochs Indaal and Gruinart.

Thursday 6th August

A slightly better day with no rain, winds dropping and sunshine increasing as the day progressed - until the evening when cloud and showers resumed.

Rogan W. reports a pair of Bullfinches at his home near Port Askaig, plus Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Siskins and families of fledged Great and Blue Tits.

Clive was also down at Port Askaig and noted good numbers of butterflies - 14 Red Admirals, 3 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and this Painted Lady.

Mary-Ann F. also reported lots of butterflies from her Kildalton garden - 20+ Peacocks, a few Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells and Whites. There was also a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on Buddleia.

Monday; 3rd, Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th August

Three days of changeable weather - generally changing for the worse! Winds going round to an easterly direction and increasingly strong by Wednesday, more cloud and increasing amounts of rain.

Further sightings from Sunday include 2 Little Egrets, a juvenile Peregrine, 2 Sandwich and 5 Common Terns noted by Clive McK.

Records for Monday come from Clive McK. and Mark Livingston who found a family of Tufted Ducks (8 well-grown ducklings with parent) on Ardnave Loch where there was also a family of Mute Swans with 4 cygnets. They also had a Greenshank on the west side of Ardnave and a juvenile Cuckoo by the Loch

On Tuesday Rogan Wolhuter watched 42+ Guillemots in the Sound of Islay by Port Askaig and Mark Livingston counted 200 Dunlin on Loch Indaal by the Gaelic College.

No sightings for Wednesday so far.

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd August

Two further days of light westerly winds, mostly sunny.

Yesterday Rogan W. was up at Bunnahabhain finding a pair of Grey Wagtails with 2 young with a dark-phase Arctic Skua passing by. Today he was at Machir Bay in the afternoon where there were counts of 23 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling and two Wheatears - a couple of photos below.

Thursday 30th & Friday 31st July

Two more days of mixed rain showers and sunshine with moderate westerly winds.

Yesterday Rogan Wolhuter had a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland just south of Port Askaig and sent in this fine photo. Otherwise it was all about White-tailed Eagles: Karim Labib saw one approaching the dead Minke Whale on Machir Bay, but being mobbed by a Buzzard and flying off. He also saw 2 sub-adult White-tailed Eagles there a little later along with a substantial count of 13 Wheatears. Later he was on Jura and found a male Hen Harrier 3-4 miles north of the Feolin ferry.

Clive McKay had 2 Whinchats at Gruinart - an adult with young. Later, Clive and I were over on Jura and watched an  adult pair of White-tailed Eagles that ended up happily sitting on the same branch in a fine woodland tree for upwards of 5 hours without doing anything much apart from stretching wings and legs whenever the sun came out.

Today Bill Bealey had 2 White-tailed Eagles at the Ard, Port Ellen and Jo Rosser-Owen had a Sparrowhawk in Bridgend Woods. Clive McK. a Little Egret and 175 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gartnatra and a juv cuckoo at Coullabus. Karim saw an Arctic Skua in Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte and Rogan found 3 Greenshanks on Loch Gruinart by The Oystershed, plus a few birds in the woods around Dunlossit: Bullfinch, Treecreeper, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 14 Redpolls and 5 Grey Herons including an adult with young on nest around Lily loch/Loch Allan. Val Peacock heard a quite late Corn Crake calling briefly at the north end of Port Charlotte in fields by the new housing.

Theo from Nature Scotland kindly alerted us to a report he'd seen on ebird this morning of an adult Mediterranean Gull at Blackrock, Loch Indaal.