Wednesday 15th April

The weather was on repeat, plus a bit of thunder in some of the afternoon squalls.

Only a few observations were sent in today, Peter Gill finding 3 Brent Geese at Blackrock in the morning and, later, 2 Sandwich Terns below the Gaelic College. Mary McR. had 2 Swallows at Claddach, while Nick Bone heard a Cuckoo at Gruinart.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Morven Laurie (NatureScot) reminds anyone finding dead birds on the shore to not handle them but to notify this link

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds

Finally, this fine photograph of a White-tailed Eagle carrying a rabbit was sent in on Sunday by David Livingstone. Sorry it got overlooked, David, but many thanks for it. 

 

Tuesday 14th April

The strong south-easterlies continued all day with some rain, mostly in the afternoon.

If you're a Greenland White-fronted Goose on Islay in spring looking to head to Iceland on your way to where you breed in west Greenland, then a south-easterly wind is what you want. So, when Ed B. reported first thing that the last of the geese tagged during the winter at Cornabus was heading north, this was certainly to be expected, as was its arrival in Iceland later in the day. The details are wonderfully revealing. It left Glenastle on The Oa at about 4 am and arrived in south-east Iceland, a distance of c. 800 miles/1300 km, at about 5 pm. This suggests an average speed of 100 kph, or 62 mph. The south-east wind probably provided a boost of about 50%. Well done, that bird, and the rest of the flock it will have been in.

David W. reported 400+ Golden Plovers and a Swallow at Kinnabus in the morning, while Peter Gill had a Great Spotted Woodpecker by the carpark entrance to Loch Ballygrant and a Common Sandpiper beside the loch. Pat Jackson found the first Cuckoo of the year, also at Loch Ballygrant, where there were also "lots" of singing Willow Warblers. Billy Stitchell's garden was invaded by 10-15 Swallows around 6 pm in the evening. 

Finally, one of Ed B's neighbours at Cornabus think they saw a Red Kite, so something to keep an eye open for.

 

Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th & Monday 14th April

First, my thanks to Mary Redman for stepping in at very short notice and doing the blog when I was flown off the island to hospital for a small emergency operation. During six boring days on the top floor of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow the undoubted highlight was an adult female Peregrine flying past my window!

Quite strong SE winds persisted through the three days, with occasional squally showers.  

No bird records were received on Saturday, but Sunday was busier with Karim Labib counting 18 Brent Geese on the shore at Loch Gorm House, Bruichladdich, and about 500 Golden Plover on the Gruinart Flats, while Ed B. had 2 Sandwich Terns past the Gaelic College and an Osprey fishing at the mouth of the River Sorn.

On Monday, Martin Reid saw a male Hen Harrier near the Kildalton Cross, 2 probable Sandwich Terns and 2 Great Northern Divers in a bay near Ardbeg and 4 Gannets at Claggain Bay. In the morning, Clive McK watched 400+ Barnacle and 40+ Greenland White-fronted Geese head off NW, followed not long after by another 160 Barnacles and 15 Whitefronts. Peter Gill reported a single Redwing in the field beside the RSPB Gruinart reserve carpark, a single Pinkfooted Goose with Barnacles at Gruinart and then this spring's first Common Sandpiper close to the pier at Bruichladdich.

Other arriving summer visitors were 3 Swallows seen by Mary McR overhead at Claddach and a House Martin at Creag Mhor, Gruinart, seen by Clive McK, both in the morning.

Ed B. had 8 new Pinkfeet at Cornabus joining the family that's been there all winter, while, towards evening, soon after a male Merlin had "whizzed up" the side Loch Gruinart flushing everything, Clive watched 25 "very excitable" Redshanks getting up from the Gruinart floods and heading north. 7 Common Snipe looked as if they would follow but eventually turned back and landed. A single Greenland Whitefront was present, then 27 came into the Flats from on high, presumably staging from somewhere to the south.

Finally, during the afternoon, a Willow Warbler with white outer tail feathers was in Clive's garden, very likely the same bird as he saw there last July.  Here's his video of it.

 

 

 

Friday 10 April

Good evening from a wild and windy south-west coast of Islay! This morning wasn't too bad, bright sunny spells but strong winds all day, building to this evenings blast.  On my morning rounds of the lambing field it was unusually quiet, just 2 snipe leaping up from puddles as I approached.  It seems there wasn't much going on with Islay's bird watchers today, just David on the Oa reported 4 pink-foot geese at Kinnabus. Lets see what tomorrow brings!

Thursday 9 April

 Back to the routine of strong winds, cold chills and showers. April at its finest.  I'm glad of the shelter my hill ground affords the lambs on the ground in weather like this.

Mary-Ann reported a male hen harrier at Seal bay, and I had a large ring-tail hen harrier at Claddach Loch earlier. Every morning on my lambing rounds I spook a pair of teal from the pools near Frenchman's as well as numerous meadow and rock pipits, skylark, oystercatcher pairs, snipe, redshank and wheatear. Hooded crows are never far away, and the ravens often take a tour round the croft midday. 

Steve reported a magpie at Emerivale:  an Islay twitch! Billy at Ballygrant also had a visiting magpie to the garden on Tuesday. His normally tolerant ring-necked doves have apparently taken a real dislike of the bird and actively chase it! 

Clive had found a dead guillemot at Kintra on Saturday, from its BTO ring he discovered the bird had been rung on the Treshnish isles as an adult in 2016.  Clive is concerned with the number of dead birds he and others have discovered on islays shores recently - a result of bad weather? Bird flu? 

Thanks to all for your sightings. Apologies again for the lack of photos, my computer just doesn't want to!

Weds 8 April

 Good evening all from Claddach! I've been roped in to help for a few days. I'll do my best - today has been a 'spring event' with swallows, willow warblers, chiffchaff seen and/or heard across Islay and Jura. Though not a competition, Louise at Craighouse on Jura, heard them yesterday. So there.

 Perhaps the best highlight was the common crane that was reported at Gruinart today.  I'm sure the nearby cafes were delighted with the extra footfall! I'm afraid my computer won't let me upload photos for whatever reason, however if you head to the WhatsApp group the evidence is there.

Also on the group, Ed shared a data tracking map of a Greenland White-fronted goose satellite tag, showing its 15 hour journey from Islay to Greenland on Monday. Clive noted flocks of geese departing from Loch Gruinart, the next day there were swallows, sand martins and wheatear!

The wind returns tomorrow after a glorious day today then, just as the water levels in the fields were beginning to cheer up, a little rain is expected to top up the mud.

Saturday 4th April

A damp and increasingly windy day, a few of the early squalls being mostly hail. However, the worst of Storm Dave passed to the south, so the night wasn't perhaps as noisy as had been threatened.

David Hicklin spotted a/the Cackling Canada Goose on the Gruinart Flats in the morning (see photo), while Clive McK. noticed that the Barnacle Geese had been putting on weight prior to their migration (see photo). The geese are monitored for NatureScot each late winter/spring, using the shape of their back end between the legs and tail, known as their abdominal profile, which is where they store some of the fat which they will use up as they fly north. This gives an indication of how well they've managed to feed up prior to leaving. Fiona McG who carries out the monitoring rated this one as a 3-3.5, so getting close to the maximum. A bird without any fat shows an almost straight line between the legs and the base of the tail.

Later in the day, Clive was at Kintra on the Big Strand and noted 8 freshly dead Guillemots and one dead Manx Shearwater. One of the Guillemots had a British ring on its leg and we look forward to learning where it was ringed. It has already been identified as having been ringed as an adult in 2016.

 

Friday 3rd April

 Yet another day with very changeable weather - everything from overcast and rainy to bright and sunny with light winds to breezy conditions.

Billy Stitchell reporting from Caol Ila reckons birds at his feeders are down in numbers, but still recorded 8 Siskins,  2Great, 3 Blue and  4 Coal Tits, a few sparrows, 2 Starlings and Chaffinch with a flock of 20 Goldfinches last night  accompanied by a few Chaffinch and a single Yellowhammer. He also noted this evening a Magpie that popped in briefly.

This morning Tom Skinner reported an Osprey - first of the year - perched atop a telegraph pole near Loch Gorm enjoying a large trout. James H. saw the wintering Green-winged Teal plus White-tailed and Golden Eagles over the flats at Gruinart, while visitor Brock Lueck saw a Wheatear up at Ardnave.

Following on from Nick Bone's excellent talk last night at the INHT centre about Terns on Islay, Val Peacock saw our first two terns of summer off Port Charlotte today, but too far to identify specifically.

Mary Ann F. sent in the two gruesome photos of a raptor found between Port Askaig and MacArthur's Head - anyone want to suggest what it is?

For any keen birders just arrived on Islay - or residents who are still thinking about it, the new book on the birds of Islay and Jura is very much available and waiting for your purchase!

Thursday 2nd April

Another day with quickly changing weather - sunny and dry to start with increasing winds from the south with rain and cloud later in the day.

Clive McK. noted Barnacle Geese heading off north and west towards Iceland this  morning, plus a Merlin up at Gruinart, with another Merlin seen by David D. at Stremnish on The Oa. Other than that Lauren Stewart saw the resident, feral Chinese Goose hanging out with a few Greylags in its usual area between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

Wednesday 1st April

Moderate  SW winds with overcast rainy conditions in the morning giving way to a dry sunnier afternoon.

Ed B. noticed the partially leucistic Barnacle Goose on his patch at Cornabus again this morning.

It was Mel Chown's last day on Islay today finding 150 Knot in Loch Indaal from the Gaelic College, plus 10 Common Scoter, a male Goldeneye and a lovely breeding plumaged Slavonian Grebe. Later at the Woollen Mill there were 3 Grey Wagtails and a Dipper. The day finished up at Ardnave with a White-tailed Eagle, 3 ring-tail Hen Harriers and this fine shot of a dapper male Wheatear.

Other records were all about a spring influx of Gannets, with several up and down Loch Indaal during the day and Mary-Ann F. counting at least 70 off Kildalton.

Tuesday 31st March

A grey, mostly cloudy and mildish, but not too awful day - lightish westerly winds, little if any rain.

Bird news today again comes from Mel Chowns who spent the morning on The Oa, where there are still 20 Twite at the RSPB Feeders in the car park. Later at Claggain Bay there were 8 Great Northern Divers, 5 Razorbills, 2 Black Guillemots and a lone Cormorant.

Malcolm O. was at Laphroaig and didn't like what he saw - 31 Canada Geese and 10 Greylags - some of the Canadas in pairs, but he hopes it is just a non-breeding flock rather than an increase in the feral breeding population.

Monday 30th March

No rain, but westerly winds still strong overnight, gradually dropping a little during the day, which became increasingly cloudy. 

Today's records all come from Mel Chowns who kicked off with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Loch Gorm, White-tailed Eagle, Black Guillemot, Common Guillemot and Carrion Crow at Ardnave Point. However, the top sighting was finally finding the wintering Red-breasted Goose after days of searching. Well done for perseverance Mel - and thanks for the photo!

Sunday 29th March

A very blustery day of strong westerlies with sometimes heavy rain showers between sunnier spells.

Mary-Ann F. noted 6 Gannets off Ardillistry this afternoon and Emily McGarva had a Hen Harrier at Ballymeanach. Mel Chowns also saw Gannets off Frenchman's Rocks followed by a good look at a White-tailed Eagle at Cladville. Later, at Gruinart 100 Golden Plovers were counted along with a single Black-tailed Godwit and a very smart Russian (European) White-fronted Goose - photo below. There has been quite an influx of these into the UK this winter with some reaching the west. Jim Dickson notes that the peak counts for Argyll have been 6 on mainland Argyll and up to 3 here on Islay.

Saturday 28th March

Strong winds from the NW, but mainly sunny and cold with occasional hail and rain showers.

Ed Burrell reports a Chiffchaff singing at Cornabus this morning, while Steve & Lyn Rogers had their first 2026 Gannet in Kilnaughton Bay.

Mel Chowns had a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the Woollen Mill in Bridgend Woods along with a Sparrowhawk. Later there was a Whooper Swan at Gruinart and Greenshank at Ardnave, plus male and female Hen Harrier vat Kilnave.

Here at Bruichladdich the feeders in my garden produced one of the higher counts of Goldfinches of the winter season - 35+ along with 6 Greenfinches and 3 Siskins.

Friday 27th March

Westerly breezes with intermittent icy showers between sunny spells - and the promise/threat of stronger winds to come in the next day or two. 

A late report yesterday - thanks to Theo de Clermont who picked up a record on eBird - of someone seeing a Cackling Goose at Neriby and the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens.

Today, the main sighting of interest was a Magpie at Cragabus courtesy of Ed B. and at least the male Ring-necked Duck still on loch Ballygrant c/o David Clugston, who also saw a summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe off Bowmore and a Sparrowhawk at Finlaggan. Mel Chowns was on Jura and saw a Bullfinch at Lealt.

Thursday 26th March

The day had deteriorated into overcast, cold, damp and drizzly by lunchtime with winds currently from the south, but not for long.

I went to the Kilchoman/Loch Gorm area in the morning to look for the Irish colour-marked White-fronted Geese, but didn't have any luck. There were 14 Tufted Ducks on Loch Gorm and 3 Whooper Swans flew over.

Mary Redman reports a White-tailed Eagle over Claddach loch in the morning, otherwise the only sightings reported so far are from Mel Chowns on a return visit: birds of interest include 9 Bar-tailed Godwits at Kilnave and 6 Goldeneye on Ardnave Loch. A trip over to Jura produced 2 Great Northern Divers at Craighouse and a Wheatear near Feolin.

A reminder for any birders - resident or visiting who haven't yet got a copy of the new "Birds of Islay and Jura" book, that copies are available!

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th March

A couple of blustery days with cold, sometimes quite strong northerly and westerly winds and icy showers between sunshine.

Ched & Nigel Barratt were out in all weathers on both days. On Tuesday they recorded:

Bowmore: 2 Red Throated Divers. Ardnave: 2-3 Hen Harriers, 2 White-tailed Eagles, 3 Choughs, Immature Golden Eagle, 2 Great Northern Divers. Loch Gorm: a single Wheatear. Kilchoman/Machir Beach: 2 Choughs another Golden Eagle and 160 White-fronted Geese. Port Charlotte: 28 Eiders. Black Rock: A Merlin, 27 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Brent Geese.

Today they spent a bit of time on Islay and on Jura:

Morning on Jura: Craighouse garden feeder with 6 Greenfinches, 2 White-tailed Eagles south of Craighouse, Hen Harrier by Jura House, another plus a Golden Eagle between Jura House and Feolin and 2 Great Northern Divers by  the ferry.

Later, back on Islay: Finlaggan: Pair of Goldeneye and 3 Sand Martins. Loch Ballygrant: 16 Tufted Ducks and a Hen Harrier. Barr Farm/Cattadale: A Golden Eagle. Loch Tallant: 70 Golden Plover.

David Clugston was another birder braving the vagaries of the weather today and sent in the following sightings: a Greenshank and 2 Grey Plover at the mouth of the River Sorn, an adult White-tailed Eagle and a Hen Harrier near Laggan bridge with Greenfinches and Siskins on feeders at Bridgend. 

The only other bird news is that a small group of colour-ringed/collared Greenland White-fronted Geese from County Mayo in Ireland are lurking in the Kilchoman area and Ed B. sent in a request for anyone interested to go and have a look to try and read the rings/collars.

I spent an hour or so trying playback at Kildalton Woods in the vain hope of confirming the sound record of a Nuthatch from a couple of days ago. No luck, but the weather wasn't great, so maybe worth another try as the habitat looks good.

Monday 23rd March

 Cool, breezy and mostly cloudy, but no rain to speak of.

Visitors Ched & Nigel Barratt sent in records from "the other side" of the island: The Oa - 30 Twite at Killeyan and 35 White-fronted Geese at Cornabus. Port Ellen - 8 Ringed Plover on the beach. Loch a Chnuic - a Great Northern Diver. Claggain Bay - a further 11 Great Northern Divers. Machrie - 2 Hen Harriers and 80 Golden Plover. Corrary - another male Hen Harrier.

Marcus Covell from the Islay Woollen Mill heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cluanach - always good to receive records of this species to be able to assess how the small population of breeding birds is doing since their colonisation of Islay in 2012.

Sunday 22nd March

The day started out overcast with threats of rain, became bright and sunny, then reverted to very light rain showers again by late afternoon. Wind light from the West.

Mary R. saw 4 Whooper Swans flying north off Claddach this morning. In the afternoon Steve & Lyn R. saw a couple of White-tailed Eagles over the Port Ellen skerries prior to doing their WeBS count at Loch an t-Sailein (Seal Bay).  Among various counts were 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Wigeon, 8 Curlew and 2 Canada Geese.

David & Pauline Clugston were back on Islay today and noted a male Crossbill with Redwings and Fieldfares in the pine copse at Sunderland. They had 3 Hen Harriers at Loch Gorm, a male Wheatear at Ardnave, Greenshank in Loch Gruinart with 4+ Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Gadwalls on the Gruinart floods. 

Saturday 21st March

 A slightly cooler and cloudier day, but dry.

Harry & Denise Failey left today, but counted 140 Dunlin and 114 Bar-tailed Godwits at the top of Loch Indaal on their way to the ferry. James how was up at Ardnave where there were 3 White-tailed and a Golden Eagle, Merlin and 3 Purple Sandpipers, with another Golden Eagle, Hen Harriers sky-dancing, 3 Gadwall, a Sand Martin and 9 Black-tailed Godwits (some in summery plumage) at Gruinart.

I went down to Port Wemyss and around the southern part of the Rhinns with the hope of coming across yesterday's probable Crane, but had no luck. A flock of 60 Chaffinches at Gearach was the best I could muster.

An interesting report came in from Mary-Ann F. over at Kildalton of a Nuthatch identified by call on the Merlin app on her walk through the area. This would be Islay's second record of the species. Although the bird wasn't seen and we all know Merlin isn't infallible, it fits rather nicely with the recent sighting of Jura's second Nuthatch a week or so ago and the general spread of the species south into Argyll. So if anybody is over that way listen and look out for it to get a 100% confirmation.

Friday 20th March

Another glorious warm and sunny day.

It was last day of the trip for Nick Goddard and among his sightings were 5 Little Egrets at Gruinart where he saw a Golden Eagle heading off with what was probably a Barnacle goose as prey. Steven Murray saw another Golden Eagle at Loch Gorm plus a couple of Sand Martins - the latter also being clocked by Nick Bone along with a Wheatear at Ardnave, where he found a Merlin and both Golden and White-tailed Eagles annoying the geese. Ed B. saw another Wheatear at Lenavore, while over at Claggain Bay Mary-Ann F, had 6 Great Northern Divers and paired up Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Pied Wagtail and Shelduck. She also reported a couple of Great spotted Woodpeckers at Kildalton.

Most intriguing today has been a late note from Mary R. of reports of a Crane down at Port Wemyss and McKenzie Island. We aren't sure who saw it, or how well it was seen, but given that one was seen well at Moine Mhor, Lochgilphead last night and this morning, it sounds a likely genuine sighting and something to search for tomorrow. There have only been four previous confirmed sightings of Crane on Islay.

Thursday 19th March

A glorious warm, calm and sunny day - summer is here at least for a day or two!

Nick Goddard was birding over on Jura today with the following results: 

Sound of Islay, from Feolin: 10 Common Eiders, 2 Shags, Cormorant 

A846 from Feolin to Lussa: Red Throated Diver, 2 Pink-footed Geese, c.85 Canada Geese at Craighouse, White-tailed Eagle (photo below) Achamore, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Buzzard, Raven & Stonechat.

On Islay there was a first small arrival of more summer migrants: a first Chiffchaff heard singing by Paul Miller at Aoradh, Gruinart, Wheatears at Kintra, Saligo and Claddach, with 3 Sand Martins at Kintra and 2 at Kinnabus seen by the David D & David W.

Morven Laurie from Nature Scot kindly forwarded the last of the winter's International Goose Count results for Islay carried out on 17th-18th March: 29,759 Barnacle Geese, 4,869 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 1,202 Greylag Geese.

Billy Stitchell has been out and about with his camera and sent in some photos very redolent of the change-over from winter to spring, with wintering Wigeon and Greenshank lingering along with paired-off Mallards and singing Robins.

Wednesday 18th March

At last - a lovely warm, sunny and spring-like day. Unsurprisingly, this produced the first of the summer migrants. Clive McK. had a Wheatear at Ardnave with Harry and Denise Failey finding another on The Oa, where they also noted 3 Golden Eagles (2 adults and an immature). Later, near the road down to The Machrie Hotel they found a/the Magpie. Down at Claddach, Mary R. found our first Sand Martin, plus a couple of White-tailed Eagles perched up at Claddach Loch plus 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. David D. had a White Wagtail at Kinnabus where he also noted the Long-tailed Duck still on loch Kinnabus and a lone Pink-footed Goose. Steven Murray was the only one reporting from Gruinart today where he saw a Golden Eagle from the South Hide. In the fine weather the Black Guillemots were much in evidence at their usual haunts of Port Askaig and Bruichladdich Pier.

I stopped off at Blackrock in the afternoon sunshine to look over the calm waters of Loch Indaal. Nicholas Watts had previously seen 6 Brent Geese here, and I added 83 Common Scoters, 41 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, 6 Slavonian Grebes, 14 Red-throated and 11 Great Northern Divers. (Coincidentally, David Jardine was counting just across the water at the Sound of Gigha and added a further 172 Common Scoters, 22 Long-tailed Ducks and 27 Slavonian Grebes, and suggested that the combined total probably represents a substantial proportion of the Argyll total for these species).

Clive McK. sent in a note about finding a total of 6 Great northern Divers washed up dead on the big Strand (Laggan Bay) earlier in the week. It is a v ery long beach, so may mean nothing, but  always sad to see and worrying that it might be a few of a much larger number  that have died due to bad weather, disease or who knows what?

Tuesday 17th March

Weather today was basically "more of the same" - mild, but breezy from the south with odd bits of sunshine between rain.

Nick Goddard was out and about reporting birds on wet fields between Ballinaby and Saligo: 2 Choughs (one colour-ringed on the left leg with Grey-blue above yellow) also 19 Ringed Plovers, c5 Turnstones and 5 Redshanks. In the afternoon he noted a male Hen Harrier on the moor by Octofad.

Harry and Denise Failey saw a couple of Grey Wagtails at the Woollen Mill then scored with the three Ring-necked Ducks (a male with 2 females) still loitering on Loch Ballygrant.

Here at Bruichladdich there were 2 Siskins on the feeders.

Sunday 15th & Monday 16th March

More rain with sunny spells between. Slightly milder on Monday as winds came more directly from the south.

Yesterday Nick Goddard had 100+ Golden Plovers, mixed with Lapwings in fields near the RSPB Visitor Centre at Loch Gruinart, where I counted 13 Whooper Swans and  had 4 Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of pairs of Gadwall viewable from the hides. Harry & Denise Failey saw a Black-throated Diver on Loch Indaal early in the day.

At Bruicladdich Nick noted a Cormorant fishing near the pier.

Today at the South Hide Nick counted  8 Curlew amidst Lapwings, Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler and Teal. He also provided this photo of a couple of displaying pairs of Red Breasted Mergansers. Steven Murray had a ring-tailed Hen Harrier near Crosshouses. Harry & Denise Failey noted 40 Twite near Kilchoman and saw the Bruichladdich Cormorant again.

Friday 13th & Saturday 14th March

A couple more days of turbulent and changeable weather - sunny at times in between cold squally showers.

Yesterday's main news was a sighting of a Nuthatch at Craighouse, found by Theo's Nature Scotland group and photographed by Tim Wilson. There has been just one previous record on Jura of a single bird logged during the BTO 2007-11 Winter Atlas, with a likely date of 10th December 2008. Similarly, there is only one Islay record of a bird at Bunnhabhain on 2nd June 2020. The species is spreading fast into Argyll, so it has long been anticipated that more records and possible future breeding will occur here and on Jura.

Another minor rarity yesterday was a Magpie at Laggan Bay Distillery near the airport, first seen by Clive McK, who also had a large count of 130 Wood Pigeons at Loch Tallant. 

Steve & Lyn Rogers noted a Cormorant off the Gaelic College and today watched two adult White-tailed Eagles perched up near their home at Emerivale.

Harry & Denise Failey returned for another week of birding today and sent a good count of 150 Skylarks along the Ardnave road. David Dinsley was delighted to be able to get a proper photo of a Red Grouse today on The Oa - they are usually flying away at speed seconds after being seen!

Thursday 12th March

A blustery, windy and cold day with sunshine and squally rain - more rain than sun!

The only bird news comes from Theo and his Nature Scotland group who found the Green-winged Teal from the South Hide at RSPB Gruinart.

Wednesday 11th March

Quite strong SW winds, cool, with intermittent squally rain between sunnier spells for much of the day.

David D. started the records off today with a count of 61 Golden Plovers feeding on in-bye land at Kinnabus, and Mary-Ann F. noting 30+ Lapwings and 200 Starlings north of Port Ellen this morning. Marcus Covell at the Woollen Mill saw the usual Grey Wagtail on the sorn and a Golden Eagle overhead.

Other records came from Theo with his Nature Scotland group, finding 7 Great Northern Divers, 24 Eider, 3 female Common Scoter, 4 Kittiwake, 6 Choughs and a Gannet at Sanaigmore. Later, the Red-breasted Goose showed up on the flats at Gruinart (photo below), along with an adult Russian White-fronted Goose and Brent Goose near Craigens. Up at Ardnave were 3 more Great Northern Divers and a Greenshank, with 2 more of the latter at Bridgend and a female Merlin at Uiskentuie. For "the goose fans" as Theo puts it, he sent in a photo of a strikingly pale White-fronted Goose (photo below) near Kilchoman Distillery.

Tuesday 10th March

The day slowly developed into an overcast, rainy and windy affair with winds strong enough to cancel the evening ferry.

Theo of Nature Scotland was out and about relocating two of the previously three Ring-necked Ducks (an adult male and adult female) on Loch Ballygrant where there were  also 31 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. Later, at Ballinaby he noted 2 Choughs plus 8 Fieldfare, then a Slavonian Grebe at Port Ellen, and a semi-leucistic Starling at Lagavulin. At each location he recorded a small number (2-5) of "normal" (aka feral) Canada Geese. Over on Jura, Louise Muir noted a count of 130 "normal" Canada Geese - one of the larger counts of late.

Steve  & Lyn Rogers counted 10 Eider at Port Ellen marina and David D. kindly sent in some excellent photos taken recently on Islay. I'll include a couple tonight to brighten up the blog!

Sunday 8th & Monday 9th March

Two further basically dry, sunny days with a moderate breeze.

Thanks to Malcom O. for blogging while I was away giving a talk to the Argyll Bird Club about the new Birds of Islay and Jura book.

Yesterday Billy Stitchell  had a couple of fine Grey Wagtails on the Sorn by the Woollen Mill (photos below) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at East Lodge. Today he heard another Great Spotted Woodpecker at Lily loch.

Other news for today is of a Mallard with a clutch of 15 eggs at Cornabus and a Greenland White-fronted Goose at Corsapol that had been ringed by Ed B. at Ballinaby in 2012. Hannah D. found a Slavonian Grebe in Lagavulin Bay while David d. had the Long-tailed duck on Loch Kinnabus - again associating with Tufted Ducks.

Theo De Clermont of Nature Scotland is back on Islay and already finding some much less common species: a Red-necked Grebe and 2 Velvet Scoters off Blackrock. He also had a count of 29 Brent Geese between Islay and Jura and a Hen Harrier crossing to Islay from Jura. On Loch Skerrols were 27 Tufted Ducks and 7 Goldeneye, while at Blackrock there were totals of 10 Long-tailed Ducks, 15+ Slavonian Grebes and 80 Common Scoter. finally over at Machir Bay he tallied 13 Chough and 5 Ringed Plover.

Saturday 7th March

A second dry sunny day in succession, though with a stronger SE breeze. 

 
The only records received were from Bob Brown who saw 30 Fieldfares at Kilchoman and from visitor, Ella, who reported 2 Dippers at the mouth of Loch an t-Siob on Jura.

 
There are some disturbing signs that bird flu might be back among the geese, though not with the devastating effect that was experienced in winter 2022/23 when c.5000 Barnacles are thought to have died. A very few geese, including this time Greenland Whitefronts and Greylags, have been seen with possible symptoms, sitting at the edges of flocks, showing uncordinated head/neck movements, and being unusually tame. Please keep an eye open for anything similar and let us know.

Thursday 5th and Friday 6th March

Thursday was quite a wet day,  with variable winds, but on Friday we were blessed with wall-to-wall sunshine and a south-east breeze.

No records were submitted on Thursday, but Friday was busier, with Mary McR. seeing a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles and a male Hen Harrier at Claddach in the morning and then, in the early afterrnoon, 5 Whooper Swans flew over heading NW, having presumably come from Ireland. Peter R. spotted 4 pairs of Black Guillemot by Bruichladdich Pier, a regular breeding site, and Mary-Ann F. saw a Treecreeper at the Battery, above the High School, where there are plenty of small trees, though few larger ones, nor for some distance around. Redwing are on the move, as 40+ were reported from near Coullabus, while I saw 6-10 at Kintour.

Morven Laurie (NatureScot) has kindly sent the results of the latest island-wide goose count, held on 24th/25th February, revealing totals of 29,461 Barnacle Geese, 4,950 Greenland Whitefronts, and 1078 Greylags. Thank you, Morven. 

Wednesday 4th March

Rain overnight continued into an overcast and wet morning, gradually giving way to sunnier spells with a moderate southerly breeze.

Caroline Goodman was out birding today and noted 10 Eiders at Port Ellen and, as she put it, "the usual White-tailed Eagle passing, 2 maybe more" - how good to be living somewhere where WTE is commonplace and passe'!

Clive McK. counted gulls going to roost up at the top of Loch Indaal this evening and clocked up 1,410 Common Gulls, 75 Black-headed Gulls and 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Billy Stitchell sent the photo below of a Redwing in his garden to brighten up the blog.

Tuesday 3rd March

A cool, but sunny spring-like day with light winds.

 After a count of 6 White-tailed Eagles in the Lossit area on Saturday, there was a count of 7 in the air together over Port Ellen area yesterday.

Mary-Ann F. reports a male Bullfinch at Kildalton today.

Monday 2nd March

The day started off quite pleasantly with sunshine, but gradually clouded over with sporadic light showers as the wind picked up a little from the south.

David D. found a Magpie on The Oa this morning - still a very uncommon species here. It was Kathy Evans' last day on Islay today and she reported 6 Yellowhammers at pheasant feeders near Kildalton. Mary-Ann Featherstone and her friend Bob Brown were over at Sanaigmore where they found Peregrine, male Hen Harrier and over at Machir Bay a count of 100+ Jackdaws.

I took delivery of my book The Birds of Islay and Jura today, so am now able to start the process of distributing them to anyone interested in purchasing a copy. I've created another page on this blog that you can click on where you can find the various ways of obtaining one. You can find it towards the top right titled Birds of Islay and Jura.

Saturday 28th February & Sunday 1st March

Saturday was bright, dry and sunny with light winds. Sunday was a contrast with overcast skies, rain and strengthening winds from the south. Unsurprisingly, all the bird news came in from yesterday:

Ed B. reported good, close-in views on fairly calm waters at Blackrock, Loch Indaal of Long-tailed Ducks and 13 Common Scoters - 11 of them males. Mary-Ann Featherstone noted Dipper, Grey Wagtail and 30 Chaffinches at the Woollen Mill on the River Sorn - also seen by Kathy Evans who also noted a Hen Harrier on the Glen Road and a total of 6 White-tailed Eagles (5 adult, 1 immature) in the Lossit area of the Rinns.

Further news came in about the electrocuted Golden Eagle: it was a ringed bird and had been fledged on Mull in 2024.

There were a couple of notes in that perhaps need further corroboration as they involve odd dates and numbers: 2 Swallows apparently photographed by Nicol McKinnon on Islay on Thursday and a record of Lapland Buntings and Skylarks at Ardfin on Jura, but unclear as to numbers of each.

Thursday 26th & Friday 27th February

Two more days of mild, mostly sunny weather with light winds and a few showers.

The only report for Thursday was from David D. of a long-tailed duck on Loch Kinnabus - not a usual location for the species.

Today Caroline Goodman reported rings from a Chough seen at Kildnaughton Bay. It was a bird fledged from RSPB The Oa in 2025. After David W.'s excellent talk at the INHT AGM last night, which included some dismal notes about how few young were surviving after fledging, it is good to know that at least this one has made it thus far. Much more sad news was Steve Percival reporting an immature Golden Eagle electrocuted on power lines up towards Ardnave - a mercifully rare occurrence.

Kathy Evans noted 2 Little Egrets and the Red-breasted Goose up around Killinallan and Craigens. while David d. had the first report of an Adder sun-basking at Kinnabus.

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th February

More of the same weather - light winds, showers, mixed with sunshine on Tuesday, but more overcast on Wednesday. Both days mild.

Regular visitors Michael Anderson and Elspeth MacArthur emailed to confirm another very enjoyable stay o Islay, reporting a flock of 40 Skylarks NE of Loch Gorm on Monday, with 8 Choughs and a Golden Eagle at Ardnave Loch on Tuesday and a Hen Harrier over Loch Gruinart.

On Tuesday Steve Percival reported that David D.'s colour-ringed Barnacle Geese sighting at Kintra was a female ringed in southern Iceland on 11th July 2023 that has been a regular winter visitor to Kintra/Cornabus area each winter since. Marcus Covell noted a couple of Grey Wagtails and a Dipper in their favourite haunt on the River Sorn by the Woollen Mill plus a possible Red Kite flying over.

Today there were more reports of early spring with Skylarks singing on The Oa and along the RSPB Morland Trail at Gruinart, though 100 Skylarks seen by Clive McK. in fields near Creag Mhor were clearly not pairing up t breed yet. Lingering winter birds included two pairs of Long-tailed Ducks on Loch Indaal seen by Caroline Goodman. Fiona McG. noted a flock of at least 100 Wood Pigeons going into the woodland around Loch Tallant. Mary R. had a couple of Pink-footed Geese near Port Mor along with that odd Chinese-type goose and Greylags. Over on Jura, Louise M. notes Tawny Owls in full voice this evening near Craighouse.

Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd February

Two further days of moderate SW winds and a mix of sunshine and showers.

Yesterday's news was of a Canada Goose at Cornabus plus a couple of reports of what would be great rarities: a White-billed Diver seen from the ferry close to Gigha and a Hobby at Kildalton. It seems both were seen fairly fleetingly and not possible to confirm 100%.

Today there were reports of Hen Harrier at Blackrock, Merlin at Ghiol on The Oa, and the Red-breasted Goose seen again at Craigens, Loch Gruinart. An Icelandic ringed Barnacle Goose was found dead at Kintra, there were 25 Eiders at Blackrock this afternoon and over on Jura, Louise Muir saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Feolin.

Saturday 21st February

 A damp day with moderate SW winds, some sunshine at times.

Clive McK. reports a Kestrel over Moine Mhor yesterday.

Steve & Lyn Rogers found Dippers in their usual places - two of them along the Sorn in Bridgend Woods.

Steve left the island after another "fabulous week" as he put it and left us with a few great photos of some of the birds seen including two of the three Ring-necked Ducks and the "old faithful" Red-breasted Goose..

Friday 20th February

A day of showers and sunshine with winds coming more from the SW making temperatures a bit milder.

An extra note for yesterday came in from Clive McK. of a Water Rail between Blackpark and Uiskentuie and his first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year at the Bridgend gull roost.

Today there were notes of Golden Eagle at Port Wemyss from Mary R. and another at Lenavore, The Oa from Charlie Aspinwall. Clive McK. noted Mistle Thrush singing in the woodland at Gruinart this morning while Steve had the Red-breasted Goose on Gruinart flats towards Craigens and a lone Brent Goose at Bridgend. Steve Percival notes drumming Snipe at Gruinart this evening - further suggestions of spring at last!

From Jura come reports of 3 White-tailed Eagles, single Golden Eagle and Hen Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 28 Brent Geese and a flock of Canada Geese.

My news is that my book on the Birds of Islay and Jura has finally arrived - at least 100 advanced copies! This is in time for me to give a talk about the book at the Argyll Bird Club Spring Meeting on Seil Island on Saturday 7th March and another Talk/Book Launch here on Islay for the Islay Natural History Trust at Port Charlotte on Thursday 12th March.

It is the first complete account of the comparatively under-recorded bird life of Jura and gives the first detailed and complete account under one cover of these two island’s avifauna, using data gathered from historical records, earlier publications on the birds of Islay, plus a wealth of present day surveys and observations up to the end of 2025.  

416 full-colour pages include brief descriptions for both islands on habitats, land use and geology and detailed text for each species giving historic and current status.  Many graphs, charts and maps depict monthly and annual occurrence and population trends, breeding distribution details, breeding and peak counts for many species and protected areas on Islay and Jura. The book includes over 180 photographs, all taken on Islay and Jura, illustrating many species and habitats.

I will post details of how you can order your copy (£25 plus p&p) in the next day or two.

Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th February

 Two quite wet days with cooler winds from the SE.

Yesterday's reports c/o Mary Redman & Steve include a Russian White-fronted Goose at the Craigens turn off at Gruinart, a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cornabus, Whooper Swan at Claddach Loch, Merlin at Craigens and an immature White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier at the RSPB Gruinart hides.

Today Richard Grimmett recorded a Greenland White-fronted Goose with neck collar CST near Sanaigmore. Malcolm confirms it as being ringed at Ballinaby in winter 2019/20, returning to the same area each winter up to 2023/24, but not seen in 2024/25. Richard also reports 25 Eider and 2 Great Northern Divers at Saligo Bay with 3 more Great Northerns at Sanaigmore and 2 Golden Eagles.

Steve confirms that a male and female Ring-necked Duck are still in residence at Loch nan Cadhan plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Bridgend Woods.

Tuesday 17th February

 A bright and sunny day with light winds.

Thanks to Malcolm O. for writing the blog over the past two weeks while I've been away birding in Ecuador. It was an exciting trip with c.450 species seen including 70+ species of hummingbirds - but always good to be home.

Various reports in today focus largely on wildfowl: 4 Scaup, 12 Long-tailed Ducks, and "plenty" of Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders, Common Scoters and Goldeneye along with 6 Slavonian Grebes and Great Northern & Red-throated Divers, plus odd Razorbills and Black Guillemots in Loch Indaal this morning under ideal, calm viewing conditions. Ed B. had the "small" Canada Goose at Cornabus and the Red-breasted Goose was again showing well at Craigens.

Clive McK. reports from Creag Mhor  that there have been up to 80 Chaffinches regularly at his feeders - but virtually no other finches accompanying them. He also saw a Barn Owl there today, successfully hunting in daylight and immediately being hassled by a Hooded Crow.

Monday 16th February

Quite a bit of rain accompanied, if briefly, by a southwest wind, though it is now working its way back east again via north.

Plenty of observations today, starting with Steve R. finding only a female Ring-necked Duck on Loch nan Cadhan, but no sign of the pair on neighbouring Loch Ballygrant, where, though, he saw 12 Tufted Ducks. He flushed Woodcock from the woods around the lake, and then had a flock of several hundred Golden Plover along the High Road on his way back to Port Ellen. New visitor Richard Grimmett found the male Green-winged Teal in front of the south hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart at lunchtime, also seeing 2 White-tailed Eagles, as well as Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier and Merlin.

In the early afternoon, David W. counted 115 Lapwings at Kinnabus and Steve Percival found a Cackling Goose at Starchmill in a flock of Barnacle Geese. At about the same time, David Jardine was photographing 3 Russian White-fronted Geese at Gleannagaoidh on the Rhinns. Later in the afternoon, on the ferry to Jura, he spotted 31 Brents beside the small island of Glas Eilean. Having watched an adult and an immature White-tailed Eagles flushing the Cackling Goose and the Barnacles at Starchmill, Steve R. moved to Gruinart and found the wintering Red-breasted Goose on the flats looking from Craigens.

And here's David Jardine's long lens photo of the 3 Russian Whitefronts. Their black belly markings are heavier than is perhaps usual, as one thinks of Greenland Whitefronts having more obvious bars, but the larger white foreheads and pinkish bills are very obvious.

 

Sunday 15th February

A wet morning was followed by a slightly brighter afternoon, but the major weather news is that the wind was from the west!

David Jardine reported a Carrion Crow with Hoodies at Ardnave yesterday. This species is more or less annual here, usually in ones or twos, very occasionally more, with distinct autumn and late winter peaks. Mary McR. reported a largish gathering of 34 Oystercatchers by her Port Wemyss house this morning, while David checked out the three Ring-necked Ducks still on Loch nan Cadhan.

Saturday 14th February

The morning started well with blue skies and sunshine, but all too quickly it clouded over with the wind getting up and the rain arriving later in the day.

Visitor Gill filed a late report of 4 Golden Eagles in the air at Ardnave yesterday, along with ringtail and male Hen Harriers, also 2 males seen near Cornabus, a Barn Owl the previous day at Ardnave, and a Greenshank near Bowmore.

Jim Wells was over on the rib from Ballycastle with members of the Northern Ireland Ornithologists Club and, despite having to leave earlier than planned because of the deteriorating weather, reported seeing no less than 5 White-tailed Eagles, 3 on Nave Island and 2 by the Gruinart hides. They also saw plenty of Choughs, a couple of Hen Harriers and several Roe Deer.

 

Thursday 12th and Friday 13th February

Thursday's weather continued the run of easterlies with some rain, but Friday saw an abrupt and very welcome change to a glorious sunny day after a very slight frost, with a light north to northeast breeze.

Owls dominate the sightings, with Clive Mck. seeing 2 roadside Barn Owls on Wednesday evening, 1 in the shelter of Eresaid wood,  the other on the fence outside the RSPB office at Gruinart, while David Jardine saw another Barn Owl at Blackrock at 2.20am on Thursday morning; I'm unsure whether David was out very late or very early. On Thursday evening, Mary McR. spotted a Tawny owl with prey at Ellister, then a Barn Owl just outside Portnahaven.

During the day on Thursday, Clive McK. was out and about, finding 1 Merlin, 85 Skylark in a flock, a possibly influx, and 12 Reed Buntings at Craigens, as well as 30+ Ravens and 2 White-tailed Eagles at Gearach.

 

Wednesday 11th February

See yesterday's forecast, but with more rain in the morning.

Today's sightings were all of wildfowl, which makes a change from raptors! Nick Parsons found the 3 Ring-necked Ducks on Loch nan Cadhan again and also saw what was presumably the same adult Light-bellied Brent as yesterday, this time in a Barnacle Goose flock just outside Bridgend, beside the Ballygrant road. At lunchtime, Fiona McG. reported a flock of 10 Pink-footed Geese at Sunderland, while later on Nick Parsons saw 4 in a flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese at Kintra. While ones and twos of Pinkfeet are regular among the wintering goose flocks, small flocks like this are usually only seen in autumn and spring, so these seem likely to be fairly recent arrivals. Perhaps the persistent east winds had something to do with it. Finally, David Jardine found the Chinese Goose in a flock of Greylags at Port Charlotte. It was present in the autumn, disappeared for a while, and then turned up again a week or two ago. One wonders in which farmyard it presumably lives in between its flights out to feed with its friends.

Craig Calladine took this long-distance photograph of the 3 Ring-necked Ducks on Loch nan Cadhan, a pair plus a second female.

 

Tuesday 10th February

Weather shouldn't be boring, but with the umpteenth day with easterly winds and some rain it it beginning to feel that way.

Ed B. reported a redhead Goosander on the Cornabus Burn in the morning, followed after lunch by a Lesser Black-backed Gull, his first migrant of the spring! A second one was seen around the same time by David Jardine just north of Bruichladdich. A single Pale-bellied Brent as seen by Nick Parsons in the Barnacle roost at Loch Indaal in the late afternoon, and visitors Arash Marashi and Craig Calladine reported that the 3 Ring-necked Ducks first seen on Loch Ballygrant in December were still present, though this time on the adjacent Loch nan Cadhan.

Visitor Rudolf has just posted a sequence of stunning photographs of a Sparrowhawk attacking a Hooded Crow which he took on January 20th. Here are three of them.