Friday 30th January

The easterly wind continued all day carrying just one or two small showers.

Just one bird record was received, from Fiona McG, but an interesting one of about 6 Yellowhammers just outside Bowmore close to the Cruach turning. This species is resident on Islay with low tens of pairs, very scattered in both farmland and in coastal gullies. It is thought to have declined as a breeding species in the last 20-30 years, as it has in the whole of Argyll, while small flocks, like this one, can turn up in winter almost anywhere, sometimes on their own, sometimes in flocks of buntings and finches.

And here's a Gordon Langsbury photograph.

 

Wednesday 28th & Thursday 29th January

The easterly winds continue unrelentingly, though at least the last two days have been a bit drier than Tuesday when 25 mm (an inch in old money) fell at the airport, and there has even been a bit of sunshine.

On Wednesday, Clive McK watched a white-winged Barn Owl hunting over Moine Mhor, RSPB Loch Gruinart, in broad daylight. As he commented, it was doubtless very hungry after the last few days of weather. On Thursday, Mary McR saw a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles on the Rinns between Octofad and Ellister and a Sparrowhawk at Octofad, while the usual three Choughs were at Claddach.

First-time visitor, Peter Emery, with a birding friend, had a good three days here the previous weekend and has sent in some records, plus a promise to come back!

On Sunday 18th, a Golden Eagle over Port Ellen bay, and another on a ridge close to Port Charlotte. Loch Indaal held Red- and Black-throated Divers, a Long-tailed Duck, a raft of Common Scoters, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Light-bellied Brents, while there were Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and Goldeneye on Loch Skerrols. A mixed thrush flock near Gleannagaoidh contained Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare.

On Monday 19th, there were 4 or 5 White-tailed Eagles on the sand in Loch Gruinart and up to 8 Whooper Swans on the RSPB reserve, and a male and female Hen Harrier were quartering the moors to the west of the road from L. Gruinart to Ardnave.

On Tuesday 20th,  there was a Golden Eagle and, a bit later, 2 White-tailed, on fields opposite Kilnaughton cemetery, c. 20 Twite at the RSPB carpark on The Oa, a Merlin on the way to the American Monument, and 2 Gannets off Kintra.

Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th January

Very little to report other than nasty weather as Storm Chandra moved through bringing gale force easterly winds and plenty of rain.

The only bird news comes from Malcolm O. who had a record count of 104 House Sparrows in his garden during the RSPB Garden Birdwatch  session on Sunday.

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January

Another couple of days of quite blustery winds from an easterly direction. Saturday was fairly bright and dry, but Sunday was back to grey and rainy. 

On Saturday Gary T. was birding in the Finlaggan area and had Golden and White-tailed Eagles patrolling the hilltops there. He also watched Crossbills in the deciduous trees, picking at moss and lichen on the branches  at Finlaggan house which prompted some discussion about why they regularly go there and do that.

Talking of Gary T. and his imminent departure from Islay, regular visiting birder Ken Reeves sent in this message and photo of Gary to the blog:

"A big thank you to Gary Turnbull for his friendship and help on our many winter trips to the wonderful Islands of Islay & Jura. We all wish him the best for the future. Cheers Gary from myself, Steve Lister, Keith Tinworth, Richard Cross, Chris Mills and all the members of Burbage Birders travel group!"

Today's birding notes come from Mary R. who counted 5 White-tailed Eagles between Octofad and Bruichladdich.  She also had her regular Merlin sighting near Uiskentuie and a good find of Kingfisher at Bowmore Harbour.

I was sent photos of, presumably the same odd Swan Goose hybrid that reappeared near Port Charlotte.

Friday 23rd January

Strong easterly winds overnight and for much of the day bringing plenty of rain and cloud to start with but brighter towards the end of the day.

The only bird news today comes from Louise Muir on Jura who had received a report of a Nuthatch near Craighouse this afternoon. This species was still regarded as a vagrant in Argyll in 2003, but has since spread as a breeding bird into the county from Cowal, to most of North Kintyre and parts of Mull. There is a single previous record for Jura, noted in the BTO 2007-2011 Winter Atlas and presumably the same as a bird reported at Jura House on 10 December 2008. Similarly, there is just one record on Islay of a single bird at Bunnahabhain on 2 June 2020 and David Jardine messaged to say that the first for Colonsay was found last December. So it is a species on the move into Argyll, on the increase and may, one day, colonise these islands, as did Great Spotted Woodpecker in 2013.

Thursday 22nd January

An overcast, windy and rainy day.

Despite the unpleasant weather, cabin-fever got the better of me and I checked Lochs Ballygrant and Skerrols in the rain. nothing but 3 Tufted Ducks and a Woodcock in adjacent woodland at Ballygrant, but 18 Tufted Ducks, 6 Goldeneye (all female) and 3 Goosanders (2 male, 1 female) at Skerrols.

Mary R. noticed a Gannet diving offshore at Currie Sands and 5 Chough around the same area, while David D. had a Barn Owl on the wing at Ghiol, The Oa.

 

Wednesday 21st January

 Drizzly at times becoming windier with more persistent rain by the evening.

No records noted today, but Clive McK. sent in some details from his WeBS count yesterday from Bowmore to Blackrock. Amongst 30 species recorded were 33 Shelduck, 127 Wigeon, 33 Mallard, 145 Teal, 53 Common Scoter, 27 Red-breasted Mergansers, 232 Oystercatchers, 70 Lapwing, 251 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshanks, 144 Knot, 166 Dunlin, 197 Common Gulls and singles of Black-throated Diver, Little Egret and a Kingfisher - the latter by the generating station just outside Bowmore. He also had a loose flock of 17 Rock Pipits at Carnain.

The only bird news today comes from Gary Turnbull who confirms that he and Sam are soon relocating to the mainland to be closer to family. Islay will be poorer for their move away - especially the birding community, as Gary has been one of the island's most active resident birders for the last c.11 years. He has contributed masses of individual records: all sorts of useful observations including from areas where others don't reach too often, to WeBS and other surveys and counts, discoveries of uncommon and scarcer species and valuable notes on other wildlife. I'm sure that all the many birders - resident and visiting - whose paths you've crossed will be very sorry to see the both of you go, but wish you all the very best back on the mainland - and hope that you'll be back on Islay for your holidays!

Tuesday 20th January

A blustery day with quite strong SE winds, cloud and a fair bit of rain.

The only bird note sent in is of an uncommon non-breeding species for Islay - a Magpie! First seen by David D. at Cragabus, then again (or was it a second bird?) by Ed. B. at Cornabus. On the one hand it would be good to think there were two - "one for sorrow, two for joy" etc, but the thoughts of two birds staying and starting to breed is probably less welcome?

Monday 19th January

Mostly rainy and cloudy with moderate winds seemingly discouraged anyone from birding today. However, visitor Mark Avery sent in some notes from the previous few days. Noteworthy among them are:

Friday: a Kingfisher at Gartmain

Saturday: a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, and single Greenshank at Gartmain and a Great Northern Diver at Carnain. At Bruichladdich were 3 Brent Geese and a White-tailed Eagle at Gruinart.

Sunday: a Gadwall at Ardnave Loch and Golden Eagle on the west side of Gruinart, with 5 immature White-tailed Eagles together feeding on a couple of goose carcasses on the Killinallan side where there was a Merlin and 2 Canada Geese.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th January

Another couple of days of mixed weather - rain and shine - with a few birds being noted.

Billy Stitchell  saw a total of 5 Buzzards on Saturday morning: one on its usual pole at Limekiln, two on fence posts at Cluanach, one on  road-kill at the cattle grid near Barr and another one taking off with its road-kill at the cattle grid at Knocklearoch.

Today Ed B. reports a Jack Snipe at Cornabus and Martin A. had a Pink-footed Goose near Kilchoman distillery. 

Visitor Rudolf Hummel sent in more records: 2 Brent Geese at Port Charlotte on Friday afternoon, 4 Whooper Swans at Ardnave yesterday and 5 at Gruinart today where he also saw a Pink-footed Goose. A couple of Great Northern divers were seen up towards Nave Island, with Gadwall on Ardnave Loch. He reckoned that 3 Golden Eagles were feeding on a dead Barnacle Goose at Gruinart where he also mentions two further dead Barnies and one looking sick. I hope this is not a further outbreak of Bird Flu? Other birds of prey seen by Rudolf were White-tailed Eagle, a male and female Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk at Sanaigmore.

Thursday 15th & Friday 16th January

A brighter, sunny day for much of Thursday, but more variable with sunshine in the middle of the day, but cloud and rain with a light SW breeze otherwise.

Morven sent in the January International Goose Count totals, the census carried out on 13th & 14th January. There were 27,731 Barnacle Geese, 4,093 White-fronted Geese and 659 Greylag Geese.

Billy Stitchell sent in a photo of another bird species visiting his productive garden up at Caol Ila:

Wednesday 14th January

Today's weather grew increasingly blustery and rainy from late morning onwards, so no records of any birds came through.

A bit of news from James H. for yesterday (13th) mentions 2 White-tailed Eagles at Loch Gruinart, 2 Golden Eagles and another White-tailed Eagle on the other side of Gruinart at Killinallan, and a further one of each up at Ardnave. James also located the elusive Red-breasted Goose at Gruinart along with a Water Rail.

Having asked about Chaffinches at other folk's bird feeders I had a note from Malcolm O. just up the road from me in Bruichladdich saying he is regularly seeing 15-18 in his garden - about 10 more than in recent winters. He also lamented the decline in Greenfinches: he used to have 3 pairs nesting in the garden.

Billy Stitchell sent in the following count from his garden and feeders at Caol Ila for yesterday: Chaffinch c.40-50 plus 4 Blue Tits, 6 Coal Tits, 5 Great Tits, 1 Siskin and 3 Greenfinches, 1 Treecreeper, 10 Blackbirds, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Collared Doves, c.10 Dunnocks.

He also commented: "I usually chop the Buddleia and Chinese Honeysuckle back at the end of the year, but not last year due to the weather. I hadn’t realised the Sparrows love the seeds, the branches were buckling under their weight and the noise! Same with the Honeysuckle; that’s what attracts the Bullfinch"

Saturday 10th January to Tuesday 13th January

 Very little to report on the bird front over the past few days. Weather has ameliorated from the colder conditions of last week into something more typical of an Islay winter - milder, quickly changing between clouds and rain and sunnier spells with mostly moderate winds.

Daavid D. noted a Merlin at Sanaigmore on Saturday. Yesterday (12th) Gary T. had a pair of Choughs out at Finlaggan and Steve & Lyn Rogers noted 2 White-tailed Eagles and a Kestrel over their garden at Kilnaughton. Also yesterday, Martin Armstrong had a Yellowhammer near the Round Church at Bowmore. Today David D. reports that the small Canada Goose was present at Kinnabus.

Mary Ann Featherstone sent in a couple of photos of some colourful, regular species in her garden at Kildalton to brighten up the blog.

Here at Bruichladdich I had a count of 7 Greenfinches on the feeders and there are 35-45 Chaffinches on my bird-feeders each day. It would be interesting to have counts of Chaffinches from other feeders.

Friday 9th January

While other large areas of the country experienced strong winds and snow, it was a calm, and at times sunny day here - though temperatures almost at freezing point at times.

Clive McK. reported a White-tailed Eagle predating a Barnacle Goose on Loch Gruinart and Ed B. saw the parvipes Canada Goose again at Cornabus. Gary T. watched a lone Brambling among a flock of c.50 Chaffinches at Crosshouses and I took advantage of the flat calm waters of Loch Indaal to check birds off Blackrock. There was the usual good selection of Eiders and Red-breasted Mergansers with counts of 22 Red-throated divers, 16 Long-tailed Ducks, 14 Slavonian Grebes and c.45 Common Scoter.

Monday 5th to Thursday 8th January

 Don't worry! The blog is still going, but there have been no notified sightings for days as the weather has presumably convinced people not to venture far from home. The weather has been variable - some very light snow and cold/icy conditions, giving way today to much milder weather with the snow melted. Winds have been at worst "breezy" and nothing like the awful weather being experienced further south in the UK - nor the heavy snowfalls in northern Scotland.

The better conditions today resulted in a few records coming in - David D. had a Long-tailed Duck on loch Kinnabus - unusual to have a sighting on a freshwater loch. Ed B. saw the parvipes type Canada Goose down at Cornabus along with 5 Pink-footed Geese. There was also a report sent in of the Red-breasted Goose being seen in fields with Barnies above the moorland trail at Gruinart.

Here at Bruichladdich, with a flat calm sea and milder weather, the 6 or more Black Guillemots at the pier seemed to be pairing up, displaying and pretending it was spring!

Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th January

Two cold and wintery days with intermittent sleety, snowy showers.

There were no reports of any bird sightings yesterday, but today James H. was at the RSPB Gruinart North Hide where the Green-winged Teal is still present plus 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 adult White-tailed Eagles.

Billy Stitchell was out and about with his camera and sent in these lovely photos of our local birds:

 

Friday 2nd January

Clive McK. spotted a Barn Owl on a roadside fence at Gruinart last night.

Today, snowy showers along with fairly strong northerly winds brought a very wintry feel to a normally slightly more benign Islay.

I popped up to the top of Loch Indaal at Bridgend and walked out to the mouth of the River Sorn where a scattered total of 6 White-tailed Eagles sat and flapped into the wind on the flats. Here too were 2-3 Greenshanks and a couple of Little Egrets looking very chilly. Up at Loch Skerrols the loch seemed devoid of the usual Tufted Ducks but a trio of Goosander, including one male, made the visit worthwhile. Here at Bruichladdich were a record-beating total of 7 Greenfinches on my feeders.

Elsewhere, Andy Clements was out on the Oa where he counted 22 Twite on the RSPB Car Park feeders.

Thursday 1st January 2026

Happy New Year to all the readers of the blog. 

The first day of 2026 was cool, with northerly buffeting winds and sleety rain showers. 

However, some of us got out for some New Year's birding. I started things off with a couple of White-tailed Eagles sat out as usual on the flats of Loch Indaal at Bridgend. Andy Clements came by a little later and found three in the same place. We drove on to Bowmore where we found 5 Brent Geese, Andy Webb finding 20 there shortly after (photo below)! We then went on to The Oa and said hello to Ed Burrell at Cornabus who, shortly after we left, saw another White-tailed Eagle chasing Woodcock over his patch. At the RSPB The Oa car park it was too windy and wet to think about doing the walk out to the American Monument, so we had a coffee, lunch and watched the 25+ Twite at the feeders (my friend, Ken Chapman, with me from Sandwich in the SE of England mentioned that this species now requires a rarity description when see in Kent!). Andy Webb joined us here and managed to see a Golden Eagle on his way back to Port Ellen that we managed to miss! Andy then popped up to Ballygrant loch to "year tick" the three Ring-necked Ducks there.