Thursday 26th March

Gary was in touch this morning by e mail...
"Yesterday 10 Lesser Redpoll over moorland in front & behind house checking out willows."

Steve Percival was as in touch late afternoon, regarding the dead Barnie that Bob found. It was ringed on 19 July last year on the breeding grounds in SE Iceland by Carl Mitchell and a team of Icelanders (as a juvenile, hatched that year). This was the first record of it since ringing.  Bob told me later on, that he felt that the goose had been shot, but hard to be 100% sure as it was fairly well decomposed..

David Wood had seen a Stock Dove down on the Oa today, a new tick for the Oa records.


Malcolm kindly sent me this e mail regarding the policy being carried out by Calmac regarding ferry travel to Islay.
"CalMac at Kennacraig are now asking for confirmation from travellers that they have a permanent address on the island. Even if the great majority have realised for themselves that they shouldn't be travelling here, it might save a wasted journey for a small number." 
I believe that as of tomorrow, we are on a single ferry crossing with 2 return trips per day and only a single return trip on Sundays.
Also on the travel front, I believe that HIAL the overall company responsible for operating the airport, has said that all the airports operated by them will be shut for passengers from Sunday onwards....

Monday 8th July

Yesterday a visitor had seen a Barnacle Goose on the reserve at Gruinart. Early evening, I had a male Hen Harrier fly along the top of the crag. Later on as it was so calm, and also the sea was relatively quiet, we went out the back of midnight to do the Corncrake survey on our patch. We only heard 6 calling birds, which in some ways can be a good sign as it can indicate that he has found a mate! We also had 2 Hedgehogs, but no Barn Owls. Keith from Glasgow had seen another male Hen Harrier this morning close to Foreland and George had ringtail today down near his house. This evening at Blackrock, Bob counted 26 Arctic Terns and also 26 Barwits there too, a Barnacle Goose was also on the water, the same one as yesterday or could it be a different goose?. Earlier on down at Gortan, a Heron was being mobbed by a Common Gull, perhaps the Heron was too close to the Gull's nest! Further along, towards Bruichladdich, the pr of Shelduck were out with their brood of 7, good to see that none have been predated.

Tuesday 5th June

It's been a long day, been up since the early hours this morning, but back home now so time for a quick blog. I notice that I put the wrong date for yesterday's entry...but on double checking I am correct that this is Tuesday and it is the 5th, back on track again!!! Mary had been busy over the weekend carrying out survey work. She had a pair of Canada Geese over on Nave Island on Saturday and also an elusive Barnacle Goose there too. At Ardnave point, there were 3 Golden Plover in summer plumage. Round at the lobster ponds, a pair of Shelduck was seen along with  8 ducklings, also there was a pair of Greylags with their young. There were a large flock of 50 Curlew and nearly 60 Oystercatcher. Round the corner, 8 Whimbrel were seen, 19 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone in summer plumage, 3 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover and 6 Sanderling in varying different stages of moult. Yesterday, Mary had a Black tailed Godwit in full summer plumage at Ardnave, several young Lapwings in flight and 3 pairs with very young chicks as well. Back down in the woods behind the office Mary had a couple of Blackcaps calling away, as well as some Willow Warblers there too. Returning back down to the office, a male Hen Harrier was seen, and later on a couple of Ravens were heard calling away. Today, Mary had a couple of Cuckoos on the reserve at Gruinart, and down on the Rhinns she saw a Short eared Owl. Yesterday, Dave saw 3 Risso's Dolphins off the Oa.

Tuesday 3rd May

Yesterday George heard a Cuckoo in the trees next to his house, and today he had a Sparrowhawk flying around as they do, causing great upsets...Bob had a Greenshank on the floods at Gruinart, and round at Ballinaby today he had a Barnacle Goose along with the Greylags, a Pink footed Goose was also there too. The other day there were 38 Greylags and a large Canada Goose in one of the fields next to his house.

Here at home at 4.30 this morning the Cuckoo was in full cry! Over at Ballinaby a male Marsh Harrier was seen this morning, and other visitors had seen a pair of Marsh Harriers up the top end of Jura. James today on the reserve had 6 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Bullfinch (out on the hill) 3 Water Rail, 2 Cuckoos calling. Also seen were a Green hair streaked butterfly and also a Peacock butterfly.

Saturday 19th February

Last night for a while, it turned out to rather wet and windy, but today turned out a bit better, although the morning ferry was diverted up to Port Askaig. Even the birds were better...
This morning, here at home we had a Siskin on one of the bird feeders. Later on, after lunchtime we went round Loch Gorm and then up to Ardnave. Just past Coull, on the whins at the roadside was a Stonechat, and further on there was a large bird on top of a straining post, on looking through the bins it was a Golden Eagle. A few moments later on and another Eagle came into sight as it soared past. The first bird took off and both of them on the wing. We watched them for a while before they flew off out of sight. Ardnave Loch had 12 Whooper Swans, a pair of Mute Swans, some Tufted Duck, Wigeon and a few Teal. On the shoreline were 5 Lapwing, a pair of Oystercatcher, and later a pair of Curlew were seen too. Just before the darkening, a couple of Peregrine were sitting on the crag, here at home.
I was speaking with Steve Percival who this morning had seen a Barnacle Goose over at Craigens that was initially rung back as a juvenile bird in Iceland in 1983, so is now 27+ years old....
Another visitor was in touch this evening with their sightings. They had been watching a male Hen Harrier down towards Portnahaven for the best part of an hour, as it quartered back and forward. At same point, they had 3 Buzzard, a Kestrel and later a Peregrine. On their way home they had a Short eared Owl.

Friday 28th January

Malcolm kindly sent me some rainfall figures comparing the totals for the Airport and here at Kilchoman. Here at home, our figures may be a bit rough and ready, but here we go anyway!At the Airport, the 2010 tally was 42.1" while we had only 40.0", the previous year (2009) we had 57.5"and the Airport figure was 56.4". I wonder if anyone else records here on Islay, say even at Bridgend, or Port Askaig where the effect of the Paps would have an effect I would think. Many thanks Malcolm for providing these figures.

I was speaking to Albert Percival, Steve's father, earlier on this evening. Albert was saying that the Barnacle goose that was seen in the Bronx in New York became a big twitch in the States!

Down towards the road end to Rockside this afternoon, we saw a Merlin being chased by a couple of Jackdaws, the jackies eventually gave up and the Merlin rested up for a few moments on a telegraph pole. Also yesterday, over at Gruinart a Blackbird crashed into a bush, calling out loudly, and seconds later a Sparrowhawk emerged out of the bush, but with no Blackbird. We had not actually seen the birds "enter" the bush, but we did hear the noise of something crashing into the bush....

Sun 28th November

This image of a Barnacle Goose was sent through tonight from Steve Percival. It was taken yesterday morning on a beach on The Bronx, New York by Shari Zirlin. The Goose itself was one rung by Steve back in November 2002, and was last seen on Islay in 2005, but Steve assures me that its mother and some of its sibling are still up at Ardnave! Must have taken a wrong turning somewhere and not returned to Islay... Possibly prefers city life to here!

Carl yesterday had Woodcock at Octofad, Snipe at Lyrabus Croft and Loch Gruinart, a male Hen Harrier at Rock Mountain. Down at Bruichladdich, Redshank, Purple Sandpiper and Ringed Plover were present. Back home at Port Charlotte, a Sparrowhawk was seen eating a male Blackbird!

Apologies for the late entry, but better late than never!!!

Mon 17th Aug

This afternoon, James spotted a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the flower bed outside his house.

Last week, on Tuesday afternoon while going down to help put up the tents for the show, I saw a single Barnacle Goose down on the shoreline at Blackrock, just as the burn enters the sea. Could this be the same solitary goose that has been seen off and on through the summer, it has also been seen over at at Uiskentuie, again where the freshwater goes into Loch Indaal. Certainly the times I have seen it, there appears not to have sign of any injury.

Thurs 11th June

A few sightings in from James over the past few days, on Monday he had a Water rail on the reserve at Gruinart, Tuesday and he heard 2 Red Grouse calling and saw a female. It is good to hear that are still a few left here on Islay. Wednesday, and he saw a Redpoll, a Whitefronted Goose, 33 Ringed Plover, 28 Dunlin, 18 Arctic Terns as well as an Adder! JRH

Earlier on in the week, down at Glenburn, at the top of Loch Indaal, I saw a Barnacle Goose, but as the road was busy I was unable to stop and get a better look at it. Tonight, as it is a calm evening, Margaret and myself are going to do a quick Corncrake count round our patch, and hopefully be back in by 1am! More figures from that on tomorrow's blog.....

Mon 30th July 07

No, this image has not been digitally enhanced, but this single Barnacle Goose appeared last week, and I was fortunate enough to see it amongst a group of 54 Greylags this afternoon. After a while the Greylags started to harass it! Last night there was a "late" Corncrake calling here at our house, still going strong as I went to bed around midnight. If he finds a mate there still could be time to raise a late second brood. I.K.B.

Over at Loch Gruinart Reserve, an Elephant Hawk Moth was caught in the Moth trap, while some Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were also found today. J.R.H.