Tuesday 15 March

 

Couple of images of the residents of Loch Skerrols, taken today by Billy.

Nature Scot has been in touch with the last goose count of the season, carried out on the 8th and 9th March.  28,759 barnacles, 5435 white-fronts and 631 greylags.

James was in touch today with his highlights being a gadwall drake from the North Hide, Loch Gruinart, 2 bullfinch on the Woodland Trail and a siskin.  He noted the lesser black backed gulls have been slow to return this year but managed to find 5 at Machir Bay and 1 at Gruinart.  Mark also spotted one near Sanaig, plus a Canada goose.

Steve has been in touch via email. He too was at Gruinart and was treated to a nice view of a hunting ring-tailed hen harrier very close to the hide, and then on their drive back towards Bridgend, a WTE in flight.

Thank you to all for your contributions.

Not much more to add from down the Rhinns.  An other sign of spring with toads spotted out on the roads. A neighbour in Portnahaven even found one in her toilet this morning! It was obviously saved from the flush, but you can't help wondering how on earth it got there in the first place!  I haven't been out to look for wheatear yet, I always think St Patricks day is the day to start looking so hopefully I'll find one then.

Friday 18 February

 

Unsurprisingly, there were no sightings contributed today.  The forecast snow came in with the morning and was gone by lunchtime as it usually does here on the Rhinns.  No sledging yet, unless you climbed one of Jura's Paps! Todays photos from Billy Stitchell of a view of the Paps from Islay, and a bullfinch spotted on a walk to Loch Ballygrant.

Bitterly cold here today, with the winds picking up as the day went on.

Yesterday a ring-tailed hen harrier flew along the coastline near Carn, Port Charlotte as I drove up the road.

Wednesday 26 January

Thought it felt a bit colder today! Snow on the Paps of Jura, taken today by Duncan MacNeil on the FB page 'Images of Islay'.  I must take a drive up to see it, I don't think I've turned left at Bridgend since October.

Visitor Roger R. located both the cackling goose and the elusive red-breasted goose among the mobile flock 2000 or so barnacle geese at head of Loch Indaal. He also spotted an Iceland gull in the same area.

Alison and Nick braved the wet weather today on a visit to RSPB Loch Gruinart. From the south hide, 3 WTE 'loafing about'. They were lucky enough to see a young WTE attempt a wigeon, dropping it in the effort. Other highlights were one greenshank, both bar and black-tailed godwit, and 4 bullfinch in the woodland trail.

On my drive up to Port Charlotte from the car window I spotted 2 WTE over the woods at Wester Ellister, and a jack snipe in a lay-by near the farm at Octofad, spooked by my driving. Back on the croft above Currie Sands, a ring-tailed hen harrier hunting along the coastline.

Thank you for the contributions.

Thursday 24th December

Got a few sightings for the blog from today, so here goes then..

David Dinsley, who is the warden  down on the Oa with RSPB sent through the following birds..

• Confiding Glaucous Gull present amongst others Gulls, scavenging during Highland Cattle feed at Kinnabus this morning. No bins or camera to get any decent shots.  Golden Eagle also present near Kinnabus Farm just after 10:30.
• Iceland Gull present at scallop dump near Kilnaughton after midday.

Today, Lesley had been up at Gruinart for a walk and she saw 2 Bullfinches and 2 Woodcock as well as the  2 Little Egrets there as well.

This afternoon, James had seen 2 Golden Eagles flying over Coull Point and shortly afterwards, he had a male Hen Harrier flying down below Coulerarach. He also told me that on the flats at Grunart that there  is a flock over 1,000 Golden Plover and also over 300 Lapwings seen there at present.

Today, Gary had seen 2 juvenile WTE over Bunnahabhain, 1 Tufted Duck at Ardnahoe Loch, he also had a Ring tailed Hen Harrier at Gartmain.

Before I forget, I wish all our  readers/ followers a HAPPY CHRISTMAS😃

Sunday 15th november

Peter, this afternoon, had seen a Little Egret seen down in between Smelly corner/ Carnain and along to Whin Park.

Gary today had the following birds seen before the rain came back on AGAIN 

"2 Bullfinch in woods at side of house, 2 Common Crossbill there later. 4 Chough flying by over Dunlossit moorland."

Dan Brown along with the rest of the team left yesterday, so many thanks for your birds folks.. so here are Dan's last comments.. "The reserve at Gruinart  was alive with eagles today on the Flats with at least 6 different WTEs and 3 - 4 Goldies, quite amazing!!!!!    

Dan's final comment says it all 

"Really can't wait to get back here and just sorry we have to leave."

  

 

Friday 6th novembr

Yesterday, Mike Bell had seen the following birds when out...

Gruinart: Hen Harrier and also a Peregrine 

Killinallan: a Jack Snipe, 23 Twite and also 4 Redpolls

Portnahaven: 2WTE flying over the seal colony there

Lossit:  2 Golden Eagles seen

Kilchiaran over the hill past The Gearach: 6 Lt Tits seen in the trees there.

Dave Pierce and his wife had the following birds....

Please find a few of yesterday's sightings.. Started the day off like Wednesday with a White-tailed Eagle from our cottage at Bridgend, though this one was an adult, probably a female. It caught a couple of fish during the time I was around. Again like Wednesday, from the same location I had a raptor at the opposite end of the scale, this time a Merlin which flew low along the shore before alighting for a minute on a pile of kelp. Other birds around the house included c30 Redshanks.

There were around 60 Greenland White-fronts at Cruach with a further 75 feeding with Rock Doves at Ballitarsin. A pair of Bullfinch at Loch Tallant.

Mid afternoon viewing from Buh-an-unillt a Peregrine over Loch Gruinart flushing waders and waterfowl including Bar-tailed Godwits, Turnstones, 2 Greenshank, 7 Sanderling, 1400+Golden Plover & over 70 Pintail. Also 2 Chough present.

Offshore from Bruichladdich a single drake Common Scoter, 3 GN Divers and 2 RTDs, with a Grey Wagtail onshore .

Today, when coming home, we had 4 Red legged Partridge down "The Hedges" at Sunderland Farm and I am led to believe that these were not released birds... Over at Ballinaby, we counted 14Whoopers resting up there. Back at home, Margaret counted 10 Blackbirds out on the grass with 4 Redwings present there as well.

Old chums from Bolton had seen a male and a female Blackcap in a garden down in Port Charlotte today.

Wednesday 4th November

Marsali kindly sent me through the reading from her rain gauge over at Mulindry for the  month of October which came to 242mms or 9.68 inches and that was the wettest month so far this year and the wettest October for about 6 years.  Wow, drier than Eric Bignall's tally for October.

Dan Brown yesterday had seen a "juv Glaucous Gull south over the Gruinart flats plus 150 Whoopers. On Monday, he estimated 600-1000 Whoopers arrived as well as many White-fronted Geese."

Yesterday , Mike Bell had seen the following birds when out.. 

"Whooper swans 14 SW Kilchoman  0745 hr, 6 leaving Loch Gorm SW 0755 hr, 29 Gruinart 0810 hr with 14 of these leaving 0815 hr then the rain started. 83 Gruinart at 1510 hr with 54 leaving SW 1520 hr.Loch Gorm 1 imm WTE flying west 0755 hr.

Blackrock 10 Scaup.

Eallabus 60 redwing, 1 treecreeper.

Loch Skerrols, walked round without my telescope and unhelpfully many wigeon on the far shore, far fewer with perhaps c200 and 106 Whoopers including a pair with 6 juvs. Also a dipper at the outlet burn, 1 goldcrest, 6 bullfinch.

Octavulin 6 pinkfeet, 90 fieldfare plus 28 S, redwing 180, chaffinch 75.

Redhouses 40 & 70 redwing S.

Cattadale 90 redwing.

Storakaig gate 1 male hen harrier, 1 carrion crow with hoodies, and also 2 yellowhammer."

Dave Pierce is over for a few days along with his wife, not leading a tour this year arriving yesterday, so here are some of Dave's top birds seen on Tuesday...."A Greenshank & several G N Divers around Kennacraig during our departure from the Mainland. Also maybe of note was a Red Squirrel about a mile north of Tarbert.

Sailing up the Sound of Islay from the ferry we observed an adult White-tailed Eagle standing on Glas Eilean. Another WTE  showed well nearby flying low over the coast of Jura with an adult Golden Eagle soaring close by, whilst a Peregrine crossed over from there to Islay.

Arriving at their cottage near Bridgend the vast avian assemblage included 42 Pale bellied Brent Geese.

Dr Matt Jackson had counted 48 Redwing in his garden today. Also seen today were the folowing  by Gary.... Sub ad WTE on the sand at Bridgend, 1500 Golden Plover on sand, 7 Grey Plover on the merse, Great Spotted Woodpecker heard in woods at Whin Park with 2 Bullfinch also there.

Sunday 25th October

Back on Friday, Steve Percival caught and rung another 79 Barnies down at Smelly Corner.....                "It was 2 January 1987 before we had a successful catch of Barnacle Geese on Islay. Under the stewardship of Malcom Ogilvie, we caught 302, a total for a single catch that still remains unbeaten! He helped train me, together with the Durham University cannon-netting team headed by Peter Evans, and a  few years later I had my own cannon-netting licence. In February 1989 my wife-to-be Tracey joined the team and we’ve never looked back. 33 years later we’ve now ringed over 3,500 Barnacle Geese on Islay. We are now also ably assisted by our 2 girls, Emily and Lucy, who have grown up with October and February half-term goose-catching trips to Islay".

The other day, George E. Jackson had seen a flock of over 50 Chaffinches in the bushes down at Aoradh cottage which the wee cottage on the roadside just at the foot of the road leading up to Rockside and Kilchoman Distillery.

Yesterday had been Richard Belter's last day of this present visit, so thanks to Richard for sending in his sightings of birds seen by him when he has been over. Yesterday morning, Richard saw a Barn Owl at first light along the Gruinart flats. Down at Claddach, he had a passage of Gannets and some Auks as well. Finally in at Loch Skerrols, he saw the Whooper Swans that are present there. 

I received an e mail through from the Naturetrek group led by Neil McMahon who are over at present with their sightings of various birds seen by them yesterday.. 

"A female Long-tailed Duck and a Black Guillemot were around the pier and breakwater at Bowmore this morning plus the usual Rb Mergansers, a few Eider and a Goldeneye. A nice flock of Ringed Plovers and Dunlin have roosted on the breakwater at high tide the last two days. 

We looked down on Loch Skerrols from the road that leads to Scarrabus and saw nearly 100 Whooper Swans plus some Mute Swans on the water plus good numbers of Tufted Ducks and Wigeon. 1-2 Sparrowhawk(s) showed interest in a flock of ca100 Chaffinches in a stubble field which also contained at least a Skylark. A very windy north shore of Loch Indaal attracted a small flock of Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

We spent the rest of the day at Loch Gruinart where the group fully enjoyed the amazing spectacle of thousands of Barnacle Geese and much smaller numbers of Greenland White-fronts, Greylags and a couple of families of Whooper Swans. Didn't see the Wood Sandpiper but there was a Black-tailed Godwit from North Hide and Roe Deer, a flock of Pintail and distant Bar-tailed Godwits from South Hide. The woodland trail sheltered at least 3 Goldcrests and we heard Bullfinch. A Tree Sparrow flying around the barns at the farm was a surprise! The road through Gruinart Flats was good for 200 Golden Plovers, Stonechats and 3 Lesser Redpolls.

The track on the east side of the loch provided us with a first calendar year White-tailed Eagle, a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier, 3 Goldeneye and 5 Greenshanks. A stubble field on this side contained a few Yellowhammers and up to a dozen Skylarks. A flock of ca40 Linnets flew through and a Roe Deer was present too."

James was in touch with some birds seen by himself, he had counted 257 Barwits, 16 Grey Plover and also 37 Knot yesterday. This afternoon, he had a male Hen Harrier seen close to An Sithean on the edge of the reserve as you head down towards Loch Gorm

Thursday 2nd July

Good friend, Marsali was in touch this morning to tell me about her rain fall which tallied out at 5.08 inches for the month....

Meanwhile, James had seen an Osprey flying over Loch Gruinart, the first he has seen for some time. Along at the RSPB office at Bushmills, he  had seen a Chiffchaff and also a cracking male Bullfinch.

Another good friend Armin Grewe emailed some sightings seen while out for his early walk along the canal, close to where he lives...
"First I saw a pair of Green Woodpeckers in small trees/bushes right next to the towpath, maybe 20-30 feet ahead of me. They then flew off, across the canal where they disappeared into the trees on the other side of the canal.

Walking on may be another 30-40 feet I look up into one of the small trees on the verge of the canal, between the towpath and the canal, and what did I see? A Great Spotted Woodpecker, pecking away at the tree. It didn't seem to be bothered by me standing on the towpath, so I watched it for a minute before having to move on as work was calling.

Maybe 1/4 of a mile down the canal I then saw and heard two Jays. As mentioned previously, there seem to be quite a few around of them this year."

Finally, Chris and Tony Johnson sent their tally for the month, a mere 5.75 inches, so top of the class to them...

Friday 5th June

Alistair Hutchison e mailed through last night with some sightings seen by himself on the Sorn


"Have come upon pairs of Bullfinches or the same pair over the past couple or three months ( either side of the site of the former Dry Bridge, initially )

Yesterday a pair halfway between East Lodge and the bridge above the Woollen Mill ... but today, at least one parent with at least 2 fledglings .... below the White Bridge heading to the bend above the last Sorn weir.

One dead bird trackside in winter.



Have also seen many more Treecreepers than hitherto ...."


Many thanks to Alistair for your birds, keep them coming through.....

Thuirsday 12th March

Yesterday Dave and Jean Killick had been out and about
"We have been dodging the showers. We started around Bowmore where we spotted a Great Northern Diver and 2 Scaup.

Loch Skerrols was quiet except for a small flock of Tufted Duck and a pair of Bullfinches in the woods. In the fields at Eallabus there was a flock of at least 31 Skylarks.

Our last stop was a walk from Ballygrant through to Lily Loch. On Loch Ballygrant we found 3+ Little Grebes and as we walked through, we found a single Brambling, 12+ Redwings, a Grey Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker."

Gary had also braved the elements yesterday as well...

"Went looking for the Lapland Bunting on the Coullabus road. No joy but had over 30 Reed Buntings at wee quarry near Lagstoban. Male Hen Harrier up at Finlaggan."

Saturday 15th February

Gary and Wendy enjoyed the better weather yesterday, and walked up to Loch Cam behind Scarrabus. Their  sightings yesterday were: Carnain: Barnies, Shelduck, Blackbird, Mute Swan

Walk up to Loch Cam: Buzzard, pair of Stonechat, Song Thrush, Chough, Whitefronts,  Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Bowmore: Wigeon,  Eider 

James returned over to Islay on the ferry , quite a rough crossing by the sound of things,but top birds seen for James were 3 White tailed Eagles seen together when the ferry was coming up the Sound of Islay. Today, he had spotted a Pink footed goose on the reserve at Gruinart.

The Port Ellen 4 are back again - they were here last February, arriving on Thursday

"Had a great 1st day of birding, on Friday.

2 Golden Eagles  - 1 over Dun Nosebridge and 1 in the Storakaig area

2 male Hen Harriers - 1 near & over Loch Eighinn (nr airport). 1 at Grainel Farm.

Long tailed duck, G. N. D., Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Goldeneye, Eider, Rock Pipit & R. b. Mergansers - all close from Bowmore Pier.

Scaup, Shelduck, Redshank, Ringed Plover + some of above from the Gaelic centre.

Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Song & Mistle Thrush, Grey Wagtail & Robin from Bridgend woods.

Obviously White fronts, Greylags & Barnies  with Raven, Jackdaw, Rook, Buzzards & Hoodies in various places."  

The wind has been blowing away all day with ferry not coming over, until mid afternoon, quite glad that we were not on it... The wind speed topped at 65 mph on Dr Matt's weather station at 9.30 am. The plane flew in this morning, no bother....   

Sunday 26th January

The weather has been a bit cooler today, in fact at one point this afternoon, we were glad to be inside, as there was a right dirty shower of hailstones, clattering against the windows, rather noisy, to put it politely..

On the bird front today, James had seen a couple of Bullfinches over at Bunnahabhain this morning. This afternoon, James was over for a cuppa and we were proud to show him some footage on our cameras of a pair of Barn Owls, and also some footage from a visiting Chough. I know it is early days but here is hoping that either bird would be looking for a prospective nest site... Earlier on, Margaret saw a couple of Hooded Crows out on the edge of the garden. 

Wednesday 18th December

Yesterday James saw a Barn Owl when out and about...Today, he was out again and had seen the following birds...
2 White tailed Eagle,  present over Borichill Mor
male Merlin and male Hen Harrier Borichill Mor
White tailed Eagle, 2  at Gruinart
Golden Eagle at Gruinart
Black throated diver seen at Blackrock
Canada goose Hutchinsii and 3 Pale bellied Brent geese at Craigens
Little egret and 2 bullfinches on the reserve at Gruinart
27 Pale bellied Brent geese were seen at Blackrock.

Today, Gary had seen a Little Egret at Carnain/ Smelly corner, 18 Pale bellied Brent geese down beside Loch Gorm House at Bruichladdich. He also had 3 White tailed Eagles at Coultorsay as well.

Monday 9th December

What a diffence a day makes, the wind through the day has dropped considerably with little rain in the air either, better not get too exited as the forecast does not too good for tomorrow... We still only have a single ferry working with the old boat still in dry dock, around 3 weeks after she was due back, nobody seems to know exactly what is wrong  with her, apart from old age!!!

Mark, at Gruinart, had seen 4 Bullfinches, 4 Goldcrests, saw the Little Egret, counted 43 Twite and spotted 2 White tailed Eagles on the reserve at Gruinart. 

Just after lunch time today, I saw 2 Golden  Eagles soaring above the crag, here at home, and they were being harassed by a single Raven. Shortly afterwards, a Hooded crow flew away up the gully.

James today had  the Green winged Teal and also the Little Egret both seen out from the North hide at Gruinart. The "film crew", at the same time, had seen a total of 8 White tailed Eagles at Gruinart. They had 4 adults and also 4 juvenile birds.

Friday 1st November

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Louise Muir had seen and counted a flock of 62 Snow Bunting, between the South end of Machir bay and up along the track leading up towards Granny's Rock

Yesterday morning, Carol Andrew had seen a small flock of geese down at Bruichladdich, they were flying around over the rear of her house, and on closer inspection, Carol reckons that they succeeded in putting some waders up, moving them down the coast beyond the fuel depot towards the ponds behind Shorefield.

MB had been out and about yesterday... In the fields at Skerrols, he had seen 5 Pinkies amongst the flocks of  Barnies there. he also had 4 flocks of Fieldfare totalling 200 birds, as well as 25 Redwing and also 7 Scandinavian Blackbirds there too.  On Loch Skerrols, he counted 23 Mute Swan, 58 Whoopers, 285 Wigeon, 112 Teal, 21 Mallard and 61 Tufted Duck.  In the surrounding trees, MB had seen 9 L t Tits and a total of 12 Bullfinch (4 + 8). Along at Eallabus, he had another 50 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 14 Sc. Blackbirds, a male Blackcap and also 9 Siskins. In at Bowmore, he saw 23 P b Brent and  counted 142 Wigeon.  Finally, he had the following on the floods at Gruinart... 136 Wigeon, 590 Teal, 27 Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 2 White tailed Eagle and a ringtail Hen Harrier was present as well.

This morning, the Rochdale birders had seen 2 White tailed Eagles over Port Charlotte. Yesterday afternoon, they had spotted 2 Golden Eagles out on the wing above Beinn Bheigier, along at Kildalton they saw 2 Yellowhammers.. This morning they had seen 3 Turnstone and a Snipe down beside the wee burn that goes to Machir Bay. Shortly afterwards while enjoying a welcome cuppa, up here at our house, they saw the female Sparrowhawk perched up on the feeding station. Then just before lunchtime, the ringtail Hen Harrier flew through the garden, less than 15 metres away from the house. Mid afternoon, we saw another Hen Harrier out from the house, but a male bird this time!!!

Saturday 7th Septembr

Yesterday evening, Mandy had seen an Eagle eating a Greylag goose on one of the barley stubbles at Rockside...

Today before he headed back home, JD had seen 3 Grey Wagtails round at Kilchiaran. Down at Gortan, on Loch Indaal, he saw 6 Slavonian Grebes all in summer plumage, finally over at the Woollen Mill, 2 bullfinch were present.... As ever many thanks to JD for his sightings when he has been over here on Islay, great when visitors send some of their sightings to share with us..

Thursday 9th May

Yesterday, Derbyshire Bob had seen a White tailed Eagle out over the hills behind Ballygrant. Later on, while walking through Bridgend Woods, Bob had seen a Dipper on the River Sorn and a Bullfinch and some Siskins in the trees.
Louise was in touch to say that over the weekend and earlier on this week she has been seeing a Fieldfare close to her home at Gatehouse over on Jura, but she said that it is no longer present!!!

Thursday 28th March

The other day, Lesley had seeen a male Bullfinch fly across the road close to her house. Today, as she was driving home with  the car windows open, Lesley heard the Bullfinch  calling away in the same location.

Sunday 17th February

Yesterday when leaving Port Ellen on the ferry Richard and Hilary had seen a Razorbill, so their tally for their stay  came to 107 birds seen when they were here..

This morning, Martin had seen 5 male Bullfinches just down from his house over at Glenegedale. He has also seen Frog spawn, and also mating frogs in the marsh there as well. This afternoon, Bob and Lesley had carried out the WeBS count from Port Charlotte, back round to Blackrock.. Their tally for birds seen were as follows...43 Herring Gulls,  GND, 3 GBB Gulls, 10 Cormorant, 7 RTD, 2 Snipe, 1 B h Gull, 16 Common Gulls, 1 Slavonian Grebe,1 Purple Sandpiper, 4 R b Merganser, 14 Ringed Plover, 4 P b b Geese, 43 Oystercatcher and also 12 Eider. Gary and Sam saw a male Hen Harrier up flying, behind their house over at Ballygrant.