Thursday 19 May

 

 

Starting off todays records of a handsome hawfinch below Martin's bird feeders. A lovely from-the-kitchen-window spot!

Elsewhere on the island, Peter was out again on the hunt for cranes:  " I did another circuit of loch Gorm today in a futile search for Cranes! The Tufted ducks were easier to count today and produced 32 birds. Also on the Loch were 6 Common Scoter. The fields round at Ballinaby still hold all those Ringed Plovers. They've been there for weeks now, presumably finding plenty of food without going out to  Gruinart or Indaal? There were 97 today, all spooked by a passing Peregrine. A pair of Redshank are also there with a couple of chicks." 

Laura was watching an adult WTE being mobbed by a buzzard near Loch Skerrols.

A late entry from Andy Robinson of a calling corncrake near the hide at Loch Gruinart.

From my own neck of the woods - a pair of common sandpiper on Currie Sands, a pair of chough over Ellister Loch, and a redshank over the house at Claddach.  

Thanks to all for your sightings,

Mary

Monday 8 November

 

White-tailed eagle, Peter Hughes. He counted 2 from the hides at Loch Gruinart this morning, as did Mark Sullivan, plus one at the top of Loch Indaal.

At Currie Sands this morning, I watched a juvenile white-tailed eagle acting oddly, rising and falling just out of sight on a small hill.  My terrier was missing at this point so, fearing the worst, I ran over only to discover the dog apparently had stolen the young birds breakfast! As she was tucking into what was left of a fresh rabbit, the young eagle was rising and falling above her. It did give me an incredibly close encounter though, and I was able to 'call off the dog' and the eagle returned once we left.

Driving back from Bowmore around lunchtime I saw an other WTE over Gortan, escorted by hooded crows.

Mike Bell had a good day:  "Today I had a male hen harrier at Carnain. Along the sheltered Bowmore shore of Loch Indaal around midday there were red-throated diver 2, great northern diver 7, slavonian grebe 2, whooper swan 16, brent goose 64, wigeon 374, scaup 8, eider 22, common scoter 24, long-tailed duck 11 (9 drakes), goldeneye 4 and merganser 77. On the Loch Skerrols circular walk there were fieldfare 40, redwing 40, goldcrest 1, siskin 19, redpoll 9, linnet 40 and bullfinch 4 with a white-tailed eagle over Cnoc Dun Mor at c.1400 hr and a golden eagle there at 1545 hr."

Peter H. continued his day out and just NE of Bowmore had 'tremendous' view of a male long tailed duck (photo), 7 common scoters, 45 pale-bellied Brent, eider and goldeneye.  On the beach a male merlin tucking into a goldfinch lunch. At Bruichladdich a flock of around 20 twite were feeding on the shoreline.

Phil Hyde was checking out Loch Gorm for the ring-necked duck without joy, however he did count 90 tufted duck and 4 pochard.  At Loch Skerrols the American wigeon, long-tailed duck, and little grebe were seen. Mark Sullivan was also at Skerrols and was able to spot the lesser scaup still present there. 

Attachments area

Tuesday 13th October

David and Nancy Massie had gone from Kilchoman, down to Bruichladdich and on through Port Charlotte to Portnahaven and returned to Port  Charlotte by Kilchiaran yesterday. They had seen the following birds when out..

"Bruichladdich; 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Snipe (sitting on small rock offshore) 3 Ringed Plovers

Port Charlotte: 2 Grey Wagtails, 14 Turnstones

Portnahaven: Very cooperative Redwing at the road side

Back road north gave us Golden Eagle, male Hen Harrier, Kestrel as well as a Buzzard"

Today, Richard Belter had seen the impressive sight of the geese returning to their roost at Gruinart. Over at Bunnahabhain, he saw some Gannets flying past and then at Finlaggan he had a flock of over 20 Fieldfares and then when driving down the Glen road, he saw 2 mixed flocks of Redwing and Fieldfares. Finally at Blackrock, he had seen 20 Common Scoter seen out on the top of Loch Indaal.  

Some top birds seen today by Johnathan Alder included 

"WT Eagle low flyover Loch Gorm plus male Merlin. Ringtail Hen Harrier Loch Gruinart."

 

Monday 12th October

Visitors David and Nancy Massie sent me through their sightings seen yesterday 

"Loch Gorm: All the usual geese, 8 Tufted Duck, 4 Stonechats, 3 Twite, 2 Buzzard

RSPB Loch Gruinart: Thousands of geese, Barnacles Greylags White-fronts, Mute and Whooper Swans, Hundreds of Common Teal, 20+ Shoveler & Pintail, 1 Curlew

Ardnave Point: Flock of 46 Twite, 6 Golden Plover, 1 Chough, 1 W t Eagle, 1 Common Snipe flushed."

We were speaking to Lesley Silcock today and she too had seen the Wood Sandpiper out from the North hide at Gruinart yesterday as well.

Richard Belter had been out and about today. Over at Gruinart, he had seen 3 Blackwits, and also a male Hen Harrier along with numerous geese and also a Sparrowhawk. Down at Bruichladdich Richard had seen 2 RTDs, a GND, a Tystie, 16 Common Scoter and also 6 Eider. Down out from the  old Wave Turbine station, all he had was line of Gannets flying past. Returning to Portnahaven from Claddach, a Golden Eagle was seen with an obliging Redwing siting on top of the fence beside the road. Finally up at Sanaigmore, Richard had 2 Chough down on the dunes there with 4 Ringed Plover and he also saw a Grey Plover down on the bay there too.

Sunday 19th May

What a difference a day makes, especially with the weather, by mid morning today and all afternoon, we have been kept out of mischief by working out in the garden...

Apart from being out in the garden, we were fortunate to spot an Osprey out along the front of the crag, that was before it got chased away by a Raven.. A Fulmar was seen out on the wing this evening...

This morning, Distillery Dave had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier as he walked down to the road end at Rockside. He also saw 3 Canada geese on the fields.

Mike Peacock today had seen 19 Common Scoter and also a Velvet Scoter, all together out on Loch Indaal. Earlier on this morning Mike had heard 6 Cuckoos calling away up towards Bolsay.

Saturday 20th April

Another day finished and despite some valiant attempts, no e mails as of yet..

It started of a misty sort of a morning, with mist lifting and then shortly afterwards dropping again, the only good thing about was that there was no wind, so I pressed ahead and got the wild flowers sown which needs to be sown when there is no wind, so for once I was pleased with the sort of dreich conditions, as some other places,the temperature has been a lot warmer...

Peter Gill from Sunderland came over for another visit to Islay, arriving yesterday. Where they were staying last night at Lyrabus, once it was dark, they saw a Barn Owl perched on a fence post along the road. Today at Gruinart, on the flats they counted 15 Whitefronts. On the Woodland trail, they heard several Blackcaps calling and they also saw a couple of Treecreepers there as well. From the North Hide, they had a Golden Eagle which was then joined and mobbed by a Raven as well as a Peregrine. Up on Ardnave Loch,  60 Barnies were counted with 10 Whimbrel seen on the shoreline they headed down to Bruichladdich.
Mike had counted 91 Pale bellied Brent as well as 147 Common Scoter flying North up Loch Indaal. Today, up here at home there was a Collared Dove present, with Mandy hearing a lot of Willow Warblers singing down below at Kilchoman House.

Sunday 3rd February

Yesterday, while waiting start of the rugby game starting on the TV, Mike had counted 3 RTDs,  39 GNDs and a raft of 43 Common Scoter, all out from Port Charlotte on Loch Indaal. Lesley sent some birds which she had seen on Friday and on Saturday. Both days were low on raptors seen, with only Buzzards and Kestrel noted. Her main sigtings on Friday on a walk round Ardnave (Poor weather that day, a bit on the raw side) were as follows, a flock of 49 Twite, plus a few smaller groups seen of around 5 -10 birds. She also saw 42 Chough feeding, over beside the ground beside Traigh Nostaig, she had around 80 Ringed Plover. Other birds seen round Ardnave included 3 male Stonechat plus a female Stonechat, 5 Mute and 5 Whooper Swan on the Loch, also present were  15 Teal. Lesley also saw 10 Reed Buntings.

On Saturday, a much better day with the weather, a walk round Coull Point produced 2,500 Barnies, a flock of 60 Curlew, 9 Turnstone, 34 Chough, more Stonechats, more Reed Buntings and a count of 25 Lapwing, some of which were displaying. On both days she had 7 Hares, seen chasing around after each other...

Up here at home this afternoon, James and myself saw a ringtail Hen Harrier fly low over the bird seed crop, down over the reedbed and then follow the dyke along the base of the crag. Great to see, initially less than 20 metres away, no need for the bins for that one!!! 

Saturday 2nd February

The other evening as he was returning home from Bowmore, DistillleryDave had seen a Barn Owl , down close to the market at Bridgend.

Today, James had seen a White tailed Eagle over at Ardtalla. Also today Gary and Wendy Ruffel had seen a flock of Dunlin, as well as Red brested Merganser, Scaup, RTD, Common Scoter, Eider, Ringed Plover, Wigeon, Great crested Grebe and Redshank, all out on Loch Indaal from Crosshouses.

Monday 4th June

Another day of mixed, muggy weather with plenty of midges around, the sea haar here at home has come and gone several times today, all the same I did manage to cut the grass and not get eaten alive!

Yesterday, the Bolton birders had watched an Otter eating a crab down below Easter Ellister. Today, they had 4 GND below Carn and also a Golden Eagle over behind Ardbeg. This morning, Mike P. had counted 19 Common Scoter off Port Charlotte. Later on, down the road at Easter Ellister, 3 Scoter came in off the sea and landed on the wee lochans. Mike managed to id them as 2 female Common Scoter and a drake Velvet Scoter, possibly the same drake as last year.. Early evening, Mike counted 16 Common Scoter off Port Charlotte.  Gary had been out with 4 clients today and top birds seen included a Golden Eagle at Dunlossit, with a Black throated Diver on Ardnahoe Loch. 

Saturday 19th June

Yesterday was the RAFOS team's last full day of their present visit... On Loch Gorm, they had seen 3 Common Scoter, while up at Gruinart they had a male Hen Harrier from the North hide, and as they returned to their cars along the "woodland trail" they saw a Stoat as they approached the viewing platform. One of their team members, Scott had seen a Corncrake as he was returning to his cottage. As ever many thanks to the various visitors who have sent through their sightings. Yesterday, the Bowland birders had seen the Ring necked Duck along with a male and also a female Tufted Duck on Loch Finlaggan. They also had Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Cuckoo and Grey Wagtail there as well. Away over the moor towards Coal Ila, they had a distant viewing of a White tailed Eagle. Back down at the Woollen Mil, Dipper and Siskin were present with a Mistle Thrush  seen at Newton. Mandy had 2 Grey Wagtail on the River Sorn as it passes through Bridgend Woods.

Today, James Butcher had seen the Green winged Teal at Gruinart this afternoon. Here at home, the Tree Sparrows are still here, great to see, another year tick for here are a couple of Redpolls on the feeders, seen yesterday and again today.

Tuesday 1st May

Yesterday, Mike reported through some birds seen out on Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte,  in flat calm conditions, a count of 119 Common Scooter, which Mike thought this to be a high count for time of year. He also had a Glaucous Gull along with other gulls in a feeding frenzy. Mike also had 2 RTD and 10 GND and also a Common Sandpiper seen on the shore.
Today, the weather has not been that great, but it did not deter Argyll birder, Jim Dickson from spotting some birds for the blog, oh, to be young again... Jim had 39 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Uiskentuie, at Coull, 17 Whimbrel were seen. Over at Ballinaby, Jim saw 43 Golden Plover and a Grey Plover, with a count of 81 Linnet there too. Up at Ardnave, 32 Whimbrel, a Blackwit and 13 Canada Geese with some Greylags seen there as well. At Gruinart 4 pair of Wigeon were present.

Monday 11th September

This poor spell of weather, not to beaten, I tried to cut the grass with varying amounts of success, got some cut, not a lot, but on the downside, the rain stopped play 3 times, mind you I did manage each time to stop before getting too wet!!!

JD thought otherwise and went out to carry out a spot of sea watching at first light, but the weather beat him there.... but he had seen other birds while out and about later on..  A Wheatear at Kilnave, 6 Golden Plovers at Gruinart, along at Coullabus over 50  Pied and White Wagtails were present. Down at Gortan, a Sparrowhawk was seen , off Carnain,  6 Knot with 2 Arctic Terns and a count of 22 Common Scoter between there and Bowmore. Tomorrow might be better, fingers crossed!!!

Saturday 18th March

A similar story to yesterday with the weather, but not quite as bad, more dreich rather than miserable if you get my drift..

Yesterday, somehow, David and Jenny managed some birds.... Out on Loch Indaal, they had 30 Common Scoter with 6 Pale bellied Brent Geese seen at Blackrock. Closer to the shore at Blackrock they had seen a Red throated Diver. This morning, here at home over 400 Barnies flew in and landed out on the machir. Many thanks to David and Jenny for sharing their sightings while they have been over here this past week. See you both at the Bird Fair in Rutland come August!!!

Wednesday 14th December

This morning, at first light, Mike Peacock had 55 Wigeon fly out on to Loch Indaal with Mike wondering whether they had been feeding on some of the stubbles. He also counted 142 Common Scoter on the loch, in one group, out from Shore Street in Port Charlotte, the largest group that Mike has seen so far. Down on the beach, there was a Grey Wagtail. Mandy, when she was out Goose counting this morning, had a Golden Eagle soaring up behind Ballinaby while going round Loch Gorm. James had been counting today as well, on the Uiskentuie/ Gruinart route. Apart from many geese, James had a Yellowhammer at Lyrabus, a juv Golden Eagle up at Killinallan and then he saw 2 Pinkies at Ardnave. Mid afternoon, and here at home and Margaret saw a ringtail Hen Harrier fly past the window.

Thursday 4th February

A mixed sort of a day with the weather, as several times I looked out I could not see the crag let alone the garden fence, the mist kept swirling around, but lifted and so allowing the plane to get in this evening...  Mike yesterday during the spell of better weather, carried out his NEWS sector at Lossit.  At Lossit bay itself, Mike saw a 1st winter Glaucous Gull eating a dead Gannet! He also had a male Hen Harrier, a count of 52 Curlew and 4 Chough seen while he was out. Back home at Port Charlotte, late afternoon, Mike saw 67 Common Scoter on Loch Indaal, his highest count so far, this winter.

Friday 26th June

Better late than never, so here we go.. Gary and Sam today had done the loop from Port Charlotte down to Portnahaven and returned back by Kilchiaran. On the pond at Easter Ellister, they had a female Common Scoter. Whitethroats and Stonechats were seen in numbers. A male and a female Hen Harrier were present close to Ballimony, 10 Arctic Terns were seen at Claddach with Gannets noted flying South past Frenchman's Rocks. Linnets were added to their list and at Gearach, 8 Ravens were present. Finally, closer to their home, between Craigens and Coullabus, a female Marsh Harrier was seen. Back home here this afternoon, a Greenfinch was in our garden along with the ever present Goldfinches!

Saturday 25th April

A cold wind here today giving the air that cool edge, and also a few showers with some hailstones in the mix as well. Yesterday morning, Peter Roberts had a pair of Bullfinches in Bridgend Woods. In the afternoon, close the pier at Bruichladdich, Peter saw 4 Black Guillemots and also 3 Red throated Divers, 2 of them were in breeding plumage. Further out on Loch Indaal, Peter had over 20 GND, a Black throated Diver in almost full breeding plumage, with a distant line of 10 Common Scoter. 3 Whimbrels flew South as well. James yesterday evening had been out with the Canoe Club from Bowmore out to below Gartbreck and had seen 7 Sandwich Terns and 8 Whimbrel, wonder what it looks like from the water rather along the actual shore like what Bob and myself see... Today, George had seen 2 Sandwich Terns on the shoreline at Bruichladdich and wondered whether they were the same pair that nested there last year. Also today, George almost had a Sparrowhawk in his house. Down below James' house this morning, there were still around 100 Barnies and a Pale bellied Brent goose on the estuary at Loch Gruinart. Before I forget, on Tuesday evening, as it is the last Tuesday of the month, the Islay bird nerds are meeting at 6pm at the carpark at RSPB Loch Gruinart and then we will head down to the hide to see what is around, so if you are over, see you there... A completely informal meeting, so feel free to come along.

Sunday 11th May

Cathy and her friend who were over the other week just e mailed me through today, to say what a great week they had spent over here on Islay, only small shower of rain and wall to wall sunshine the rest of the time with their highlights being seeing Chough, Hen Harrier and also Golden Eagle, no doubt Cathy and her friend will be back... Forgot to say the Rochdale birders (Gordon and Pauline Yates) went home the other weekend too, so thanks your sightings folks, I think that come the Autumn this Year that it will be their 100th trip to Islay! Coming over on the ferry yesterday, Andrew and Jane had seen 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Puffins and an Arctic Tern and coming up the Sound of Islay they saw an immature Golden eagle. Off Port Charlotte they had a raft of 150 Common Scoter.

Thursday 5th September

This afternoon, Peter had been down on Machir Bay and noted more waders around. There were 18 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin on the beach feeding, with 9 Snipe, 14 Redshank and 18 Blackwits flying overhead. Yesterday, James had a Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and a Hen Harrier all on the reserve at Gruinart, on Loch Indaal there were over 50 Common Scoter and 2 Red Throated Divers. 

Wednesday 5th June

After last night's shortage of birds, tonight there are a few more to report, so off we go...Yesterday, Carl spotted a tight raft of over 200 Common Scoter on Loch Indaal off Laggan Point. on his way home at Shorefield last night Carl had a full variety of birds singing, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush,  Blackbird, Wren, Linnets, Chaffinch & Meadow Pipits as well. Visiting birder who is over for a few days heard a couple of Corncrakes on the reserve at Gruinart, better still one crossed the road in front of hime, so he saw one too! Jeremy and Kim had seen Common Scoter down at Ellister and also a probable Velvet Scoter there too. David and Jane had a male Hen Harrier up towards Mulindry and also a pr of Linnets. All these sightings were from yesterday. Danny today saw his first Blue Tit on his visit, and also a Coal Tit down beside The Woolen Mill. Danny also had a male Hen Harrier round Loch Gorm over Leek, and also a distant Golden Eagle over towards Saligo. Danny and Dave are now up to 94 species this visit, can he spot another 6 to make a 100? James reckons that the cold weather which we have been having has possibly kept the Scoters here, like the same with some waders last month as well.