Weds 3rd August

 

Couple of nice photos of a young wagtail by Billy today, taken on the new 'Loch Indaal Way' path connecting Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

I'm back after lovely week on Kerrera with family, enjoying views of 3 juvenile cuckoo being fed by tireless meadow pipit from the garden, and tawny owl in the evening.  

Back on Islay we set off for a short walk at Bridgend woods near the Woollen Mill where I was treated to the sighting of a dipper, doing its 'thing' on the River Sorn. 

Mary

weds 2nd March

 Yesterdays sunshine gave way to a cold and overcast day.  Bitter SE winds really put a bit of a downer on the mood after the delight of yesterday! However there looks a settled spell ahead. Yesterday at Ardnave, Chris and co spotted a peacock butterfly on the wing. In my garden at Port Wemyss a neighbours honey bee visited the daisys.  Hope today they have both returned to shelter! A reminder though of the importance of the early flowers for some brave insects.  I am also reminded not to be tempted to tidy the gardens and flower beds of the dead grass and plant matter too early as many will be sheltering within. 

Rob Hughs located the cackling goose at Ellister. Chris and his group were today at the Woollen Mill where they saw a pair of dipper on the river there.  Later, 12 chough at Sanaigmor.  I counted a larger flock of around 30 curlew at Craigfad. By the house at Claddach, a pied wagtail.  There was one in the village last week, first I've seen for a while.

Local hobby-photographer and the source of all my photos, Billy, was at Foreland today and took the following photos of a group of 7 whooper swan resting up on the wee lochan there - Loch an Raoin.

I managed to look back to last years February rainfall from James to compare. February 2021 gave 102mm or 4 inches, compared with 188mm or 7.5 inches of 2022! What a difference!

Wednesday 10 November

 A quiet day here with strong winds. I'm afraid I took no photos today, will try to remember tomorrow.

It's goodbye to Peter and Alice Hughes today, who left on the morning ferry after a good holiday here. Thank you for sharing all your sightings during your stay.  On his last morning, an adult WTE over Portnhaven, and from the ferry at Port Ellen numerous kittewake, 3 black guilliemot, then on the crossing plenty guilliemot sighted and great northern divers.

Mike Bell emailed with his sightings: "Another interesting day. First thing a cock merlin on the roadside fence by Kilchoman coastguard cottages. A very good total of shorebirds on the high tide at Traigh Nostaig with 76 ringed plover, 12 grey plover, 212 sanderling, 37 dunlin, 7 purple sandpiper and 41 turnstone. A white-tailed eagle was on the point and another came in off the sea and flew down Loch Gruinart. I could only find 4 chough today, they've been  elusive for me this holiday. There was a ring-tail hen harrier over the Gruinart fields and an impressive c.2200 golden plover. Later I had a golden eagle and 48 curlew at Lossit. At Portnahaven I had fabulous views of the 2 adult white-tailed eagles riding the wind just above me before they flew off north."

On the drive to Ardnave Mark Sullivan reported both the cackling and red-breasted goose in the same barnacle geese flock. 

On Jura there was a report of a dipper at Ardfin in the burn next to the boathouse.

And lastly Phil Hyde got in touch with a sighting of 2 purple sandpiper opposite the distillery in Bruichladdich. The first report of the season of these regular visitors to this beach.

Tuesday 1st June

Another fantastic day out here, sorry about writing so much about the weather...

Earlier on this evening, I was speaking to visitors from Edinburgh who were telling me that earlier on today, down the the woods at Bridgend they had seen some Bullfinches eating away on the ground as well as seeing a Dipper on the River Sorn as well.

Up here at home, we saw a pair of Golden Eagles out soaring way high up over the crag.  We  had also seen a House Martin out last night... today again now, a Goldfinch was present again, as was a Great Tit and also 2 pairs of House Sparrows and we think after much searching we have now located the Fulmar  on its' nest. 

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.

Tuesday 18th February

Gary and Wendy emailed the following to me last night, referring to their change of plans for yesterday,

"The weather turned out worse than we thought it would today and we didn't in the end get to Portnahaven on the bus. Very little to see around Carnain but we did have a visit for about 8 minutes from a ringtail hen Harrier over the pond behind the cottage. Also seen were some Barnies, Shelduck, Oystercatchers, Jackdaw and Blackbird.  A Hare was also seen."

John and the team of the "Port Ellen 4" had ventured out in the atrocious weather and managed to see the following birds yesterday:

"Loch a'Chnuic: Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, R b Mergansers. Claggain Bay: 5 GND & 1 BT Diver, Tysties, Shag, 10+ Oystercatcher & Ringed Plover. WT eagle over woods to the South of Cluanach. Bunnahabhain: 4 GND, Tysties, Cormorant. Caol Ila : Shag.

Obviously the main 3 geese sp, Buzzards, Hoodies, Ravens etc all over."

Chris Corrigan had been out yesterday as well

"A blowy and showery walk round Ardnave today where we managed to see a flock of 20 Choughs. 

2 Long-tailed Ducks (1 from the Gaelic Centre and 1 from Bowmore) along with Common Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Eiders and Goldeneyes.  All out on Loch Indaal. Needs to be a bit calmer!"

Mike Russell was in touch last night, again Monday's sightings 

"My partner Lesley and I are on Islay this week, up from Sussex. Today we walked through Bridgend Woods, lots of song, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Chaffinches, Wrens and Robins and we also  heard  a Treecreeper. Really pleased to get a great view of a Dipper as well.

In the afternoon, went to Laphroaig where on the beach had good view of 2 Otters, also number of Rock Pipits."

Many thanks to our visitors for sending their birds through and allowing me to share them with you...

Good friend, Lesley Silcock was in for a cuppa today, and she told me that she had seen a group of  7 Blue Tits together on her feeders at McNichol's Croft. This morning, as she was driving up to here at Shepherd's cottage, Lesley watched a Merlin zip into the verge of the road and emerge out unscathed a moment or two later, with its prey being proof that it had been successful in its acrobatics!!

Tuesday 21st January

When I was speaking to Ed yesterday, he told me that he had seen a Dipper over beside him at Port Ellen, a tick for Ed on his own patch...

This evening I went down to the IHNT's talk which David Wood gave. More on that one tomorrow night.

Wednesday 19th June

I was speaking with my old chum, Ken Reeves on the phone this morning, and he told me that he had seen a couple of Minke Whales from the ferry, just off Gigha, as his family returned home from their recent visit to Islay.

The other day, Armin had seen 2 Whooper Swans along the flats at Gruinart. Immediately after seeing the swans, a male Hen Harrier flew across the road in front of him, it swooped down on the ground, only to be chased off by an agitated hen Pheasant trying to protect her brood of chicks. From the hide at Gruinart, Armin had seen and heard Snipe drumming, seen 2 Mute Swans with 5 cygnets with  a Hare really close at hand as well.

John Wilson had seen a pair of Dippers feeding their brood of youngsters at the side of the River Sorn over at The Woollen Mill. Today, when over on Jura,  John had a great viewing of a White tailed Eagle, "closer and much better" (John's words, not mine..) than ever seen by him on Mull!!  He also had seen a good, close sighting of a male Hen Harrier.  Further on, they had seen a Grey Wagtail

Saturday 13th May

Yesterday was "the Olds" last day of this visit.. At Coull they had seen 38 Whimbrel and 4 Ringed Plover. At Gruinart, a male Ruff in summer plumage was present, as were 3 possible Little Terns, a Redpoll and a Carrion Crow. Over at Bridgend they counted 210 Dunlin, 18 Blackwits, a Common Sandpiper and a Whitethroat. Finally, last night, they spotted a Merlin as it flew across the road down below Rock Mountain. The Bowland Birders yesterday took the chance to recharge their batteries and today have been out birding again... On the water at Loch Skerrols, they counted 60 Shelduck and 6 Mute Swan, one on a nest, while in the trees a Great spotted Woodpecker, Chifchaff and Willow Warblers were noted. Along at The Woollen Mill, a walk along the River Sorn produced 2 pr of Grey Wagtail feeding young, a pr Dipper feeding young, 3 male and a female Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Siskin, Red legged Partridge, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Wren.

Here on Islay, it has not been as warm today, with the odd shower of rain, only saving grace is that it is the first time for around a fortnight that I have not had the watering can out for some of the plants.. The float on the rain gauge is now floating... as long as it is dry for tomorrow morning as I am meant to be helping Bob with his WeBS count!!!

Sunday 30th April

Another month almost in, and another dry month by the looks of things, can't see a downpour coming over the next few hours...

This morning David Barr and myself went along and gave Bob a hand to carry out his survey along the River Sorn from The Woollen Mill down to where it enters Loch Indaal below Bridgend. In total we saw/heard 36 species of birds. Highlights included 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Dipper, 12 Blackcap, 14 Willow Warbler, 10 Siskin, a Treecreper, a Mallard with 12 ducklings. Best bird for me was seeing a really beautiful male Bullfinch on top of one bridges in the full sunlight, but my camera was in the van, not with me... Margaret saw a male Siskin on the feeders while I was away!!!

Later on this afternoon, we went over to Gruinart and up towards Killinallan. Nothing much to report from Ballinaby, no Golden Plovers there today! We saw a 38 Blackwits and several Wheatears as we drove up past Craigens with 9 Eider at Bun anUillt. We were both surprised to see so many Meadow Pipits, they were just everywhere...

Friday 24th March

Another great day with the weather and to end it all, a beautiful sunset.... Martin Gooch, the winner of the free holiday draw at the Bird Fair, courtesy of Islay cottages, has had a tremendous stay here this week. On Wednesday, he had seen a male Hen Harrier out quartering his patch along at Rockside. Shortly afterwards he saw a Golden Eagle being chased off by a determined Raven. Over at The Woollen Mill, a walk along the River Sorn produced a Dipper, and also a Grey Wagtail. In the trees, a Bullfinch and a Treecreeper spotted. Yesterday, they saw 2 White tailed Eagles up past Ballygrant and then a ringtail Hen Harrier out on the wing. This morning they saw 9 Pale bellied Brent Geese on Loch Indaal. Bob, today had a Gannet up at Ardnave. Also seen there by Bob were 4 Wheatears,12 Barwits, 15 Sanderling a few Redshank and some Snipe as well.

Before I forget, on Tuesday evening, the bird nerds will be meeting at 6 pm at the old hide at Gruinart, so if you are around, see you there.

Friday 10th February

Yesterday, Mike Peacock's wife Val had seen 2 Dippers on the River Sorn, just up from the Woollen Mill. Today, Michal and the "vols" had carried out the WeBS counts, On Ardnave Loch they counted 2 Whooper Swan, 9 Mute Swan, 40 Wigeon, 11 Goldeneye, 19 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 7 Teal, 5 Mallard and 2 Oystercatcher

Saturday 4th February

Over at Caol Ila today, Gary had seen 2 Gbb Gull, 21 Tysties and 9 Shag. His other half, Sam had seen a Dipper down on the stream below Kilmeny. Down at Bruichladdich, Carl had a Glaucous Gull, and he saw another white winged gull further out on the water, but too far away to make a positive id possible.  Just before lunchtime, we saw a ringtail Hen Harrier down at Sunderland Farm as it flew along the roadside looking for some prey.

Monday 24th October

Over the past few days Gary has been seeing groups of Long tailed Tit, Goldcrest and also Treecreeper in his garden. Yesterday, Lee and Aileen Thickett had seen a Peregrine spoofing the geese at the top of Loch Indaal, but with no success. Back out in the trees at their cottage, they saw a Treecreeper. Michal, along with James and his family had made the most of the great spell of weather and climbed up Bheinn Bheigier yesterday, they saw a Dipper on the stream close to where they parked their car, and other birds seen included 2 Peregrine, 12 Golden Plover and 3 Raven. Yesterday also, Mandy had seen a Pink footed Goose amongst the mixed flock of 800 Barnies and 75 Greenland Whitefronts at Rockside. In the early evening, at Rockside as well, Mandy spotted a Barn Owl perched on top of the stone wall beside the road. Bob was in touch today to say an increase in numbers of wee birds in his garden this morning. More House Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches with 6 Greenfinch, 12 Great Tit, Blue Tits all seen on his sunflower heads! Other birds present were Goldcrest and also a Willow Warbler. Phil Hampson saw the Long tailed Duck out on Loch Gruinart this morning again, a Greenshank too with a "tired looking" Wheatear on the shore.  While Phil was visiting here this afternoon, 30 Chough graced us with a flypast! Today, John Wilson had gone over to Jura. He had between 250 - 300 Fieldfare helping themselves to the plentiful Rowan berries present. Back on Loch Indaal, at Bowmore, John had 17 Pale bellied Brent Geese, and yesterday evening down on Machir Bay, he counted 39 Ringed Plover.

Wednesday 17th February

Gary had a couple of new "house ticks" on Monday, seeing House Sparrow and also a Reed Bunting on his feeders. He also saw a male Hen Harrier out "quartering its' patch out at Finlaggan, while over the distant hills past Bunnahabhain, a couple of White tailed Eagles were on the wing. Tom Garner, like the rest of us battled with the weather yesterday, reporting in to having seen 3 GBB Gulls and a Raven up behind Portnahaven. Ashley Saunders and the team from Oriole birding, yesterday had brilliant views of a Golden Eagle from close to Red Lodge on the high road. They also saw 2 Dippers on the River Sorn at Bridgend and then a Treecreeper at the Woollen Mill. Over at Loch Gruinart, their highlights were 2 Common snipe, a Whooper Swan and then 2 Knot. James had a White tailed Eagle on the ground along the flats at Gruinart and Peter had a Sparrowhawk in his garden.

Wednesday 30th December

Well, "Storm Frank" has come and gone, and thankfully not much damage has happened out here as far I know, and the ferries sailed apart from the first sailing at 7am... Yesterday Peter had been out for a walk along the strand at the top of Loch Indaal, walking towards Uiskentuie. He had seen 15 Pale Bellied Brent, 28 Ringed Plover with 3 Dunlin amongst some Oystercatcher and Turnstone present. On Xmas Day and also on the 27th he had gone up to Gruinart to try to catch a glimpse of the American Wigeon and the Green winged Teal, like visiting George, no luck. This morning at breakfast time, Peter had seen a Gannet flying down Loch Indaal past Bruichladdich, Mike had also spotted it too, down at Port Charlotte a few minutes later. They both thought that it had been blown in with yesterday's winds and was heading back out to sea when they saw it. This afternoon, George and Pat Jackson had a Dipper on the River Sorn. By the way, the sea, around breakfast time was something else with the big waves crashing over Coull rocks... and this evening it still remains quite noisy!!!

Thursday 6th August

A better day with the weather, and the sun came out again to show us what it looks like, more tomorrow, all going well!!! This morning, James saw an Osprey at Gruinart, Izzy baker a new member on the RSPB team on the Oa had seen a fleeting glimpse of a Dipper down on the reserve on the Oa. Izzy, prior to coming to work on the Oa, worked with the RSPB on Oronsay and Colonsay for the past few years along with Mike Peacock. This afternoon, Margaret and myself were out and about collecting some of our legendary supplies from some of our Islay distilleries to bring down with us to the Birdfair at Rutland. It may be a fortnight away, but it can still take time checking that everything is to hand, checking with all our team that all their travel is in place and also speaking to some of the other regular Islay visitors who come along to help us on our stand. We are fortunate this year in that Walkers Shortbread have come on board and are kindly donated shortbread for visitors to our stand to sample along with the spirits provided by the distilleries. Islay cottages along with Calmac, our ferry operator, are again providing the prize in our free draw for a week's holiday to come and see our geese through the winter. So if you are coming along to the Birdfair, mark sure to call in to our stand in marquee 7 stand 14, the Marquee number has changed but we are in the same place, so come along and meet in with some old faces, enjoy the company and enter the free draw, someone has to be a winner...

Monday 14th April

A glorious day over here today, a great day for Mary's walk over to Kilchiaran. On the way we had Sand Martin, Swallow, Wheatear, Buzzard, Chough and Raven, over at the bay at Kilchiaran, Kittiwake and Fulmars were seen on the nest! The Rooks at Gruinart have started to hatch their eggs....Michal had a Chiffchaff in the woods around Gortantoid and had 4 singing Yelowhammer up along the coast from there as well. David Griffiths had a Dipper at The Woolen Mill on the Sorn the other day After the walk, this afternoon, we had a Peregrine high up in the air, here at home, and then it must have seen some prey, and it just dropped out of the sky, wings tucked in, no mercy shown there!

Saturday 22nd March

Yesterday had been Scott and the birders from Aigas last full day here on Islay. In the bay down at Laphroaig, 2 Red throated Diver were present. Along the low road coming up to Bowmore, a male Hen arrier was seen, while from the harbour in Bowmore, Scott had 9 Common scoter, 12 Slavonian Grebe, 4 GND and a Red throated Diver. Scott also saw Goldeneye, R B Merganser and Eiders there too. Up on the River Sorn at The Woolen Mill, a Treecreeprer was seen with a Grey Wagtail down on the waterside. By all accounts it sounds that the whole group have had a great week while they have been here, thanks folks for your birds. Also yesterday, The Bolton Birders had a Dipper on the River Sorn down below the Woollen Mill Over at Ardnave Loch they counted 6 Whoopers, 4 Mute, 4 Teal, 10 Tufted and 3 Goldeneye. They also had seen some Chough there as well, and also few more over towards Machir Bay. Earlier in the week, David and Jane Griffiths had a Barn Owl over towards Neriby. Remember tomorrow the Islay bird nerds are meeting up at Ballygrant Hall at midday to go and seek the Ring necked Duck on Ballygrant Loch, see you there...

Thursday 20th February

Just as well that I emptied our rain guage yesterday as we had another inch through the night, the ground is laden with water, out on the Machir in places that I have not seen before, water everywhere... Yesterday,the Hampshire birders had a Dipper on the River Sorn, out on the Sound of Islay they had seen Black Guillemots, Eider and GND. Over Jura they saw a pr of White tailed Sea Eagles. They also saw a pr of Stonechats on Islay. Visitors from Cambridge had seen a male and a female Hen Harrier, a Brambling, a GND, Canada Goose hutchinsii sp and 10 Barwits while out and about round Gruinart and the Loch Gorm area. The Rochdale birders were telling me that the flock of lbj's at Corsapol has turned to mainly Chaffinches rather than as many Linnets seen there. James had some birds seen from the ferry when he was away for a few days. He saw a White tailed Sea Eagle on the Sound of Islay, both coming and returning! Also seen were "loads" of Tysties in summer plumage in the Sound of Islay, as well as Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, GNDs, a Red throated Diver, Black throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter, 5 Slavnian Grebes. Highlight for James was a Great crested Grebe in West Loch Tarbert