Thursday 2 December

Lovely gift of a day after so much wind. plenty of birds on the wing making up for being stuck in shelter for the past wee while. No photos today, I was too busy enjoying the weather.  Photo above taken yesterday looking over to the Rhinns lighthouse.

Margaret has been in touch from Kilchoman Reserve with an eagle day - a white-tailed eagle flew by the house and then spent some time over Machir bay, and earlier she had a good sighting of an golden eagle sitting close to the road at the hut circles 'An Sidhean' near Culbuie. These were once believed to be fairy mounds and children were forbidden to play near them lest they be taken by the 'wee folk'.

Chris Mills sighting for today:

"Good day today with the finding of a drake American Wigeon off the Gaelic Centre, Bowmore in amongst several hundred Eurasians.

Also White-tailed Eagle from here, plus a Pink-footed Goose & again the juvenile Glaucous Gull.

The juv Iceland Gull true to form this morning flew SW at Bowmore along the shore, but earlier at 8.15am and landing just below the distillery.

At Bunnahabhain a flock of 40 Redpolls were in out of the birch and conifers, 2 paler birds were poss Mealy types, but the whole flock was furtive and they never gave more than a few seconds to study them properly.

Mid-late afternoon from the Killinallan road, the Cackling Goose was present just South of Gruinart with 2000 Barnacles. There were 3 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, 20+Knot, a young Peregrine,  a ringtail Hen Harrier & 2 WT Eagles sitting on the deck trying to catch a stranded fish in a pool but without success! 

As per Steve Lister & Ken Reeves - Loch Skerrols the 1cy drake Lesser Scaup still present & a Long-tailed Duck."

Thank you Chris, 

Sunday 6th December

Gary, e mailed the following birds... "

Some sightings from today at Finlaggan,

1 Merlin, 2 Peregrines, 2 Buzzards, 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 juvenile Golden Eagle and an adult White tailed Eagle.

At home a male Redpoll investigating the big bird table

Over at our home, it has been a bit cooler, but the birds have been glad of the food on offer. 

Earlier on this evening we were outside watching the International Space staiton, fly past. and all going well should see it again shortly as it only takes 90 minutes to orbit the world...

Saturday 22nd August

 Visitor Andrew Kelly sent through the following list of birds that he had seen yesterday....

"Sightings other than 'regulars' from yesterday:

Loch Indaal shore just north of Bruichladdich: 2 eclipse male Eider

Machir Bay: dozen Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 juvenile Dunlin

Road to Sanaigmore: juv Whinchat (and loads of Stonechat!).

Sanaigmore area: 2 Common Sandpiper, masses of Twite (mixed with Linnet and some Goldfinch), Fulmar off shore

Plenty of Buzzards  also seen while out and about!"

He also had seen a Common Whitethroat sitting on top of a dyke/ wall as he drove up to Sanaigmore. 

James today had been out doing a bit of birding looking out over Loch Gruinart where he counted the following birds...

"A few wader on Loch Gruinart

Dunlin -1040,  Ringed plover – 110,   Sanderling – 210,  Redshank – 26

Knot – 87 and Ruff = 1

A large flock of 40 Redpolls was interesting, being chased by a Sparrowhawk"

 

Saturday 8th August

Good friend Karen Graham is up North staying in their bolt hole for a few days, Karen e mailed some birds...."Took another walk in the local woods thinking maybe the Ospreys  had gone but no. A youngster landed on the empty nest begging for food but the adult came in and had none of it and flew away to another tree. The youngster got the message and gave up and flew off. 

Evenings here sees about 500 starlings gathering from all round eventually dropping down to trees behind the house. The young Herring gulls now able to fly to the shore without dropping down too early more often than not on the road."

George E. Jackson is now living over on Islay full time, so both George and his wife Pat will be made welcome, especially as they are both qualified ringers with "A licences". Yesterday, George emailed through some comments for me to use...

"Seen a good few birds in the garden - about 20 species but nothing unexpected yet (Redpoll and Blackcap best so far).

We got the wind and the torrential 2in. of rain on Tuesday. The grass area at the Machir Bay car park had been dry till then but was completely covered by Thursday morning. Yesterday (Thursday) evening there were about 50 Common gulls, 10 Herring and 8 Black-headed; a couple of Sand martins still over the dunes/stream, nothing else of note. This morning about the same with about 10 GBB gulls; off the beach I saw 2 Gannets - first I've seen up here. Also this morning there were 8+ Mipits on the Horizons grass. There was also a flock (large gaggle?) of 400 Greylags flew up the valley and settled in the barely field below the distillery - first of the early autumn movement?"

Finally today, Alistair Hart had seen a Sedge Warbler round at the wee lochan up past Claddach.

   

Friday 3rd July

Last night/ early this morning James had heard another 2 Corncrakes calling on the reserve both in new locations...  Later on this morning, he saw 5 Redpolls in his garden at Mill cottage. James was also  saying that his rainfall figure at Mill cottage was just short of 4 inches with little rain falling in the first half of the month!!!! The rain that fell into our rain gauge at Shepherd's cottage was a mere 3.75 inches...

Monday 29th June

Well, another month has almost past, please remember that there will be no meeting of the Islay bird nerds tomorrow night.

James yesterday had a Spotted Flycatcher as well as 5 Redpolls in his garden at Mill Cottage. 

This morning I received an e mail through from Matt Jackson....

"The Corncrake is still calling overnight on calm nights, haven't heard it during the day for a while and there only seems to have been one calling recently - for a while in late May there were two calling nearby.  After the initial interest, here the House Martins didn’t come back to the box sadly."

Wednesday 22nd April

Mary Redman e mailed some sightings seen by herself and her Dad,  Donald...
"I saw my first tern of the year in the bay here yesterday, not sure of species but it was 'quite' big.

Also there is a flock of around 20 Whimbrel feeding near Claddach. 

The Starlings are very noisy just now- including a Corncrake impersonator! 

My Dad had a magpie on his roof on Kerrera yesterday! I hear there's been a few sightings I'm Argyll, but he did get a shock! 

Hope you're all well, the sunny weather continues!" 

Mandy has also set through some sightings as well....

"This morning, I heard a Cuckoo down beside the phone box at the end of Loch Gorm, my first for this year.

4 red polls just flew over whilst I'm sitting in the sun in my front garden, this afternoon. Green veined white just flew round the front garden.

The Starling has added to its repertoire again- this time an adult male human saying a 3 syllable phrase, couldn't work out what it said!!!!"

Peter sent more birds for the blog, just great!!!

• a single flock of 23 Eider near Bowmore on the fortnightly shopping visit
• a single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper on the shore near Bruichladdich

Lots of Willow warblers, Wheatears and Sand Martin about – plus Sandwich Terns offshore.

 

Wednesday 5th February

Some sightings in from yesterday, from our various different groups of visiting birders who have kindly sent them in for me to use... 

The "2 Steves" and Julie had been out in the strong winds down on the Oa, where they had a small flock of Twite and also a Peregrine. Later on, they had seen  2 juv  Golden Eagles when they were along at Claggain Bay over the moorland. Offshore, a Razorbill was present.

Chris Mills and his clients from Norfolk birding had seen 2 White tailed Eagles soaring past as they were getting ready to go out for the day where they are staying this week. Between Kilchoman School and Grainel, they saw a ringtail HH, only about 10 metres away from them...at Craigens, a male Merlin was present. Down on the head of Loch Indaal, a White tailed Eagle was sitting around... 2 Snipe, 6 Redpoll, 2 Crossbills and also 2 Tree creepers were spotted in at Loch Skerrols. Over at Bunnahabhain, they had another Crossbill, then down at Finlaggan a further 9 Crossbills were added to their list for the day. They then saw 3 Golden Eagles as they drove down the Glen road past Storakaig. On their way past Cash Kelly's house and in the bay at Blackrock, they had seen 6 Slavonian Grebes, 12 GND, 3 RTD, 3 L t Ducks, a Scaup and also a Tystie. To finish their day off,  they counted 20 + Chough flying in to the roost  at Kilchoman.

Returning birders from Hampshire, Gary and Wendy are back over for another trip... Round and about their cottage at Carnain, they had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier, 19 P b Brent Geese, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Shelduck, Snipe and some Dunlin.

Jack Fleming was telling me this morning, that he had been hearing a  Tawny Owl as well as a Barn Owl last night down at his house on the Gruinart Flats... 

Saturday 1st December

Well, another month in again, with the tally for the rain coming to 6 inches in all. At one point earlier on in November when we, like many other places had a few days of heavy rain, I was "pleasantly" surprised, as it could have ben a lot more.... Now, we are officially into winter, say no more!!!

Today, Bob had spent some time birding from the South hide at Gruinart from where he saw 12 Whooper Swan, 50 Pintail, 10 Blackwit, 6 Redshank along with a good number of Teal present there as well. Going back along the track to his car Bob had 3 Roe Deer grazing away which were reluctant to move on.....  Gary and Sam were over this morning for a catch up, Gary saw a Kestrel out of the kitchen window, while down among the feeding Chaffinches, the 2 Brambling were present. Then briefly, Gary saw a Redpoll. Earlier on before Gary and Sam arrived, Margaret saw the male Hen Harrier swoop low over the game crop and then on its way over the rushes along the front of the crag.

Tuesday 10th April

Jeff Duncan is back over at present for another Islay fix...Yesterday, Jeff had seen GND, Slavonian Grebe and Sandwich Terns off Bowmore on/ over Loch Indaal. Round at Carnain, he had Sand Martins, House Martins and also Swallows. In the evening he saw a female Hen Harrier and about 30 minutes later a male Hen Harrier, both seen from the kitchen window from where they are staying! Also yesterday, Mark had seen a Glaucous Gull at Gortan.

Today, Mark had a Magpie on the reserve at Gruinart. Bob was speaking to some visiting birders at Gruinart this morning and they told him that they had heard 3 Willow Warblers earlier on, on their way down to the hide. On my way back from Bowmore at lunchtime, I saw 6 Pale belied Brent  at Blackrock. James reported though a count of 4,375 Barnies and 117 Whitefronts on the reserve at Gruinart... He also saw 2 Ruff while out in front of the hide. Visiting birders came to visit us today while I was out, but Margaret spoke with them and they saw a Redpoll, and 2 Greenfinch along with other birds around here at home. This afternoon, the Yellowhammer was still around. Later on, a Sparrowhawk zipped through, spoofing all and sundry. It flew past and returned to sit on top of a fence post for the best part of 5 minutes before flying off, still hungry!!!!

Tuesday 20th February

Mike Peacock was in touch this morning to say that the "Iceland Gull" which he had seen down on Machir Bay, turned out to be a leucistic Common Gull. I, last night forgot to mention that Val Peacock, Mike's wife had seen a male Bullfinch over at The Woollen Mill.

An email through from Phill with some sightings seen down on the reserve on the Oa today...  A Cormorant on Glenastle Loch(an uncommon sighting there), 15 Teal, 10 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Oystercatcher, 8 Lapwing, 93 Twite, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Chaffinch, 4 House Sparrow, 885 Barnies, 129 Whitefronts, 26 Greylags, 3 Skylark, 3 Rock Pipit, 50 H Gull, 2 Gbb Gull, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard and a Merlin.

James, today,  had carried out his WeBs count today for the flats and the floods at Gruinart, so here is his count: 15 Whoopers, 525 Lapwing, 35 Redshank, 14 Snipe, 46 Curlew, 561 Teal, 1 Greenshank, 2 Dabchick, 4 Heron, 48 Pintail, 8 Shoveler, 94 Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck, 590 Wigeon, 38 Common Gull, 9 B h Gull, 1404 Golden Plover, 4 Mute Swan and 31 Mallard.

Also today, Louise saw a Bonxie off the pier on Jura. Bob has had some Siskins lately on his feeders and today he had a Redpoll there as well. Here at home, the Lapwings, only 12 today, were flying around very acrobatically. Distillery Dave was up visiting us late afternoon, and watched the Chough flying in to their roost.

Saturday 21st October

As promised the sighting that folk had sent through from yesterday....Peter and Janet had seen 16 Scaup and a GND out on Loch Indaal and then counted 26 Ringed Plover together down at Port Ellen. In the Ardbeg area, they had seen over 500 Redwing along with only 6 Fieldfares. Along at the area around Kildalton, 2 Golden Eagle were seen soaring high, also present was a flock of 30+ Redpoll with 5 Long tailed Tits and 3 Goldcrests. Another flock of  20+ Chaffinch, a few Goldfinch and Siskin was also seen there as well. Yesterday was Eddie and Elaine's last day.. Down on the Oa, they saw 2 Golden Eagles, a juvenile Peregrine landed close where they were and remained there for around 30 minutes, appreciating the sun  they also had a small flock of 15 Redwing and then 4 Swallows, a sight that they had not seen before, Swallows and Redwing together! They also heard a Water Rail calling there too. On their way back over to Gruinart, they had 3 Slavonian Grebes at Blackrock. From the viewing platform at Gruinart while watching the geese coming in, they saw a Golden Eagle which flew in below them and landed on a distant fence post, soon afterwards another Goldie flew along and landed 3 fence posts away... Richard and Pat had seen 5 Chough on the Oa, and noted Fieldfare as they came back off the Oa. They too had seen the flocks of Redwing & Fieldfare along the South coast, at Lagavullin, Laphroaig, Kildalton and along to Claggain Bay where 8 GND were present. James had carried out another count at the reserve at Gruinart yesterday, with his goose tally coming to 20,165 Barnies, 274 Whitefronts, 30 Brent Geese, 6 Greylags and a Canada Goose, hutchinsii sp. Other birds of note were 2 Golden Eagles, a Ruff, a Blackwit and a Hen Harrier. Back on Thursday, Gary saw  2 Common Terns off Bruichladdich and yesterday up at Kilchoman, he saw a Brambling, a Greenshank at Bun an Uillt with 17 Slavonian Grebes on Loch Indaal. He commented that the numbers of Grebes and Divers present are starting to rise.

Today, first full day back home a rather wet day, a very wet day and this evening the wind has started to pick up... While having a catch up with Mandy over a cuppa at the back of lunchtime, amongst the Chaffinches Mandy spotted a male Brambling, a tick on Islay for her. Later on, we had a Blackbird gorging itself on the cotoneaster berries, suppose that was why they we planted the catoneasters ... a ringtail Hen Harrier glided past and finally 30 Chough flew into the roost...

Saturday 15th April

Returning visiting birder, George E Jackson is back on Islay for a few days. On Thursday evening, George has 2 Snipe drumming over the merse at Whinpark. Early yesterday afternoon around Cattadale, on the "glen road" he had a feeding flock of around 50 Meadow Pipits. Later, on Loch nan Cadhan 4 Tufted Ducks were present with around 20 Herring Gulls mulling around there as well. Oliver headed home today, but yesterday had carried out a walk part of Islay's Northwest coast where he saw a Peregrine, a distant Golden Eagle and a Raven having a tussle with 2 Hooded Crows. Later on Oliver had a Sparrowhawk skimming over the grassland close to Saligo and then saw 20 Sandwich Terns off Bruichladdich. Today was Armin's last day before heading home, but a quick glace of the window at Clachan Cottages produced a male Hen Harrier out on the wing, flying across the  moorland towards Gartbreck. Here at home, we had a pair of Redpolls, 2 male and a female Greenfinch on the feeders. Down at Whinpark there were around 15 Sand Martins hawking over the merse  around lunchtime. George had seen 2 Wheatear at Machir Bay today.

Sunday 9th April

Hope you all sitting comfortably, as there is a LOT of birds for you to read about tonight...

Today was the day that some of us help carry out the WeBS count on Islay.  Gary counted his patch from Port Charlotte to Blackrock, so his birds seen were as follows 39 GND, 11 RTD, 26 RBM, 5 Cormorant, 22 Shag, 6 Razorbill, 28 Comon Guillemot, 16 Tysties, 34 Eider, 26 Common Scoter, 114 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 31 Ringed Plover, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 4 Gbb Gull, 83 H Gull, 219 C gull, 34 Bh Gull, 6 Sandwich Tern, 3 Greylag, 2 Shelduck and 11 Pale bellied Brent. He also saw a further 22 Pbb Geese at smelly corner and then 42 Shelduck on the sand on the estuary at the head of Loch Indaal beside the merse there. Lesley and myself carried  out the count that Bob normally leads, so here we go with our sightings, 3 GND, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Greylags, 650 Barnies, 6 Shag, 1 Cormorant, 1 Heron, 2 Goosanders, 165 Eider, 4 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 44 Rb Merganser, 27 Shoveler,  4 Grey Plover, 5 Lapwing, 19 Ringed Plover, 58 Oystercatcher, 2 Turnstone, 7 Redshank, 13 Curlew, 1 Blackwit, 3 Gbb Gull, 65 C Gull, 60 H Gull and 37 Bh Gull. While I was away, Margaret had 3 Rock Doves and a Collared Dove in the garden on the ground, new birds to the house list!!! Dave Wood had led the first walk today for the Walkislay week down on the Oa, Dave's top birds were 2 House Martins, 1 Swallow, Golden Eagle, Chough, Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, Back at his house he had also seen 2 Siskins in his garden. Peter had also seen the same group of Brents along at smelly corner but noted that none of them had any leg rings on. Carl yesterday had seen many Willow Warblers ... spotted yesterday at Lyrabus Croft, Bruichladdich, Ballygrant Loch, Bridgend Woods and Foreland. today they were noted at An Gleann. A Mistle Thrush and 8 Tufted Duck were also present at Ballygrant Loch, and finally Carl had Greenfinch singing in his garden down in Port Charlotte. Carl also sent a email which told me about 7 Sandwich Terns at Gortan last Sunday, the 2nd of April.

Think that will do for tonight folks...

Thursday 21st July

Peter and Pia returned home on Tuesday from their trip to Alaska. A great trip by the sound of things. On the ferry coming over from Kennacraig to Islay they had seen many rafts of Guillemots of adults and juveniles totalling several hundred birds. They also had seen Kittiwakes, a few Razorbills, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets but no Fulmars! David Formby had seen a Tufted Duck along with a pr of Mute Swan with 4 cygnets on Loch Skerrols. Out of nowhere, a Daubenton's bat appeared. Today when Bob was up visiting us, he saw a Redpoll at the feeders, with 20 species while he was here. Just great....

Thursday 23rd June

Today Bob ventured to Loch Skerrols where he saw couple little grebes and in the woods around the loch he saw a spotted flycatcher. He also had 6 redpolls in his garden. Phil saw a buzzard interacting with hen harrier at Gruinart. James saw short-eared owl yesterday below his house and couple siskins on his bird feeder.

Sunday 30th August

Yesterday, Bob spotted a small male Merlin as it flew past flying towards Octomore. Close to his house, Bob had 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 2 female Sparrowhawks while in his garden he had a Redpoll. Also yesterday, James had an Osprey over at Loch Gruinart. Here at home this morning there were over 200 Starlings out on the grass, bit no other "types" seen! There were also 7 Pied Wagtail, a Song Thrush and a mixed flock of Linnets and Twite and a single Redpoll of around 100 birds in total. A Robin was out on the gravel, the first I have seen for a few weeks. There was a Raven and a Buzzard ducking and diving over the crag this morning for quite some time, neither really won...The numbers of Starlings was on the increase this evening with probably around 400 on the overhead cables, the roof of the cottage next door and also on the church tower but still no Rose coloured Starling seen... There were 35 Swallows on the overhead cables too, no wonder there is a distinct line of bird poo under the wires, better still do not walk underneath while the birds are perched up!!! Before I forget, please send any sightings you may have as I am away off again until next again Tuesday to James on james.how@rspb.org.uk Many thanks.

Friday 24th July

Another not bad day out here on the western edge of Islay, the sun is streaming in through the big gable windows, with the shades across so I can see... what a complaint!! As I write the Jackdaws are outside, calling away, earlier on it had been the Choughs that were making the noise...This morning, there was a Linnet on the seed heads of some of the weeds that were sown there on purpose just for the birds to eat... This afternoon there was a Redpoll down on the garden wall and the 2 young Buzzards were out on the wing, further up on the thermals. Cliff from Hexham had taken a walk out in the hills on the Rhinns yesterday, and was pleased to see Buzzards, Ravens, a distant Golden Eagle and also a Peregrine.

Wednesday 22nd April

More of the same weather again with glorious sunshine, so I managed to finish off digging over the border and hopefully dig out the weeds, no doubt there will be some of the dreaded weeds that I have missed, at least I did make the effort...Yesterday, visiting birder Steve Ellis had gone on the RSPB walk on the Oa where the highlight was seeing a distant Golden Eagle and also a Chough. At Kilnaughton Bay, Steve saw a Shag and 3 Sandwich Terns and along at Claggain Bay later on he had a Common Sandpiper, a Shag, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Red breasted Mergansers. Today Bob had a Sparrowhawk fly through his garden, Bob also had 2 Redpolls and 3 pairs of Greenfinches in his garden as well.

Monday 27th October

Yesterday, Merja and Bjorn from Norway had seen a small Canada Goose amongst the Barnies at the top of Loch Indaal. Also yesterday, Phil and his clients from Heatherlea had seen Chough at Kilchoman and also over at Ardnave. On Ardnave Loch, a female Goldeneye was seen. At Mill cottage, a Common Redpoll was spotted. Amongst the geese at Gruinart, several Whitefronts were present with neck collars. Close to Kilchoman, they had a male and also a female Peregrine, the hen bird flushed a Woodcock and almost caught it! At Ballinaby they had 100 Twite, a Sparrowhawk was present at Gruinart, with another on their way back to Bowmore. There were 170 Whoopers resting up at Rockside. Back at Bowmore there were a few Pale bellied Brent, some with leg rings on. Today, the Rochdale birders had been down on the Oa this morning seeing 2 different Merlins, a Peregrine and a Redpoll. Back over at Loch Gorm, a female Merlin was present and at Gruinart, over 1,000 Golden Plover. Steve Percival braved the elements this morning and managed to fire his cannon nets, catching and enabling around 70 Barnies to be rung with BTO ring, Dravic rings with letter combination and also a plain yellow ring to presumably denote the actual year that they have been rung. Remember, if you are over, tomorrow at 16.00 the bird nerds are meeting at the car park at Gruinart and going down to the hides all going well... might see you there!