Friday 8 October

More barnacle geese skeins have been observed coming in along the west coast.  A steady trickle of an arrival this year rather than a sudden flood of wintering geese.  Similarly, no great numbers of whooper swan reported yet.

Teresa Morris was up at Kilinallan in the rain. At the locked gate at the road end, she saw a sparrowhawk, male hen harrier, barwit, 10 curlew, 2 heron, 6 oystercatcher, 1 cormorant and stags roaring in the distance.

James, Lauren and the RSPB volunteers, Liz and Neve, carried out the Loch Gruinart WeBS today. The highlights as follows; 17 red breasted merganser, 24 Ringed plover, 633 golden plover, 108 lapwing, 1 knot, 242 dunlin, 75 bar tailed godwit, 181 curlew, 32 redshank, 253 teal, 25 pintail, 16 wigeon, 2 whooper swans, 4 snipe, 7 shoveler, 6 black tailed godwits, 3 greenshank, a peregrine, a golden eagle and a white tailed eagle.

The Horwich Birders were out and about towards Machir Bay this morning where they saw 2 chough.  Later they set off to Ardtalla for the afternoon, en route by Bowmore they counted 30 pale-bellied Brent and around 30 red-breasted mergansers.  At Artalla they saw the 'usual' 2 mute swans, as well as 4 herons, 12 curlew, plenty seals about, as well as a lovely sighting of a female otter with 2 young.  At Lagavulin, 8 swallows were busy feeding over the buildings and nearby trees, and a flock of 14 collared doves in a nearby dead tree.   At Port Ellen, 5 pale bellied Brent. On their return a ringtail hen harrier at Loch Tallent and an other at Coull.

Yesterday Shona-Isla counted 26 ringed plover at the 'co-op beach' in Port Ellen. Thank you Shona-Isla.

Thursday 7 October

 An other day of mixed weather. Had some sighting from visitors, always lovely to hear from you and happy that you take the time to share your sightings during your stay.

John Wills spotted the red-breasted goose among a large flock of barnies at Loch Gruinart this morning, visible from the RSPB woodland trails viewing area. The Horwich birders were near Coull this morning where they saw a ringtail hen harrier hunting in the fields, plus a lonely whooper swan.  At Machir Bay they had a lovely sighting of 4 winter plumage sanderling feeding on the tideline.  Later in the afternoon, between showers, 8 swallows by Ballinaby feeding over the hedges, at Saligo a female merlin and a trio of roe deer in a nearby field.  The collective noun for roe deer is a 'bevy', which I've always enjoyed the chance to tell people!

Over at RSPB Loch Gruinart area Teresa Morris had a busy day. Juvenile red kite over the reserve flats, with an immature WTE over Craigens side. From the hides a ring-tailed hen harrier, which visited 3 times while she was there, 2 snipe, 11 lapwing, 12 greylag, 1 whooper, 27 pintail, 12 mallard, heron, hare, roe buck and doe.

On the Oa 2 merlin were seen over Kinnabus. 

At Claddach 3 chough were feeding on the beach. Out towards the west, skeins of geese continuing their journey to their wintering grounds.

Tuesday 5 October

Forgot to add last night, my mum reported 'loads of geese' at Claddach Loch, plus a single whooper swan.  She could hear the gabbling away from the house so walked up to look.  More barnacle geese have been arriving this afternoon, I counted 3 small skeins flying south off the Frenchmans at lunchtime and curving in towards land against the wind.  James had a high count of 1915 barnacles at Loch Gruinart, plus a red-breasted goose among them.

Photo by Sam Hood.  

While I was out late morning, I took the dogs and my wee lad a walk on the beach near the Coal yard, I heard a strange sound like a distant jet only to be narrowly missed by a low flying peregrine! What a speed it must have been going at! I must have stepped into its path judging by how close it came and how sharp it turned upwards away.  The oystercatchers ahead of me can thank me next time.  A little later, 3 Arctic tern flew low over us, seemingly to see what we were doing.  As I got into the car, a lone swallow flew over.  Earlier at the road end of Gartmain Farm, just outside Bowmore, I had a nice sighting of 3 yellowhammer flying out from the gorse bushes heading into a bare rowan tree.  

A friend in Portnahaven told me about 3 white-tailed eagles on McKenzie Island. So if you're a visitor looking for a good place to catch sight of them, its a good place to start!

Wednesday 26th May

Another glorious day over here with some more of that "wall to wall" sunshine, so we took a daft turn and removed some of the tree guards that have been protecting some of our wee trees for a good number of years... It will certainly look a lot different now!!!

Not much to report on the bird front tonight folks, although we wacthed the Ravens out with their 3 young out trying to stake the crag as their patch.. we also saw a pair of Fulmar out flying along the front of the crag. Another good spot was seeing a few more Swallows out on the wing, so hopefully they might think of getting a clutch of eggs laid.. and there is still plenty of time left for them to get on and do something.

Friday 30th October

Ed Hutchings who had been over this week with a group from Wildlife Worldwide sent me, this list of best birds seen by themselves:

Monday 26^th

A pair of Golden Eagle at Loch Finlaggan late afternoon. Lots of Whooper Swan on the merse at Bridgend at dusk.

 

Tuesday 27^th

Loch Gruinart: Both male and ringtail Hen Harrier from the south hide in the morning. Lots of Goldcrests in woodland and scrub between hides and centre. Migrants?

 

Wednesday 28^th

The Oa in the early morning was very quiet, save a pair of White-tailed Eagle over moorland.

Kilnaughton Bay at late morning held 2 Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated Diver, a first winter Razorbill and 6 Chough on beach at western end. Leach’s Petrel off lighthouse at noon heading southwest.12 Ringed Plover on beach at Port Ellen.

Several Swallow heading west at Kildalton Cross early afternoon!

 

Thursday 29^th

Merlin on post near Machrie Hotel early morning. Slavonian Grebe on Loch Indaal between Bowmore and Bridgend. No sign of Rosy Starling despite several passes!

Another filthy afternoon at Loch Gruinart, but a Yellow-browed Warbler was calling in woodland, as well as Lesser Redpoll near hides car park.

Some sightings through from Mike Bell, all seen yesterday morning, before it got away too wet...

Loch Gorm: Pochard 2 drakes

Bowmore shore: RTD 2,  GND 6, Slav Grebe 4, Pbb Geese 71, Eider only 1, Common Scoter 9, Long t duck at least 6 (3 drakes), RBM 32, Ringed Plover 13, Knot 27, Barwit 17, Tystie 1.

Whin Park: WTE 1 imm. up in the rain

Smelly corner: Shelduck 17

Gary, first thing this morning, counted 34 Whooper Swans down on the merse at Bridgend and shortly after that he had a count of 76 P bb Geese along at Gartmain.

Peter and Lesley had seen the American Wigeon on Loch Skerrols today.

Saturday 17th October

Eddie and Elaine Prince are back over for another Islay fix, and they sent me through their best birds seen during their first week here..

"Most of our finds have already been reported by others (Wood Sandpiper, first light last Sunday, Swallow at Ardnave farm yesterday, and a couple of Golden Eagles frequenting Loch Gruinart), but we've also had 109 Sanderling with the Dunlin, 2 Razorbills, 1 Grey Plover and a couple of Greenshank, and we'll send you our full list when we leave in another week. We thought you might first be interested in the washed up corpse of a juvenile Dolphin, about halfway along the beach on the east side of Ardnave, which is attracting lots of attention from Ravens and the odd Eagle."

Mike Hill had sent through some sightings seen by himself today...

"Loch Indaal...     Bowmore side. 2WTE, one of which caught what appeared to be a skate. Lots of PB Brent Geese and Barnacle Geese and several RB Mergansers. 150+ Golden Plovers. 

Bruichladdich side....    6 GN Diver, one BT Diver, 12 Common Scoter.  

Machir Bay..../  25+ Ringed Plover, Sanderling and several Chough. Sparrowhawk being mobbed by 2 Hooded Crows. Male Hen Harrier behind Kilchoman cottages."

Thursday 15thOctober

David and Nancy Massie had been over the "other side"  of Islay yesterday...

"Oa: Male Sparrowhawk and a single flushed Snipe.

Road between Port Ellen-Claggain Bay: 1 Golden Eagle,  2 WT Eagles, 25 Fieldfares, 5 Barn Swallows.

Goose field at Port Ellen: 1 Pinkfoot"

Will try to find out from David whether he saw the pinkie at Leorin possibly at Cornabus, but will let you know tomorrow night...

Johnathan Alder had been over on Jura today and seen at West Loch Tarbert -

 Golden Eagle, Male Hen Harrier low overhead for 10 minutes, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover

Twite, Yellowhammer, Red Breasted Merganser and some Teal

This morning Richard Belter had a walk round Ardnave Point where he had the following birds seen...

3 RTD off Nave Island, mixed flock of Linnet and Twite, a number of Golden Plover, 2 Chough plus

some Ravens.

Late afternoon, Richard had seen the Wood Sandpiper as well as a Cackling goose out from the North hide at Gruinart.

Dave Wood had been out up the top side of Islay today and saw the following birds..

"A wee trip up island today, on Loch Indaal from Blackrock 2 Wt Eagles, 70 Common Scoter, 8 Scaup and 5 Slav Grebe, further round to Bowmore were 54 Pb Brent. " 

Saturday 26th September

Forgot to mention that we saw 2 Swallows flying along the top of the raised beach down at Uiskentuie yesterday evening.

This afternoon, we had a Golden Eagle soaring over our heads up here at home  being chased by 3 Hooded Crows. We also saw 2 Buzzards soaring along above the dunes at Machir Bay, just after lunch time. 

Friday 14th August

 George E. Jackson, e mailed through to say that he had a count of over 25 Swallows perched on the overhead cables leading up to Rockside and the Kilchoman Distillery, so probably the first of them gathering up before heading South to Africa..

Good friend Karen, is still up North and today had seen over 150 Greylags munching away though the vegetation beside Loch Fleet. More birds gathering up.. but these come to here, rather than migrate away!!

To think that yesterday should have been the Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Show, but it did not happen due to the Coronavirus, say no more... To quote an old Ileach, that after the show is past, the nights start to draw in quickly... 

Monday 27th April

Yet another similar entry from a month ago, just to let you know that there will be no meeting tomorrow night of the Islay Bird nerds because of the present legislation in place regarding the Coronavirus, social distancing and all that...  One day, we will all meet up, but in the meantime stay safe...

Mary-Ann had seen her first Swallow of the year today, and has been hearing the Cuckoo calling away on a regular daily basis..

Karen Graham has found her answer to the query that she had posted last night,

"Apparently Blackbirds do sometimes wash food before eating it according to Andy on RSPB website when you Google the question."

Tuesday 21st April

Not much to say on the bird front tonight folks... Having said that Gary had seen a pair of RTD on one of the lochs on Islay... Margaret checked the cameras at home today and she saw a Swallow in one of our sheds, so I am wondering as to whether it is one of the Swallows returned back there from .last year, There were 2 pairs that reared successfully youngsters there last year..

Monday 20th April

Mary-Ann Featherstone had seen 2 Goldcrest over at her patch out past Ardbeg yesterday. Also yesterday Mandy and also Lesley had both seen their first Swallows of the year at their respective cottages.

Today Lesley e mailed the following sightings through to me today...
"Had my 2nd Swallow today so must be Summer Also 10am on way to Bowmore a Cuckoo- being buzzed by mippets."

Steve Wrighston who lives up at Bolsay, up behind Port Charlotte e mailed through some birds seen which "he thought you might like to know what birds have been about at Bolsay this week.

We've had 3 Wheatear this morning , there are lots of Willow warblers singing in the scrub on the lane.We've had our first Swallow. My wife and I watched a male Hen Harrier sky dancing and two males flying together over the forest. Reed Buntings and Stonechats are showing every day. The house is surrounded by singing Skylarks and chasing Meadow Pipits. All this is topped off by a brilliant sighting of a White tailed Eagle." 

Tuesday 7th April

David Wood yesterday had seen 4 Sand Martins and a Swallow down on the Oa yesterday.

I have just heard that the British Bird Fair which should have been held in August down close to Rutland Water has been cancelled, another victim of that virus.....

Sunday 5th April

Today, James saw a Green Sandpiper flying over Islay ....

Gary was also in touch with some birds seen by himself
"Some birds for today, a Yellowhammer was back on the big bird table. Ring tailed Hen Harrier seen over the moor above Finlaggan. Three Swallows were over the moorland."

Karen Graham had a female Bullfinch on her feeders in Bearsden this morning.....

Wednesday 25th March

I was speaking to James this morning, and he told me that he had seen a Swallow on the reserve at Gruinart yesterday. Also on the floods at Gruinart, he had seen 2 Green winged Teal, but sad to say it was 2 drakes rather than a male and female...

The Horwich birders had a Chiffchaff in their garden earlier on today, so perhaps Spring is not that far away!!!

Monday 14th October

Peter had helped Bob with his WeBS count from Port Charlotte round to Blackrock...Their tally came to as follows...200 Barnies, 15 Gbb Gull, 66 H. Gull, 12 Common Gull, 2 Bh Gull, 49 Shag, 5 Cormorant, 63 RTD, 9 GND, 9 Slav Grebe, 1 Red necked Grebe, 87 Common Scoter, 5 Heron, 44 Razorbill, 32 Common Guillemot, 5 Auk species, 4 R b Merganser, 25 Eider, 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Curlew, 33 Oystercatcher and 4 Mallard.

Mark and Shona-Isla's tally for the reserve at Grunart came to...  5 Swallows, 5 Goldcrest, a W T Eagle, a Golden Eagle, a Sparowhawk, a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier, 1321 Golden  Plover, 531 Lapwing, 916 Teal, 55 Wigeon, 6 Whoopers, 54 Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 24 R b Merganser, 3 Knot, 171 Curlew, 56 Redshank, 66 Sanderling, 32 Ringed Plover and also 66 Dunlin.

Today was Richard Belter's last day of this visit and due to the rain had not seen a lot but he had a flock of Twite at Sanaigmore and also 2 GND out in the bay, but no sign of the White rumped Sandpipers!!! Along the road, he had seen a ringtail  Hen Harrier and on the merse at Bridgend, Richard had seen the 2 Lesser Snow Geese. Thanks to Richard for sending his sightings through.

This morning, we had a rather bedraggled Redwing on top of the garden fence. Around 20 Whoopers flew out to the Sea and flew out on towards Ireland and then later on over 30 Whoopers were noted flying in over Coull Point.

Friday 11th October

Yesterday Iain & Fiona Grant had managed to see some birds and sent them through...

Near to Ardbeg, they had seen 4 Swallows and also 2 Grey Wagtails. Just outside of Bowmore, 11 Redwing were seen. Up the West side of Loch Gruinart, a female Merlin was seen feeding on an "unfortunate" Mipit. They had seen the start of the Barnies arriving  back on Islay with over 1,000 counted and more ariving before leaving Gruinart. Other birds seen at Gruinart included a Merlin, a male and also a ringtail Hen Harrier, and also 8 Greenshank. At Ballinaby, they saw 5 Whoopers, 150 Greylags, 3 Pinkies, and also 50 Barnies and then on Machir Bay, 6 Sanderling, 36 Ringed Plover and a single Dunlin were present.

This morning, James had arried out a quick count of any new arrivals on the reserve, he had a count of 5810 Barnies, 6 Greenland Whitefronts, a single Pale bellied Brent Goose and also 3 Redwing... Not to be outdone, we have had a great 2 hour stint at the head of Loch Indaal in rather trying weather this afternoon... Gary was in touch to say that he had 2 Snow Geese present down on the edge of the merse, so after a quick call round to folk, off we went hoping that we might get a sight of them..So, we met Gary and also Richard with Mark and Shona Islay coming along. After a bit of patience, Gary and Richard located the Geese for us, they were tucked up in a hollow and resting up but were seen. Gary sent an image over to Jim Dickson who said in his opinion that they were Lesser Snow Geese. More on these birds and the other birds which were seen when we were there tomorrow night. Peter had came along after we had left and managed to see them as well.

Monday 7th October

Yesterday, another pair returning visiting birders, Nick Brown and Kath Patrick, were in touch with some sightings.. while driving up to Ardnave, they had seen a flock of around 100 Linnets as well as  2 Swallows. Up at Ardnave,  in one of the fields adjacent to the Loch, they had 100 Golden Plover.  Later on, they saw a Merlin chase after a Mipit on their way coming back out from Machir Bay, below Leek on the N W corner of Loch Gorm, they had a male Hen Harrier out quartering its' patch. He also had a small group of Barnies fly overhead there as well. At Sunderland, 19 Whoopers and over 50 Pinkies seen there as well.

Speaking to my good friend Marsali this afternoon, on the phone, and Marsali's rain tally for Mulindry was 140 mm, (or 5.5 inches in old money) for September. Her figure for Saturday/ Sunday was 50 mm, just short of 2 inches... Marsali was saying, like up here at home, that the birds appear not to be interested in the food on offer and there are plenty of birds around...

This morning, Lesley had counted 17 Whoopers along at Sunderland. When Lesley was in for a cuppa with us, we had Buzzard on the garden fence....Late afternoon, Mike Young had seen a White tailed Eagle spoofing the sheep in the field beside his house at Rockside road end, better than watching the TV???

Sunday 21st April

Yesterday, Peter Gill had seen the Litle Egret on the reserve at Gruinart,  and he counted  30 GND on Loch Indaal off Bruichladdich.

This morning, Bob had heard 2 different Cuckoos calling, one at Gearach, the other along the track that leads to Bolsay. In his garden, Bob now has 3 pair of Greenfinches as well as many Willow Warblers around as well. He also had seen 2 Swallows back yesterday and then at lunchtime today, a Peregrine flew over. He too has also got a Stoat in his garden, but it was carrying its youngster in its mouth rather than some prey...

Peter Gill today had seen a Sparrowhawk in a garden in Port Charlotte, tucking into its' newly caught meal... Later on, while walking along the track between Octofad and Lossit, he had 2 male Hen Harriers and also a ringtail. Down towards Portnahaven, he had a further 2 male Hen Harriers. Finally round at Kilchiaran, he had 2 Common Sandpipers.

Just as well that I worked away yesterday, sowing the wild flowers as today, although a much warmer day, it would have been too windy to allow me to even attempt to sow the seeds... This morning, I saw a male Siskin with a leg ring on when it was on the feeders...

Wednesday 24th October

The other day, Ian and Susan Pettman who are annual visitors to Islay had seen a male Stonechat and also a male Hen Harrier when they were over at the reserve at Gruinart. Both these birds are not that common where they come from.

This morning, Mike Peacock had a new garden tick in his garden down in Port Charlotte, a Brambling.. James this morning had a count of 267 Whitefronts on the reserve at Gruinart. He also had 99 Whoopers moving through the reserve this morning as well. this afternoon, The Bowland birders dropped in for a catch up, as did John Wilson from Leighton Moss along with his son Jonti. It was great to have a catch up folks, and great to see that I have not forgotten on how to put the kettle on...They all commented on seeing flocks of up to 150 Redwings as they came along the road to here as well as seeing so many Whoopers  around, just fantastic... Down on Machir Bay, The Bowland Birders had seen 7 Sanderling, 28 Ringed Plover and 2 Turnstone.

Other visitors, earlier this week, Jane and Nigel Clark had seen 2 Otters down at Port Mor, out of Port Charlotte, eating some flat fish...They also had a GND, along with several Cormorants out on the water , and on the stubbles there was a count of around 1,000 Barnies. Today, at the head of Loch Indaal, they reckoned that there were over 1,000 Barnies and also 7 Whoopers resting up. Up at Bunnahabhain, they saw another Otter.

Another pair of visitors Richard Houtman from Amsterdam, along with his father, today had seen some Redwing over at Lagavullin. Along at Ardbeg, they had seen 2 Swallows on the wing looking  for food, with another Swallow seen at Lagavullin.