Wednesday 7th October

Sorry folks got a wee problem tonigt with my computer, but if you check out the blog tomorrow, should have it sorted by then, a promise, rather than a threat...

Tuesday 6th October

Rather a poor sort of a day with the weather, it was that bad I got a wetting twice as I was caught out in a couple of dirty showers when working out in the garden... say no more on that count

Almost forgot the rainfall figures from around Islay for the month of September Dr Matt Jackson's weather station came in at 3.8 inches, up her at home it was 4.35inches with Marsali beating us all at 5.84 inches over at Mulindry.

Peter Gill today had seen 3 House Martins down at Bruichladdich, a Wheatear was seen at the side of the road round at Lossit, with a Grey Wagtail seen on the burn leading down to Kilchiaran bay. Finally Peter had counted 13 Whoopers up at Craigens this afternoon.

James today had seen a Yellow browed Warbler on the reserve at Gruinart and also counted 9,320 Barnies, 2 small Canadas or Cackling geese and also  2 P b Brents as well.

Peter Roberts met in with James who kindly showed him the YBW, and  another tick for the Autumn, the arrival of 10 Greenland white fronted Geese. Peter also had a single Ruff out on the floods at Gruinart.

David Dinsley who is now in place, as he replaced Phill Catton as Dave Wood's assistant down on the Oa, has had an eventful baptism. he was present to se the Hoopoe last week, and then the YBWs on the Oa yesterday and today he had seen on the loch at Kinnabus of the possible N. American race of Bewick's Swan called Whistling Swan. It flew off before anyone else could get there to check it out. Peter believes it may be only a 3rd for UK if it turns out to be an accepted record?

Monday 5th October

It has been some day out here today, the wet weather has not deterred Dave Wood and his  team down on the reserve on the Oa as they have seen 7, yes, 7 Yellow browed Warblers. 

Peter also sent me through his take on the YBWs

"I was tipped off by Jim Dickson that Yellow-brows were flooding in to the Hebrides and that I should go out and look for one on Islay.

Yesterday (Sunday) I did just that by going all the way to Gortantaoid beyond Killinallan where I saw my first Islay YBW (and I think Islay's 4th record) a few years ago. I spent several hours there searching the likely spots but found nothing at all. Today, I received a note via RSPB that The Oa was "heaving" with YBWs - well at least 5, which more or less doubles the islands total in one go! I was just about to head off there to take a look when I thought "if the Oa has several, then surely the Rhinns must have some too?". Thus I selflessly decided to forego the certainty of watching "someone else's" birds on the Oa in order to find my own and contribute to the data pool.  Thus I spent several hours today searching as much suitable scrub, bushes and trees from Portnahaven up to Port Charlotte. Needless to say I found nothing other than my first Redwing of autumn and got soaked with rain in the process. Tomorrow, if the weather is OK I shall give in, go to The Oa and ask David Wood to show me a Yellow-browed Warbler!"

Yesterday, visiting birder Jacqui Relph, a visitor for the week, also saw a White Tailed Eagle at Loch Indaal. It sat on the wreck for a while before it scared the geese! 

Peter Gill, yesterday, had a Redwing close to Sunderland Farm, and then he had a Barn Owl out on the wing in the car headlights, over towards Gruinart. This morning Peter had the Wt Eagle down at the top of Loch Indaal. Down on the Oa, he saw a Hen Harrier, and also soon afterwards, a Kestrel was seen close to Kinnabus where he saw a flock of  present, Along towards Kintra, a Merlin flew along in front of them.

 George E Jackson e mailed his birds at lunchtime, down at Machir Bay there was a Grey wagtail. where the northerly burn comes out of the dunes - first one I've seen down there. Also a couple of Stonechats and two pairs of Choughs; on the grass fields alongside the road were at least 4 Rooks with the crows.

Sunday 4th October

Peter Gill who contributes some birds when over on holiday, returned to Islay yesterday for the week. Peter had seen 2 Hen Harriers as he drove up to where they are staying yesterday...  Today round at Craigens, he counted 17 Whoopers with another 2 male Hen Harriers seen on the reserve at Gruinart. Finally he had 6 Choughs, seen together over at Saligo Bay. 

Another visitor, Nick Rentmore had seen a Yellow browed Warbler down on the Oa this morning.

All I can report tonight is that we had a very vocal group of around 10 Long tailed Tits seen this afternoon, once the rain had stopped.... this morning just before I had my breakfast, when trying to count the birds out on the feeders, they all got spoofed by the local Sparrowhawk as it flew past.

Saturday 3rd October

 Gary had braved the elements today and managed to send some birds seen by him this morning..

"Loads of Barnacle Geese landing on the sand at Bridgend and Gartmain this morning. There was a small brown goose amongst them that I couldn’t I’d. Also a cross Barnie / Canada Goose.

Female Pintail at Gartmain, Golden Plover. Over 100 Brent Geese below the Gaelic college.

No sign of Hoopoe."

James had been out for a count of the geese etc. He had counted the following birds on the reserve at Gruinart..

8,635 Barnies, 2 small cackling Canada Geese, a Pink footed Goose, 2 Ruff present out from the North Hide and also a Sparrowhawk was seen nearby, He also counted 405 Greylags on Loch Gorm.

Up here at home we had 5 Linnets seen out on the Willows, a Siskin in the feeding cage, the first for along time, and then mid morning we saw a great visitor soaring about, not even flapping its wings at all, a White tailed Eagle and at the same time we saw a Golden Eagle which was flying along the top of the crag. Great to see them at the same time, boy what a size the WTE is  compared to the Golden Eagle. Then around 11am a Buzzard was seen  again, out along the crag

Friday 2nd October

Peter had  this afternoon counted the following out on Loch Indaal seen out from the pier at Bruichladdich at 16.30

Red-throated Diver - 23 

Great Northern Diver - 5 

Eider - 71

Black Guillemot - 7

Common Scoter - 44

 

Val Peacock reports an egret from Port Charlotte last night. Doesn't know which species, but it stood out clearly - seen after dark, in the moonlight on the rocks near the pier!

James reported through to say that there was an influx of Barnies, 1075 by mid afternoon with more arriving in as he counted them..

Louise had heard that the Hoopoe was still present today, down in a garden in Bridgend.

Pat Jackson was saying to me that today she feels that there has been more Blackbirds around today in their garden

Thursday 1st October

 Gary had been out this morning along his wife Sam, who spotted some of the birds..

Down where the River Sorn enters Loch Indaal they had a White tailed Eagle. Along at Blackrock,  5 Scaup, 32 Common Scoter  and also 7 R TDs were present on the water there, up on Loch Gorm they had seen a Pochard, 2 Slav Grebes, 147 Tufted Duck, 32 Barnies, loads of Greylags, and also 16 Mute Swans. They also had seen 7 Yellowhammers on the land as they drove round Loch Gorm.

Peter today had been over at Bowmore and on his way home stopped at Gartmain, he counted the following birds from there... 66 Pale bellied Brent Geese; 102 Barnacle Geese, 37 Red-breasted Mergansers and 65 Wigeon. A walk along the sand at Uiskentuie provided 56 Turnstone mixed in with about 45 Ringed Plover.

This morning, we had a ringtail Hen Harrier fly past here, and also last night the Sparrowhawk was out sitting on a fence post, as long it says that far away from the wee birds I do not mind...