Friday 30th January

The easterly wind continued all day carrying just one or two small showers.

Just one bird record was received, from Fiona McG, but an interesting one of about 6 Yellowhammers just outside Bowmore close to the Cruach turning. This species is resident on Islay with low tens of pairs, very scattered in both farmland and in coastal gullies. It is thought to have declined as a breeding species in the last 20-30 years, as it has in the whole of Argyll, while small flocks, like this one, can turn up in winter almost anywhere, sometimes on their own, sometimes in flocks of buntings and finches.

And here's a Gordon Langsbury photograph.

 

Wednesday 28th & Thursday 29th January

The easterly winds continue unrelentingly, though at least the last two days have been a bit drier than Tuesday when 25 mm (an inch in old money) fell at the airport, and there has even been a bit of sunshine.

On Wednesday, Clive McK watched a white-winged Barn Owl hunting over Moine Mhor, RSPB Loch Gruinart, in broad daylight. As he commented, it was doubtless very hungry after the last few days of weather. On Thursday, Mary McR saw a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles on the Rinns between Octofad and Ellister and a Sparrowhawk at Octofad, while the usual three Choughs were at Claddach.

First-time visitor, Peter Emery, with a birding friend, had a good three days here the previous weekend and has sent in some records, plus a promise to come back!

On Sunday 18th, a Golden Eagle over Port Ellen bay, and another on a ridge close to Port Charlotte. Loch Indaal held Red- and Black-throated Divers, a Long-tailed Duck, a raft of Common Scoters, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Light-bellied Brents, while there were Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and Goldeneye on Loch Skerrols. A mixed thrush flock near Gleannagaoidh contained Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare.

On Monday 19th, there were 4 or 5 White-tailed Eagles on the sand in Loch Gruinart and up to 8 Whooper Swans on the RSPB reserve, and a male and female Hen Harrier were quartering the moors to the west of the road from L. Gruinart to Ardnave.

On Tuesday 20th,  there was a Golden Eagle and, a bit later, 2 White-tailed, on fields opposite Kilnaughton cemetery, c. 20 Twite at the RSPB carpark on The Oa, a Merlin on the way to the American Monument, and 2 Gannets off Kintra.

Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th January

Very little to report other than nasty weather as Storm Chandra moved through bringing gale force easterly winds and plenty of rain.

The only bird news comes from Malcolm O. who had a record count of 104 House Sparrows in his garden during the RSPB Garden Birdwatch  session on Sunday.

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January

Another couple of days of quite blustery winds from an easterly direction. Saturday was fairly bright and dry, but Sunday was back to grey and rainy. 

On Saturday Gary T. was birding in the Finlaggan area and had Golden and White-tailed Eagles patrolling the hilltops there. He also watched Crossbills in the deciduous trees, picking at moss and lichen on the branches  at Finlaggan house which prompted some discussion about why they regularly go there and do that.

Talking of Gary T. and his imminent departure from Islay, regular visiting birder Ken Reeves sent in this message and photo of Gary to the blog:

"A big thank you to Gary Turnbull for his friendship and help on our many winter trips to the wonderful Islands of Islay & Jura. We all wish him the best for the future. Cheers Gary from myself, Steve Lister, Keith Tinworth, Richard Cross, Chris Mills and all the members of Burbage Birders travel group!"

Today's birding notes come from Mary R. who counted 5 White-tailed Eagles between Octofad and Bruichladdich.  She also had her regular Merlin sighting near Uiskentuie and a good find of Kingfisher at Bowmore Harbour.

I was sent photos of, presumably the same odd Swan Goose hybrid that reappeared near Port Charlotte.

Friday 23rd January

Strong easterly winds overnight and for much of the day bringing plenty of rain and cloud to start with but brighter towards the end of the day.

The only bird news today comes from Louise Muir on Jura who had received a report of a Nuthatch near Craighouse this afternoon. This species was still regarded as a vagrant in Argyll in 2003, but has since spread as a breeding bird into the county from Cowal, to most of North Kintyre and parts of Mull. There is a single previous record for Jura, noted in the BTO 2007-2011 Winter Atlas and presumably the same as a bird reported at Jura House on 10 December 2008. Similarly, there is just one record on Islay of a single bird at Bunnahabhain on 2 June 2020 and David Jardine messaged to say that the first for Colonsay was found last December. So it is a species on the move into Argyll, on the increase and may, one day, colonise these islands, as did Great Spotted Woodpecker in 2013.

Thursday 22nd January

An overcast, windy and rainy day.

Despite the unpleasant weather, cabin-fever got the better of me and I checked Lochs Ballygrant and Skerrols in the rain. nothing but 3 Tufted Ducks and a Woodcock in adjacent woodland at Ballygrant, but 18 Tufted Ducks, 6 Goldeneye (all female) and 3 Goosanders (2 male, 1 female) at Skerrols.

Mary R. noticed a Gannet diving offshore at Currie Sands and 5 Chough around the same area, while David D. had a Barn Owl on the wing at Ghiol, The Oa.

 

Wednesday 21st January

 Drizzly at times becoming windier with more persistent rain by the evening.

No records noted today, but Clive McK. sent in some details from his WeBS count yesterday from Bowmore to Blackrock. Amongst 30 species recorded were 33 Shelduck, 127 Wigeon, 33 Mallard, 145 Teal, 53 Common Scoter, 27 Red-breasted Mergansers, 232 Oystercatchers, 70 Lapwing, 251 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Greenshanks, 144 Knot, 166 Dunlin, 197 Common Gulls and singles of Black-throated Diver, Little Egret and a Kingfisher - the latter by the generating station just outside Bowmore. He also had a loose flock of 17 Rock Pipits at Carnain.

The only bird news today comes from Gary Turnbull who confirms that he and Sam are soon relocating to the mainland to be closer to family. Islay will be poorer for their move away - especially the birding community, as Gary has been one of the island's most active resident birders for the last c.11 years. He has contributed masses of individual records: all sorts of useful observations including from areas where others don't reach too often, to WeBS and other surveys and counts, discoveries of uncommon and scarcer species and valuable notes on other wildlife. I'm sure that all the many birders - resident and visiting - whose paths you've crossed will be very sorry to see the both of you go, but wish you all the very best back on the mainland - and hope that you'll be back on Islay for your holidays!