Monday 26th October

The winds decreased a little and turned generally southerly/south-easterly, but it was an overcast, almost solidly rainy dark and dreary day!

Mary-Ann Featherstone reports that the Snow Goose was still present yesterday.

As usual, Rogan W. set things off with a count of 63 Shags and 12 Greenland White-fronts heading south down  the Sound of Islay, while Ed B. kept us updated on the tagged (at Cornabus) Greenland White-front flying towards us from Iceland. It did indeed go too far south, reoriented to the Kintyre peninsula and may yet make it to Islay! (Photo below).

Frank Cavanagh set off by ferry to the mainland this morning having a productive sea-watch along the way: singles of Little Gull and Pomarine Skua, 4 Leach's Storm-Petrel and 3 Little Auks. Nick Martin was pleased to find Merlin near Gartnatra - the last raptor to complete his Islay list for this visit. Down at Claddach, Mary R. had 12 White-fronts over the house early on followed by a family of low-flying Whoopers - possibly the 6 she saw in Claddach loch later.

Neil McMahon's Naturetrek group also exited today, sending in this last report of 34 Whoopers at Kilchoman with a single Pink-footed Goose, several more Whooper families on Loch Gorm and on on the stubble field with another lone Pink-footed Goose at Ballinaby. Up at Ardnave they counted 35 Choughs, a male Hen Harrier and a Little Grebe. Off Carnain and Gartnatra in Loch Indaal Nick found 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Brent Geese, 27 Whooper Swans, 2 Red-throated divers and 2 Black Guillemots. On his ferry journey back to the mainland Neil's group encountered a Storm-petrel, 12 Great Northern Divers, 40 Kittiwakes and a handful of Gannets and auks at the south of the Sound of Islay.

Many thanks to Frank and Neil for their sterling efforts in birding in such dodgy weather and for contributing their records to the group and blog. Here are some photos sent in by Neil from his visit.

Sunday 25th October

Another day of Storm Beolo producing extremely strong, gale-force or more winds, from a WNW direction with plenty of heavy rain between patches of clearer weather.

Several of the more intrepid birders ventured out and found some interesting birds despite horrible conditions. Rogan W. set out this morning finding White-tailed Eagles over the Woollen Mill and Loch Skerrols where he scored bird of the day - a 1W Ring-necked Duck with the Tufties. Later he noticed a Greenshank off the Gaelic College where a Great Skua was being blown about Loch Indaal.

The strong NW winds were blowing one of ED B.'s radio-tagged Greenland White-fronted Geese fast towards (or just past) Islay from Greenland as can be seen from the map tracking its course.

Neil McMahon witnessed a sad event with a Barn Owl flushed from gorse bushes at Gruinart and being struck by a Peregrine - the owl escapes but the final outcome not known. Neil also noted c.85 Whooper Swans close to Kilchoman distillery - a favourite spot for these passage birds to linger and feed this autumn. A further c.40 Whoopers were seen by his group at Gruinart, with 7 (3 adults and 4 young) c/o David D. at Kinnabus and, rather bizarrely, 19 sat on a raging sea off Frenchman's Rocks when Clive McK. braved a sea-watch this afternoon for an hour. Clive's fortitude produced 1,165 Kittiwakes and 3 Black-headed Gulls, but little else and confirms that this masochistic pastime is better done on Tiree where 24 Grey Phalaropes, single Sooty Shearwater and Pomarine Skua and 5 Little Auks were highlights offshore today!

Other stuff: Rogan finished the day with a group of 14 Long-tailed Tits and the first Brambling at Dunlossit Cottages. Mary R. had a Snow Bunting down at Claddach and Frank Cavanagh saw an "interesting female/ringtail type harrier all too briefly, that put him in mind of perhaps a Pallid - something for birders to keep an eye out for tomorrow............

Saturday 24th October

Storm Boelo built up during the day from being overcast, very windy from the south/SW and raining in the morning to drier at time with a little sun attempting to peek through with ever-increasing winds from the west rising to storm-force by evening.

Remarkably, despite the weather several people braved the storm and did a bit of birding, at least in the morning before it became too dangerous to be outside. Rogan W. did a watch on the Sound of Islay at Port Askaig early on and noted a flock of 31 Kittiwakes heading south. Frank Cavanagh found the Snow Goose still at Leorin and 21 Brent Geese and a Pink-footed Goose at Gartnatra. Later he found one of Snow Buntings remianing near Blackrock.

Nick Martin found the Red-breasted Goose on the same RSPB fields near Gruinart plus a bedraggled juvenile Peregrine (photos below).

Neil McMahon and his Naturetrek group also braved the elements and found all 13 Little Egrets present and correct on the flats at Gruinart and saw a Water Rail cross the road near the TRSPB offices. They also had 12 Whooper Swans - apparently 2 pairs with 8 young between them. Neil shared some photos taken during the last week with us - but I'll save them for tomorrow which promises to be equally stormy, if not more so.

Male and female Hen Harriers were noted by Audrey & Bob Turner who managed to arrive via what must have been the last ferry that will run until Monday or later.

Finally James H. noted 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff and the juvenile Peregrine again at Gruinart in the afternoon - perhaps he was out checking that the hides hadn't yet blown away!

Friday 23rd October

Light NW winds with overcast, showery and cold conditions to start the day, becoming drier with a bit of sunshine in the afternoon.

Nicky Betts was birding before leaving for home before the impending Storm Boelo. Birds found included Scaup at Blackrock and 7 Great Northern Divers in the Sound of Islay.

Nick Martin has been active today, firstly looking at Loch Indaal from near Bruichladdich finding 30 Common Scoter and 2 Scaup. He watched a young White-tailed Eagle take down a Greylag Goose on Loch Indaal, which the eagle then left as it couldn't get it out of the water. He had another young WTE, a Golden Eagle, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail around Gruinart at the hides and car park then c.20 Fieldfares at Kilnave.

Neil McMahon and his Naturetrek group were on Jura and report the following: 2 adult WTE, 2 Grey Wagtails, 200 Fieldfares, 50 Chaffinch, and 3 Great Northern Divers in the Craighouse area. 6 Yellowhammer, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Siskin and adult WTE at Tarbert and a further 50 Chaffinch and 3 Bullfinch between the two locations (plus a couple of Otters which no doubt kept the group happy).

Rogan W. counted 243 Wood Pigeons at Cattadale this afternoon. There have been occasional flocks of over 200 before, but none since 1988, so this is unusual.

Clive McK. counted 55+ Snipe in front of the S. Hide Gruinart and 290 White-fronted Geese and 13 Little Egrets on the Gruinart floods.

Frank Cavanagh back on Islay found the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens this afternoon (photo below).

Other folks have commented on their being large numbers of thrushes - Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds on Islay and Jura today.

Thursday 22nd October

A pleasant dry and sunny day with moderate winds - but possibly just "the calm before the storm" as some dire weather is forecast in the coming few days.

Neil McMahon with a Naturetrek group are on Islay and finding plenty of good birds starting this morning with Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher by the bridge over the River Sorn at Bridgend. Further round Loch Indaal towards Bowmore they saw 5 Pink-footed Geese and 2 White-tailed Eagles and a Buzzard feasting on Barnacle Geese. At the Gaelic centre one (or possibly two) feral Chinese Goose was noted plus groups of 9 & 12 Whooper Swans 40 Brent Geese and 4 Canada Geese. Further on they drove the High Road and connected with the Snow Goose at Leorin with Greylags. (Nick Martin noted that male Hen Harrier spooked the Snow Goode and Greylags later). At The Oa were Golden Eagle, Merlin and Twite at the feeders in the RSPB car park. At some point they were in the Ballygrant area too and found 2 more White-tailed Eagles, 10 Fieldfares, while off Blackrock were 3 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers and 8 Long-tailed Ducks.

Elsewhere other observers were birding. Nicky Betts counted 13 Common Scoter and 6 Twite at Blackrock and found one of the Snow Buntings at Carnain. Up at Ardnave Point she found 2 White-tailed Eagles, 55 Golden Plover and 2 ringtail Hen Harriers - several more being noted about the island today. Andy Howard was over on Jura and were surprised by a day-flying Barn Owl. Mark Whitcombe noted a Buzzard disturbing a substantial number of Choughs (45-50) at Ardnave Loch, and David D. had Peregrine hunting Rock Doves at The Oa RSPB car park. Wendy & John Mattingley counted birds offshore between Uiskentuie and Blackrock of note being 13 Slavonian Grebes. Gary Douglas clocked 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the High Road and Clive McK. had a Woodcock near Creag Mhor at Gruinart. 

A note on the Argyll Bird Club website mentions an unknown observer reporting elsewhere- perhaps on eBird or Birdtrack (either way, not very helpful towards other birders on Islay!) - that there were 2 Cackling Geese present today.

So, a lot of predator activity today in all corners of the island. Eclipsing this was the total of goose species seen - the star attraction being found by James How who confirms the return of the Red-breasted Goose by the RSPB Visitor Centre at Gruinart this afternoon. That makes a likely tally of 10 species of goose on Islay today - assuming that the Cackling Goose report is correct and you consider Chinese Goose valid!!

Wednesday 21st October

Strong WNW winds, overcast skies and lots of rain made it a fairly unpleasant day to be out.

However, a few people were out and reported the following:

Nicky Betts saw 11 Brent Geese, the Long-tailed Duck still present and a Grey Wagtail around Craigens and The Oyster Shed. Andy Howard counted 6 Little Egrets, single Greenshank and White-tailed Eagle in the same general area. Jackie Wedd saw a Great Northern Diver as she left Port Askaig on the ferry at the end of her stay - thanks Jackie for all your records. Andy Howard and Wendy & John Mattingley watched 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a ringtail Hen Harrier harassing Teal at the RSPB North Hide (photos below), while Mark Whitcombe had a female Sparrowhawk doing the same at the RSPB South Hide with a Merlin hunting nearby. Theo and his Nature Scotland group also departed today, but not before tallying 7 Bullfinches,  160 Fieldfare and 20 Redwings  at Ardnahoe, 2 White-tailed Eagles, 7 Little Grebes and 10 Teal on Loch Finlaggan. As they departed up the Sound of Islay they found 15+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 2 more (adult) White-tailed Eagles, 8 Great Northern Divers and a substantial count of 45 Black Guillemots. (We look forward to Theo returning with another group in March 2027). Later in the day Andy Howard was up at Kilchoman and counted 50+ Whooper Swans remaining on the barley fields amidst the expected Greylags and Barnies. Finally (so far at 6.30pm!) David D. reports the first Woodcock of the autumn/winter period at Kinnabus.

Tuesday 20th October

 Much less pleasant weather today with grey skies and light rain by early afternoon coming in from continued light SSE winds.

Several of the recent rarities were noted again today: Great White Egret seen by Rogan W. close to the Visitor Centre at RSB Gruinart, the 2 Snow Buntings seen by Theo de Clermont still happily feeding on the beach at Carnain, the/a Red Kite seen by Wendy & John Mattingley flying north-east and the Cackling Goose showing well and photographed by Theo in the same area of the RSPB fields at Gruinart.

And there were plenty of birders reporting from the field from all over the island. Some of the highlights/most interesting stuff reported by Rogan W., Theo, Gary Douglas, Alex Rhodes, Nicky Betts, David D., Ed B., Mark Whitcombe, Andy Howard, Bettina von Haase, Clive McK., Fiona & Stuart Reid, include:

Pink-footed Goose: 1 in same field as the Cackling Goose & Gruinart

Brent Goose: 1 in same field as the Cackling Goose & Gruinart, 10 near Oyster Shed, Loch Gruinart, 19 & Carnain

Canada Goose: 2 on Gruniart flats

Pintail: 64+ Gruinart Floods

Shoveler: 46+ Gruinart Floods

Gadwall: 2 Gruinart Floods

Goldeneye: 2 on Loch Skerrols, 1 off the Gaelic College, Loch Indaal,

Scaup: 1 off Blackrock

Long-tailed Duck: 1 in Loch Gruinart & Oyster Shed (not too common in Loch Gruinart)

Great Northern Diver: 1 in full summer plumage & Claggain Bay

Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2 at Bowmore Harbour

Sparrowhawk: 1 at Loch Skerrols,

Hen Harrier: single ringtail Killinallan, 3 Ardnave point, 2 Gruinart 

White-tailed Eagle: 1 at Blackrock, 2 (immature & adult) at Ardnave, 2 chasing greylags at Leorin, 5 & Gruinart

Golden Eagle: 3 (2 adult & 1 immature) near Port Charlotte

Peregrine: 1 at Gruinart RSPB

Merlin: 1 at Port Ellen Lotts

Golden Plover: 32 at Killinallan

Grey Plover: single & Craigens

Ringed Plover: 32 on Bowmore Harbour wall

Black-tailed Godwit: 4 Gruinart

Fieldfare: 43 over Creag Mhor, Gruinart

Twite: 20 at Killinallan

Rogan W. reported a fascinating encounter at Gruinart with a Snipe being chased by and was hit by a Merlin, the Snipe landed in the road hotly pursued by the Merlin and a Hen Harrier and a Peregrine all at the same time. In the confusion the Snipe waddled off the road and escaped!

Finally, back to rarer birds and a very good photo sent in by Tom Watts of a Turtle Dove seen on the evening of 18th October at Kilchoman.