Thursday 14 July

 

David D took this photo of a juvenile cuckoo near the Oa carpark. Instinct is an incredible thing, to be raised by meadow pipits but to 'know' they are cuckoo; to migrate and go onto lay their eggs in other birds nest without any of it learned from a parent...amazing!  When I was young, my parents hatched some ducklings from under a hen. She was most distressed when they leapt into water every chance they got, the instinct too strong to ignore. The same cannot be said for the chickens hatched out under a duck. 

 This evening at Claddach, a peregrine was being seen off by resident gulls. Similarly this morning a buzzard was being mobbed by a pair of herring gulls. A pair of lapwing were in the fields near the house.  out at the gulls, wheatear, rock pipit, meadow pipit, greylag geese, and gannet off shore. 

The unavoidable subject of avian flu is on everyones minds. The local charity 'Islay Development Initiative' among many things, clean the beaches. Today from just around a quarter of the The Big Strand they collected 168 birds (mainly guilliemots).  As ever the advice is do not touch or intervene. Report any suspected cases to DEFRA 03459 335577.

Mary

Monday 1st June

Lesley e mailed some more information for me to share with you...

"Not much for today but I was speaking to James this morning and he gave me the heads up that the reserves are now open. The Oa and Gruinart trails open - one way with numbers restrictions etc in place. Gruinart VC, loos and all hides still closed. Anyway I thought I would stop off on the way to Coop and have a walk around. Not a lot to see - it was around midday . I had a Chiffchaff in the Gruinart visitor carpark, Whitethroat singing in a gorse bush and orchids (? early purple - I’m not good on orchids) and Ragged Robins blooming. Plenty of blossom on the Rowan ready to produce food for the migrating Redwings and Fieldfares in the autumn. Life continues."

Lesley was also saying that she walked through the woodland trail under the rookery, and luckily for her the birds did not poo on her as walked past them!!

So, it is good news that the RSPB reserves on Islay are opening up again, even although they are not 100% open as such.

James, himself was speaking to Margaret around tea time confirming about the reserves opening up again. He also was telling Margaret about watching a food pass between a couple of Hen Harriers being seen by himself. Shortly afterwards he saw a Cuckoo.

Saturday 9th May

James was in touch by e mail..

"Probably 5 Corncrakes calling at Gruinart. Lots of whitethroats and whinchats about now and I had an Osprey fly over the loch on Thursday."

Mandy e mailed the following to me last night.. 
"Yesterday, I saw a Whitethroat, lots of Sedge Warblers and heard Groppers. This morning, I saw 2 Snipe drumming, and this evening I'm listening to 2 Cuckoos."

Tuesday 28th April

Mandy sent the following e mail through to me this afternoon..

"I was lucky enough to be sitting in my front garden yesterday when a Cuckoo clattered past, making that weird gek-gek noise, chasing another one, and it briefly displayed on a nearby wall, fantastic. Then on my evening walk I could hear 2 distinct Cuckoos, one up towards Leek, and then this morning I saw them both on the telegraph wires, only one was calling though. Mike down at Kilchoman heard a Cuckoo this morning too, and saw a Swallow, and whilst I was on the phone to him he saw an Eagle high above Kilchoman crag."

I also heard that Ed Burrell has a Corncrake calling away over at Cornabus.

James had his first Whinchat of the year today, earlier on this morning he had seen a young Golden Eagle and also he had heard 4 Cuckoos calling away.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Caoimhe had heard a Corncrake calling away on the flats at Gruinart..... heard from the door of the bothy last night.

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."

Thursday 23rd April

Gary had seen the following birds today..
"Two cuckoos busy over the moorland behind the house, quite a few Wheatear around Finlaggan, seven Buzzard in the air around Finlaggan also two juvenile Golden Eagle in the air north & south of the Loch."

Val Peacock had the following birds seen at Foreland when she was out on a short walk there...
"1  Cuckoo, 1 Blackcap & a GSW drumming. (Seems like the species has really established itself on Islay over the past few years and is being noted in all suitable woodland across Islay)."

Mandy, this afternoon had seen a Golden Eagle and  also a Buzzard in the thermals above her house.

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.

 

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 14th April

Mandy was in touch by an e mail earlier on this afternoon,
"I heard a Willow warbler today for the first time this year, behind my house. I also saw 2 separate wheatears down the track, and a song thrush behind my house."

Mary-Ann Featherstone had seen a male Hen Harrier and also a Cuckoo down close to where she lives down out between Ardbeg and Ardtalla.

Monday 13th April

Mary-Ann Featherstone who lives along the coast from Ardbeg Distillery sent through some birds of interest..

"The Cuckoo arrived on the 8th, only 1 at the moment, we often get 3 calling at once.

The Greater spotted Woodpecker is tapping loudly in the trees.

Tawny Owls calling day and night most days since last week.

Grey Herons seen in pairs.

Great Northern Diver in the bay."

Sunday 28th July

Well, the rain did come through the night as forecasted, but it thankfully stopped... the mist has been rising and falling... surprisingly enough, the plane arrived through from Glasgow safely and on time...

On with the news about the birds, I can hear you all say... Bob was up with a piece of his 8oth birthday, but no candles, much appreciated pal.. yes, I sampled a piece just recently... Bob had seen a young Cuckoo fly across the road as  Pat and himself drove home. Shortly afterwards, Distillery Dave, Ann, Margaret and myself happened to look out over the crag, and there were 3 birds flying around close together.. A quick grab of the bins and the larger bird was  a Buzzard which kindly flew off by itself, leaving the other 2 chasing each other around. An Osprey being harassed by a Peregrine. We watched them fly around for at least 3 minutes at least. Almost forgot, that before Bob and Pat arrived, that the 4 of us had a Kestrel out over the crag, the first Kestrel seen here for a while... Just as Dave and Ann were setting out for home we had 4 Peregrines out on the wing, what a noisy lot they can be sometimes and boy they can fly across the sky when they want...

Friday 14th June

Another day, in fact another week is now in.... The weather, today,  has taken a down turn on Islay with some rain showers coming through, but nothing like what some areas have had...

Still I suppose we have been fortunate, especially any visitors will have appreciated the dry days, although, possibly,not the warm weather that one would expect in June...

Distillery Dave had heard 2 Cuckoos calling over at Rockside today

Saturday 25th May

Yesterday, Christine Menzies who now lives on Islay, at Emiravale just on the edge of Port Ellen, had seen a mixed group of 8 waders made up of Sanderling and Dunlin down at Kilnaugton Bay. She had also heard a Cuckoo calling out behind her house...

David Wood was telling me that he had heard 3 calling Corncrakes, the other night at Upper Killeyan down on the Oa. Must try and find out the total heard... 

Distillery Dave had seen 5 Sanderling down on Machir Bay first thing this morning, that was before the weather went awol.. it has "been gie damp", not wet, more or less all day, and as I look the window out the crag has been shrouded in mist since midday. Not exactly a day for bird watching for sure!!!

Before, I forget because of the local Feis being held here this week, the Bird nerds will not be meeting this coming Tuesday, but we will meet up on Tuesday 5th June, with a place and time to be finalised yet, watch this space for more information nearer the time...

Sunday 19th May

What a difference a day makes, especially with the weather, by mid morning today and all afternoon, we have been kept out of mischief by working out in the garden...

Apart from being out in the garden, we were fortunate to spot an Osprey out along the front of the crag, that was before it got chased away by a Raven.. A Fulmar was seen out on the wing this evening...

This morning, Distillery Dave had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier as he walked down to the road end at Rockside. He also saw 3 Canada geese on the fields.

Mike Peacock today had seen 19 Common Scoter and also a Velvet Scoter, all together out on Loch Indaal. Earlier on this morning Mike had heard 6 Cuckoos calling away up towards Bolsay.

Wednesday 1st May

Well, as promised the rainfall figure for April, it only came to a heady ONE INCH, the driest April since we  bought the rainguage back in 2015... Marsali had only 1.7 inches of rain over at Mulindry...

Distillery Dave had heard a Cuckoo calling at Rockside and then this morning, he heard a Corncrake calling over there as well. The Blackwits were still present resplendant in their summer plumage. Gordon Graham had heard a  Corncrake calling down in the reedbed at the Coastguards along with some noisy Sedge Warblers, both yesterday evening. I heard a Cuckoo calling up the gully behind Kilchoman House around 7 am today. Domald Jones had heard a Corncrake calling over at Coull today as well.

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...

Wenesday 6th June

Distillery Dave has a new alarm clock, a regular wake up call at 5am by the Cuckoo!!! This afternoon, there were a pair of Peregrine screeching away out over the crag.

This an image of the Birdseed mix which we had sown for the birds at the start of May and looking really well.. even although it has hardly seen any rain yet... The image below is of the Bumblebee mix which we have sown in an another patch of ground, but sown 2 days later.

As they said in the brochure, it should produce a "colourful mixture designed for bees, producing copious amounts of pollen  producing flowers."  Will take some more images as the year follows on...

Friday 20th April

While I remember, our monthly meeting of the bird nerds will be on Tuesday evening at the South (OLD) hide at Gruinart at 6.30pm, so if you are around, James will be there to meet and greet..

Spring has arrived, James this morning e mailed through to "confirm" this... a flood of Willow Warblers all singing away, a Chiffchaff as well, 2 House Martins, 8 Blackwit all seen / heard at Gruinart. James also saw 10 Whoopers flying North...
Lesley had some Sandwich Terns and also 2 Common Sandpipers, down at Kilnaughton Bay, with Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler heard calling in the Cairnmor Woods behind the bay. Lesley also heard a Cuckoo calling, and said that the Skylarks are in full song with the better weather now.
Forgot to mention that Gary had heard a Cuckoo while doing his WeBs count yesterday, out over the moor beside Gartbreck.
James , late afternoon had been out on reserve and counted 2,640 Barnies still present, 27 Blackwit, 440 Dunlin with a Peregrine out over the flats.

Wednesday 28th March

Can' t take much more of this, another day and another meeting,it is a bit like waiting on a bus, you wait for ages and then 2 come along together... just getting past it!!!

Last Friday, on the 22nd of March, Paul Hathaway heard a Cuckoo calling down in Port Charlotte and then the following day Cathy Woods heard one calling down close to Octofad Farm. Today Peter Roberts had seen 2 Sandwich Terns down at Bruichladdich. Richard Belter saw 2 Ruff out from the South hide at Gruinart, a quick visit at Ardnave produced 2 Goldeneye along with several Chough. At Sanaigmore Bay RTD and also GND were present while down at Machir Bay, he had seen 8 Tysties. Andy and Martin along with their wives had been in for a natter today and while they were here, there were 3 Greenfinch, 2 Siskin out on the feeders, and then who was on the garden wall for a brief showing, a Wheatear. The Fulmars were wheeling about along the front of the crag showing us how they make flying look easy... Coming home this evening we spotted a Barn Owl I the headlights as we approached Springbank.  

Yesterday evening, we had our monthly meting of the Islay bird nerds, with 21 folk coming along. It proved quite a long but interesting meeting, the main thrust being about the Barnacle Goose cull that has been taking place here on Islay over the past few years. Dave Wood also spoke of the forthcoming surveys taking place this summer, so hopefully most of our resident band of "happy helpers" will be getting some more info from Dave of what is all involved.

Friday 28th April

Forgot to mention that I had seen a Glaucous Gull down at Uiskentuie back on Wednesday... Today, no sign of any of Brent Geese that were present at Blackrock yesterday. Mid afternoon , I heard a distant Cuckoo calling away out on the hill while I was "busy" planting out some more shrubs/ trees to hopefully give the birds cover in the future... Peter Gill had heard a Willow Warbler singing in the scrub willows below Carnduncan, and he was a bit more fortunate in seeing one in the reeds behind Machir Bay. Later, Peter had seen and heard a Cuckoo down in the same place that he had seen one at bird nerds meeting on Tuesday evening. In the scrub willow at Dun Nosebridge, he heard another Cuckoo. At Blackrock, he had 30 Dunlin and along at Uiskentuie, 97 Whimbrel were present. David Barr had counted 49 Whimbrel there earlier on, on his way to his work, so more must have come in after that.