Tuesday 8 March

Blue tit by Lossit Loch 6/3/22, Billy Stitchell

A late entry from yesterday of a kestrel on the Oa from Chris, not realising they are a relatively uncommon bird here. Sean also sent in a video of one hunting. Always worth reporting everything for our records. Magpies, for example, don't breed here.  

Today Chris spotted 2 long-tailed ducks in the distance off Bowmore, the female scaup again and a Slavonian grebe close by the pump station.

John emailed in with his sightings from today: "In spite of the gale, I still managed to see some interesting birds. First off was a nice subadult male hen harrier at Lyrabus, then a very bedraggled looking pink footed goose with barnacles up near Killinallan dunes. Later that morning I saw 8 chough briefly around the ruined buildings at Sanaigmore. Then I spent this afternoon at Loch Gruinart where two immature WTE were sitting out on the mudflats, while 38 whooper swans were trying to ignore the wind and a lone little egret flew by."

Malcolm was out with the International Goose Count today where he enjoyed a nice sighting of a jack snipe while on The Oa.  It was a difficult days count with the wind shaking the cars and the telescopes! 

Mark at Loch Gruinart got in touch to say there were no more sightings as yet of the great white egret, however a sighting came through from a visiting camera crew of a whopping 10 WTE in the treeline near Loch Gruinart at the weekend, so really it is a case of being in the right place at the right time!

Thanks to all for your sightings.

Mary

Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 January

Sorry folks, skipped yesterday due to a failed internet connection. Not to worry, all is back today and I have these stunning images to share with you from Morag Stirling who stumbled across these WTEs on the Big Strand today.

Breathtaking photos, I'm sure you'll all agree.

Yesterday Lauren had 3 little egrets in front of the South Hide, plus 2 male bullfinches on the Woodland Trail.  Later while she was digging nettles to create early corncrake cover, she was entertained by 2 WTE harassing the barnacle geese.   Gary, meanwhile, spotted 2 WTE at one of the regular haunts: the old wreck at the top of Loch Indaal.  Also a kestrel around the wood below Coullabus.

Today was a little quieter with the strong winds but Lauren still located a treecreeper in the woods despite the weather.  While at Claddach I saw a hen harrier in the wind along the coastal edges.

Morven over at Nature Scot sent through this months International Goose Count figures:

"The count was done on the 11^th and 12^th of January with figures of 35,196 barnacles, 6801 white-fronts and 1424 greylags."

Thanks to everyone contributing today.

Wednesday 1 December

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month!  A view of a relatively calm Frenchman's Rocks above.  December came in with a blast of wind which did die away as the day went on.  The rocks feature often in the blog as an important vantage of the main migration route of autumn and spring birds.  In the summer they provide an amazing spectacle of hundreds of feeding gannets diving into the fast running waters that race between them and Islay.

Steve Lister found the cackling goose near the RSPB Loch Gruinart visitor centre, and it was later picked up by Chris in the same field. To the west of the reserve, Chris spotted 2 WTE and a male hen harrier hunting.  While he was on the Oa he noted a juv WTE, a ring-tailed hen harrier, and 50 twite, then near Bridgend he found 2 golden eagle showing well.  

Gary reported a greenshank below the power station at Bowmore, and a juv. Iceland gull.  

Mary Anne spotted a kestrel at Laphroig.

Finally, Morven over at Nature Scot kindly shared The International Goose Count figures from 23/24th November: 37,202 barnacles, 6956 white-front geese and 1326 greylag. 

Tuesday 9 November

No bird photos today of a beautiful day of sunshine, so you'll have to settle for this rather lovely view looking over towards Northern Ireland from Currie Sands. The sea was huge, and still unseasonably warm. The wave breaking in the picture has a local name of the 'old man', I'm not sure of the Gaelic spelling unfortunately but phonetically pronounced 'boh beat-nach'.  There is a reef which causes an especially big wave, even on a calm day.

Gary was out down the Bunnahabhainn road this morning and spotted a kestrel on the lines on the drive down.  Good mixed flocks of thrush emerging from the woods, then 7 bullfinch and 2 common crossbill.  A further 2 common crossbill flying from the plantation to Finlaggan house, and a WTE in the area too.

Mark saw the red-breasted goose among the rabble on the flats at RSPB Loch Gruinart. While at Loch Skerrols Jonathon had the 'stars' of the season still present along with a moorhen and both WTE and golden eagle in the fields beyond.

Mike Bell was along at Gartbreck with the highlights being an adult WTE, a male hen harrier, 105 bar-tailed godwits, 4 grey plover and 19 turnstone among the usual waders.  he also counted a large flock fo 33 twite, with 3 further smaller flock of 5,9 and 14.   North of Lyrabus he had both male and ring-tailed hen harrier, peregrine,  both imm. golden eagle and WTE.  Back at Kilchoman he enjoyed the local golden eagles showing well at dusk.

Thursday 4th February

Well the wind did blow today, certainly not a strong as yesterday for sure, but as it was blowing out of the East, it was still biterly cold...  Something positive was that the ferry did manage to sail back and forward, although it came to Port Askaig rather than chancing its' luck and attempting to tie up at Port Ellen this morning!!!

James today had seen a Kestrel and also a Sparrowhawk over the reserve at Gruinart. 

Before I forget, on Saturday evening at 7pm on BBC2 there is part of the programn about Fair Isle. It is titled 'Stormborn' - animals surviving in countries on the northern edges of the Atlantic Ocean. So I had better try to watch it myself...

Monday 9th November

 Dave Pierce sent through the following birds seen by himself when out today...

"Early morning, a pair of adult White-tailed Eagles on one of their favoured rock at Bridgend.

Other raptors today around Gruinart included a Kestrel, a Peregrine and at least one ringtail Hen Harrier. Roosting on the east side of Loch Gruinart at high tide were 5 Greenshanks.

A Tawny Owl was calling at dusk by Bridgend where a little earlier 80 or more Ravens were heading to roost."

This morning around 10 o 'clock, up here at home, we looked out the windows and for some reason or other, all the wee birds were in the air from the feeders and also out from the cover of the few bushes that we have. A few moments later we realised what the problem was, yes, the pesky Sparrowhawk was back here for a visit. It was sitting perched up on top of one of the fence posts,watching all that was going on around it.... Then it flew on its' way, with no prey taken....

Thanks to Gordon and  Pauline Yates who I miscalled them as the Boton birders, when they are from Rochdale....

Monday 2nd November

Some birds seen from Mike Bell yesterday... 

"Coullabus: 25 Redwing.

Near Skerrols House: 4 Pinkfeet in a field on their own.

Lack of wee birds Ballygrant woods to Loch Allan, best sightings 1 Woodcock, 2 Grey Wagtail & 2 Redpoll with 5 Dabchicks on the loch.

Near Keills: 1 male hen harrier

The lack of eagles in the air was particularly disappointing until the Ballinaby pair showed well at 3.45 pm. "

Ed Hutchings sent me through his birds seen yesteday...

"I braved the less severe weather today and saw the following: 2 Chough on the putting green in front of The Machrie at noon, with a further chattering of 3 seen at Machir Bay an hour later. On the way I encountered the large Chaffinch flock between Sunderland Farm and Kilchoman Distillery with at least 1 Brambling still present. After lunch, I drove the northern route around Loch Gorm. Lots of Barnacle, Greylag and White-fronted Geese on the fields south of the road, as well as 9 Fieldfare, a female Kestrel and an adult Whooper Swan. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew over the moorland north of the road. A deceit of 70 Lapwing was on the fields around Sanaigmore. A Raven was in the small glen north of Port Wemyss mid-afternoon."

Gary yesterday had seen the followings birds seen when out and about...

"Male Hen Harrier over moorland at airport, WTE over fields above the Gaelic collage, Adult Golden Eagle at Tallant plantation on high road, Male Sparrowhawk on Cruach Rd, Male Hen Harrier there also. Sub. ad WTE at Finlaggan, Male Hen Harrier at Aluchga"

Yesterday was Teresa Morris's final day of this trip.... "sadly but been a fantastic day for the birds. This morning over Craigens Cottage was the male and female Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle ! A walk to the more sheltered east side of Ardnave this afternoon was superb with great views of 7 Snow Buntings, 4 Ring Plovers, 10 Turnstones. Several Barnacle Geese were still flying in from the Atlantic battling the gales. Back on the flats a large flock of Golden Plover approx 500. 

A few days ago worth noting I saw a lone Bridled Gulliemot at Ardnave point. "

Nick Gates sent this list of the pick ofthe birds seen by him  yesterday...  

A few more sightings from today: just outside Bowmore today I had an adult male goldeneye, 3 GND (summer plumage), a Tystie (winter plumage), Eiders, Scaup and RBM. 

 Dan Brown had ben out and about over the last couple of days...

"We did a little storm watching at Portnahaven on Saturday - very impressive and we kept our fingers crossed for the young seal pups on the island getting battered by huge waves. Not a lot to report bird-wise though.  

I was on the flats all day yesterday; my sightings were: A Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlin in the golden plover flock, a Brambling over, Todd’s Canada Goose with the Barnies, and on the floods - 6 Greenshank and a pair of Gadwall. Impressive numbers of waders roosting on the floods this evening with the very high tide inc 15+ Grey Plover. Birds everywhere."

Some sightings through from Gary today:

In at Loch Skerrols, the Amercan Wigeon was still present, he also had a Golden Eagle and also a WTE there as well, and also he had at least 80 Whoopers, 2 Goldeneye and 50+ Tufted Duck. When parked up in the lay by at Gartmain, he had a continual stream of  573 Whoopers flying overhead, all flying south. After that wee bit of exitement, 12 Yellowhammers along the road towards the Gaelic College.   Further exitement just in on from Gary, late Monday afternoon, to say that he had seen a COMMON CRANE flying overhead and then when speaking to me , he saw a probable MARSH HARRIER, nice ones Gary!!!

Sunday 11th October

Yesterday Peter Roberts had carried out a sea watch for an hour down at Frenchman's Rocks in the morning...

"191 Auk sp. 105 Kittiwake, very few Gannets, but 1 Black-throated Diver the best bird."

 Johnathan Alder had seen the following birds,

"Seen on 10th October - male Hen Harrier near Kilbride plus Snipe flyover.

Today 11th October - 2 juvenile Golden Eagle on the Oa, plus Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, male Hen Harrier, Raven and Kestrel. 4 Chough showing well near the monument, Twite, Whinchat."

Lesley Silcock was telling Margaret that she had seen a Yellow browed Warbler along the Woodland trail at Gruinart today.

First time visiting birders from Reading, David and Nancy Massie sent me a list birds seen by them yesterday...

"Road north from Port Askaig: flock of 15 Yellowhammers, 5 Mute Swans on sea, Buzzard, Goldcrest, Mistle and Song Thrushes

Bowmore flats:  thousands of Barnacles, 55 Brents, 12 Whoopers, 4 Wigeon, 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Curlew

Loch Gorm: Greylags, Whitefronts, Barnacles, Pied Wagtails."

Returning birder and contributor on the blog, Richard Belter gave a list on the phone with his "top" birds seen today..

Down on Loch Indaal, he had a W t Eagle, 6 RTDs and also 50 P b Brent Geese. At Gruinart, he saw thousands of Barnies, 100 GWF, 6 Pintail, 14 Whooper Swans and also a ringtail Hen Harrier. He also saw a ringtail Hen Harrier at Gruinart as well as a Wood Sandpiper out from the North Hide there as well. Down on the Oa, Richard had seen a mixed flock of Twite and Linnets and another Ringtail.

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 23rd August

 It should be the time of the month when I would  normally tell you where the bird nerds will be meeting on this coming Tuesday, but yet again there will not be meeting because of the Coronavirus. As the old saying goes, "better safe than sorry"...

Our son Andrew had a bit of a happening in his garden yesterday...

There was a massive commotion in the garden today with a load of crows going crazy. I thought they were trying to get starlings or house martins from the house, but they were all down by the silver birch by Dave’s. Went down to see what was going on & found this Sparrowhawk wrestling a Magpie. It eventually killed it. Thought to keep kids away from sight, but Abbie said “but it’s only doing what needs to for food, and I love predators”. She was fascinated so learnt her natural history lesson for day....

Andrew Kelly sent me through some birds for the blog..  An interesting day! Highlights for me.  Loch side at W end of Tower Plantation: c90 dunlin mixed in with as many ringed plover and c30 curlew. Kestrel on the High Road, Juvenile Sparrowhawk posing nicely if briefly on fence post during circular walk round the Oa reserve Extended Peregrine flypast along cliffs by the monument. Mixed flock of Twite, Linnet and Goldfinch. Some very noisy seals in the bays! 2 Raven.  Loch side on Bowmore - Bridgend Road feeding: 50+ Curlew, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Knot, 12 Redshank etc.   From shore near Blackrock late afternoon: Red-throated diver flying down loch, 3 Sandwich Terns feeding, 11 Common Scoter, 14 Eider.

Meanwhile George E. Jackson sent through the following earlier on this morning to me....

 "3 - 4 Sand martins still hanging around Machir Bay dunes; an imm. Golden Eagle flew along the burn below Rockside this morning and a Wheatear on the Horizons wall this evening. I also get the feeling that there are more Blackbirds about than 2 weeks ago, as I am driving around - possibly young ones dispersing, or have a few arrived already? (See they have had Redwings on N Ron. and Fair Isle)."

.

Thursday 9th July

James kindly send me through the following list of birds seen from the north coast of Islay

Golden eagle

Merlin

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Hen Harrier

Cuckoo

Yellowhammers several singing

Red throated diver

Peregrine

3 otters, mother and 2 cubs

Sunday 26th April

A couple of birds from yesterday, through from Gary. "A Kestrel flew over woods beside his  house this afternoon. Male Hen Harrier across road at Gartmain and  away along the shore."

Petr emailed through with the following, later on last night...
"At least 3 corncrakes calling here at 8.30pm this evening between Bruichladdich and Conisby."

Bob gave me a shout on the phone this morning.. and he was telling me that he had seen  a Golden Eagle flying over his house a few days ago. Down at Octomore, Bob saw 3 first winter Med Gulls following the plough. On his way to Bowmore, he had counted 22 Whimbrel just past Blackrock.

Also interesting. In garden have a male blackbird often in. Yesterday twice noticed him with a worm which he dipped in bird bath before flying off. Why, to clean it or to wet it as its been so dry ? Cannot say I have noticed this behaviour before. Certainly the bird bath in use for drinking by all the birds and also for bathing. Or like the pigeons simply settle down in it like a cool bath and a dose off.
Karen Graham  from Bearsden had in touch with her question...

David Livingstone heard a GS woodpecker drumming away this morning in the woods at Ardenistle over at Laphroaig.

Lesley e mailed  through some great sightings through as well
"We almost had rain today, but not quite. Still there is a few hours to go. Biting wind again. Walk at Kilchiaran. I stopped to check a bird disappearing into a hedge when a large shadow passed over me. Golden eagle. As I opened the car door at Kilchiaran first 2 birds heard and seen Sand Martins.  Second Whimbrel of the week in the bay. Linnets in pairs and small flocks of Twite. One pair with nesting materials. One bird was colour ringed. L O/Y didn't see R.
A Common Sandpiper on the burn and my second Grasshopper warbler heard on way back. Close and clear view of Sandwich Tern and a GN Diver L Indaal before Bruichladdich.
Another great day."

THursday 5th March

Some  sightings seen yesterday by Gary
"From Finlaggan 4 White tailed Eagles high up, 3 Golden Eagles, 11 Buzzards, 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawks & 1 Kestrel.
At least 9 Crossbills."

Christine Menzies had seen the following birds yesterday as well...
"2 Golden Eagles and 2 Buzzards down past Kildalton Cross in the afternoon."

Friday 14th February

The other day, Albert and Hazel Percival had seen a pair of Golden Eagles, close to where they were walking up beside the former Kilchoman School, no, not next door to here which was the Rockside school... 

Yesterday, Phill Catton was honing in his skills as a shepherd down on the reserve on the Oa.. When they were gathering the heft of sheep off  Glenastle, he had seen a Kestrel and also 2 pair of Red Grouse, the Red Grouse were a really good bird for the reserve, not that common on Islay. Better keep the shepherding up Phill, better than a desk job!!!

Tuesday 31st December, Hogmany

Some sightings from yesterday & today, through from Gary...
Yesterday, 1 juv Glaucous Gull & 2 White tailed Eagle were seen at Gartbreck. Today, 1 Golden Eagle, 5 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1Cormorant, 30+ Teal & 1 White tailed Eagle seen at Finlaggan. 9 Crossbills were present in the plantation there as well.

Up here at home, we had a close fly by of a ringtail Hen Harrier, the pesky Sparrowhawk was seen, whether it was this one or another but someone nobbled a Goldfinch in the feeding station, but on a more positive note we counted a charm of 36 Goldfinches on the overhead power cables, mid afternoon with a distant Buzzard away out on its' usual post on the deer fence out on the hill...

I notice that someone had seen an "Egret" yesterday morning down on the merse at Bridgend, on the  comments at the foot of yesterday's entry. 

Before I forget, may I take this chance to thank all our contributors who have sent sightings through of birds and wildlife seen in and around on Islay and Jura over the past year, much appreciated and look forward to meeting up with some of you again in 2020, a Happy New Year to all our readers...

Thursday 12th December

Another really miserable day with the weather yet again, possibly not so windy but ceratinly we have had our share of the rain on offer, the rain gauge is over 3 inches so far this month already...

Lauren, a new volunteer at Gruinart saw a Golden Eagle take and kill a corvid out from the viewing platform at Gruinart yesterday....

Donald James MacPhee had seen a Kestrel down a Machir Bay earlier on this week. 

Up at home, that pesky Sparrowhawk flew past the feeding station, but forgot to catch anything... A Buzzard was sitting on top of his usual post along the deer fence along the boundary with Rockside.

Tuesday 12th November

Some sightings through from birds seen down on the reserve on the Oa today... Visitors David and Sally Morton from Herefordshire had seen 4 Snow Buntings when they walked out the American monument on the Oa. They had also seen a Golden Eagle being mobbed by some Hooded Crows. Phill had also sent some sightings on the reserve as well... He had counted 1,400 Barnies and also 480 Whitefronts. Other birds seen by himself were a Merlin , a Hen Harrier as well as a Kestrel perched up on a fence line, directly opposite was a line of 200 Twite. All seemed normal enough until the hunger pangs set in and the Kestrel decided to knobble one of the Twite which it did do.. The remaining birds just watched the whole event taking place, quite unfazed by it all...

Tuesday 27th August

A good meeting down on the Oa this evening with 8 folk coming along to the Islay bird Nerds, monthly catch up... We had great views of  a Golden Eagle which was sitting on the ground when we first saw it.. It then took off and soared around for 10 - 15 minutes and came back to perch up where we had been watching it initially...We also saw a pair of Kestrels and also 2 Ravens flew past. We then moved along a bit and had seen some Fulmars on their nests. We also had some Gannets flying past the Oa, the odd Shag  was present on the rocks too.

On the drive down the Oa, we had a Whinchat on the fence and then on our way back out from Killeyan, we had a Wheatear. A good night seeing as many different birds.

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...

Thursday 11th April

An right early entry for once, not even had an afternoon cupa yet, but here goes.. 'cos I am away out shortly for an evening meal with the family and friends!!!

Yesterday, Peter did a quick count of the Tysties seen at Bruichladdich Pier noting 8 birds in all. In the afternoon, Peter noted another feeding frenzy out on Loch Indaal with mainly Gulls seen , 5 RTD, and a Common Guillemot with 23 GNDs present there at the same time. Also yesterday, Mike had counted 4 Sandwich Terns between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte. Phill had the folowing birds down on the Oa, again yesterday, Sand Martin, Canada Goose, GND, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, 3 Eider, 43 Tysties and also 25 Twite. 

This morning, Mike had heard 3 Willow Warblers calling away, when he was walking along  the track leading out to Bolsay. Phill this morning had 25 Lapwing, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Curlew and also 9 Snipe, all down on the Oa reserve.