Tuesday 15 March

 

Couple of images of the residents of Loch Skerrols, taken today by Billy.

Nature Scot has been in touch with the last goose count of the season, carried out on the 8th and 9th March.  28,759 barnacles, 5435 white-fronts and 631 greylags.

James was in touch today with his highlights being a gadwall drake from the North Hide, Loch Gruinart, 2 bullfinch on the Woodland Trail and a siskin.  He noted the lesser black backed gulls have been slow to return this year but managed to find 5 at Machir Bay and 1 at Gruinart.  Mark also spotted one near Sanaig, plus a Canada goose.

Steve has been in touch via email. He too was at Gruinart and was treated to a nice view of a hunting ring-tailed hen harrier very close to the hide, and then on their drive back towards Bridgend, a WTE in flight.

Thank you to all for your contributions.

Not much more to add from down the Rhinns.  An other sign of spring with toads spotted out on the roads. A neighbour in Portnahaven even found one in her toilet this morning! It was obviously saved from the flush, but you can't help wondering how on earth it got there in the first place!  I haven't been out to look for wheatear yet, I always think St Patricks day is the day to start looking so hopefully I'll find one then.

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

Sunday 14th June

A couple of birds seen by James yesterday.. He saw a Peregrine carrying some prey home to its' young. Back at Mill cottage, he saw his first Siskin of the year.

Tuesday 18th June

Armin had seen a Heron when he was packing his car up, over on Jura before coming to here on Islay for his second week of this present visit. When he was about to set off the said Heron was seen returning, flying along the shore.. The other day, Armin had been down on Machir Bay where he had seen quite a few Sand Martins battling into a headwind.

John Wilson is over this week, great to see you this morning John... Some birds seen by himself included 6 Blackwits, 2 Wigeon, some Shovelers at Gruinart, he had heard a Corncrake calling away down close to the church at Portnahaven. On the feeders at The Woollen Mill, he counted 10 Siskins with another 5 present at Ballygrant Inn yesterday evening. This morning, John had 2 different male Hen Harriers seen as he drove round Loch Gorm. Finally, he had seen 3 Buzzards out flying out over the crag at Kilchoman.

Bob had carried out his WeBS count from Port Charlotte round to Blackrock yesterday afternoon, when his scores on the doors came to 2 Gbb Gull, 1 Lbb Gull, 76 C Gull, 49 H Gull, 41 Oystercatcher, 2 Kittiwake, 13 Arctic Terns, 20 Greylags, 4 Shelduck, 35 Eider, 4 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and 4 Tysties. Lesley had helped Bob on his count.

Friday 19th April

A day for cutting the grass, and it took some time to complete, but the job is now off the "must do" list...Still no emails coming through, peaceful in some ways but...

Mike today had seen a Jack Snipe this morning down at Ellister when he was doing his stint on the Tystie survey. He said that on his stint, he had counted 26 Tysties. Out on the bay out from his house in Port Charlotte, he had spotted 3 Sandwich Terns, and he also heard a Whitethoat calling away while he was up at his allotment. Also seen there by Mike were 2 Lesser Redpolls, the first seen there this Spring. 

This evening, I saw a pair of Siskin out on the feeders, wonder whether they were here last year??? Out on the newly worked piece of ground there was a small flock of around 40 Linnets. Earlier on, mid afternoon, next door I found a head off a male Chaffinch on the ground, and then shortly afterwards when to speaking to a friend, we saw the cuplrit carrying another male Chaffinch in its' mouth, a Stoat. Just before tea time I found the  remains of third male Chaffinch, so I willl have to find a way of catching the said Stoat!!!

Wednesday 27th February

Some sightings through from Gary... On Monday, he had seen a male Great spotted Woodpecker over at Kildalton. Along the road he saw a White tailed Eagle out over the skerries out from the Dower House. Over on the Oa, Gary had a Golden Eagle, and at Cornabus,the Todd's Canada Goose was still present.
Yesterday, Gary had a Greenshank as well as the Green winged Teal, both out from the  North hide at Gruinart. Over the hills behind the East side of Loch Gruinart, Gary spotted 3 Golden Eagles and also a White tailed Eagle.
Late this afternoon in flat calm conditions, Mike had a count of 97 GND, 24 RTD and 60 Guillemots going into the roost on Loch Indaal. Earlier on around 4pm, Mike 151 Common Scoter, out from Port Charlotte, feeding and displaying. Mike this morning had seen his first Siskin of the Spring in his garden in Port Charlotte. This balmy weather continues, I was out in the garden in my shirt sleeves, gardening, not the case a year ago. To think that I cut the grass over a week ago and it is still only February!!!!

Saturday 10th November

Yesterday was the last full day on Islay for this visit for Mike Bell and also the Bolton birders... Many thanks for all your birds folks... Not to be outdone, no, I have not gone without their sightings from Friday... the Bolton birders had seen 200 Whoopers on the merse at Bridgend and a juv. White tailed Eagle was also present there as well. Over at Keills, they counted 6 Brambling among the Chaffinch flock there. They also saw the 2 Golden Eagles out from Storakaig. Over at Bun an Uisg, at the edge of Bowmore, 34 Scaup were sheltering up from the wind, as were 16 Pale bellied Brent at Carnain. Mike made the most of the windy day as well, a bonus as he should have gone back home yesterday, but had to delay his trip on the ferry as it had ben cancelled... On Loch Skerrols, Mike counted 32 Mute Swans, 4 Whoopers, 98 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 29 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, a Moorhen, a Heron, a Grey Wagtail with 20 Siskins seen in the Alders there as well. He saw an imm. White tailed Eagle up towards Octovullin with an adult Golden Eagle seen over Scarrabus. Close to Skerrols House, Mike saw a male Merlin. Up the East side of Loch Gruinart, he had 400 Dunlin, while on the fields at Craigens, 1,550 Golden Plover and also 350 Lapwing seen. Along the flats at Gruinart, he had a flock of 220 Linnets. Along the road, his "friend" the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again!!! On the barley stubbles at Coull, the Whoopers were up to 120 in total while the Starling mumeration came to 1,500 birds. Down on Machir Bay, he saw 42 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 3 Turnstone and 10 Chough. Coming back up from Machir Bay, down at the Coastguards' a female Merlin zipped across the road in front of his car!!   Thanks again for your birds folks....

This morning, Martin had walked from Bridgend down along the River Sorn to where it joins Loch Indaal. Martin saw the following birds, a pair of Bullfinch, 12 Siskins,  a pair of Goldeneye, a Peregrine Falcon, 26 Wigeon and also 2 Whoopers. Back home at Glenegedale, Martin had a Sparrowhawk and a Treecreeper along with the usual Blue Tits and Coal Tits in his garden. Up here today in our garden, the Sparrowhawk was perched up on the fence while the Brambling was still along with our "wee" flock of 47 Chaffinches!!

Saturday 8th September

Yesterday evening, Distillery Dave had seen a Kestrel away along the crag towards the masts above Kilchiaran as he walked along Machir Bay. Today, he had a raft of 47 Red breasted Merganser out from Uiskentuie on Loch Indaal. New birder contributing today, Gordon Pollinger had seen a Whimbrel feeding along with 9 Curlew out in a field below Easter Ellister. He also saw a couple of Chough at Ellister as well.

George E. Jackson was in touch this evening to say that he has just received some information on the Siskin which he caught up here in his mist nets back on the 10th of July this year with a Dutch leg ring fitted.... It was originally rung in Lippenhuizen, Friesland, Holland back on 27th of March this year. The other piece of information is that it is 867 km in a WNW from Holland to here..

Many thanks to "JD" for your birds while you were here..

Thursday 2nd August

This morning down on mudflats at Bridgend, at the top of Loch Indaal, Mike had a count of over 250 Dunlin, along with 40 Sanderling. He also had a pair of RTDs flew over in from the moorland to feed out on Loch Indaal. This afternoon, at around 15.00 hrs Mike saw a pod of 7 Bottle nosed Dolphins off Port Charlotte  which then swam along the coast towards Nerabus.

Also today, Al Hart had walked from Ballygrant along to the Lily Loch. He saw a flock of 50 + Siskins, a Spotted Flycatcher. He also saw a group of 8 Mistle Thrush and wondered if they could possibly be a family together? Over on the far side of the Loch, Al saw a Dabchick feeding. He also commented on the amount of Buzzards being around as well.

Allen and Fiona Skinner saw a Merlin fly close past them as they walked up from the Coastguards to the former  Rockside school around lunch time.

This morning, first thing around 6.30am I saw a Goldfinch, a Lesser Redpoll, an adult and also a juv. Siskin on the niger feeder, and that was before filling it with any new seed...Later on, after filling the feeder up, the mix of birds on it was changed, up to 2 Goldfinches and a whopping 18 Siskins while on another small feeder there were another 4 Siskins...

Mondaty 12th March

Gary had seen an immature Golden Eagle fly across the Sound of Islay from Bunnahabhain across to Jura, and later on he had a female Hen Harrier fly from Jura across to Islay... He also saw a distant Golden Eagle over the North end of Islay! Down at Finlaggan, Gary had 9 Crossbill in the trees there, with a Glaucous Gull and an Iceland Gull present amongst other Gulls seen there. Along on the short grass beside Finlaggan House, 2 Chough were present. Finally, Gary had a Yellowhammer back at his house.  Here at home, we had 4 Siskin on the feeders amongst the 20 plus clamouring Goldfinches. We also saw a Golden Eagle flying high over the hill behind Sunderland Farm and late afternoon a couple of Lesser bb Gulls flew along the crag. Just before lunchtime I spotted a Fulmar flying along the front of the crag and head on, out towards the sea.

Sunday 11th March

Gary, today had seen 4 Snow Bunting down at Carnain, and he also spotted a White tailed Eagle out on the merse below Bridgend. Back at home, he had 10 Siskins on his feeders with a mewing Buzzard flying overhead. While waiting on the evening ferry to return to Islay, I saw a Redshank and also a Greenshank beside the causeway at Kennacraig. There was also a beautiful drake Teal resplendent in glorious plumage in the failing light. There were also 6 Tysties in at pier head as well.

Wdnesday 3rd May

I managed to get the camera out to take this image of a Wheatear, taken on Sunday when we were out up towards Killinallan. This morning, I looked out the window and at the foot of the bird table and saw a Goldfinch, a female Lesser Redpoll, a male Siskin,  a female Chaffinch and a Starling. The Goldfinch and the Redpoll both were wearing leg rings, but too far off to read them.

Monday 24th April

Well, the weather forecast certainly proved right, not exactly the weather we had yesterday, a cold Northerly wind blowing most of the day with some cold, raw dirty showers in the mix too...

Yesterday, Allen and Fiona Skinner had seen a Golden Eagle while out on a walk along to Granny's Rock.. Mark had noted 3 Coal Tits on the reserve at Gruinart yesterday. Here at home between showers I saw Linnets in the garden, a pair of Greenfinches, many Goldfinches, a single Robin, a Blackbird, best bird for sure was the sighting of 3 Chough on the ground, so I can now class them as a house bird, rather than a bird flying past.... The Siskins and also 3 Redpoll are visiting the food on offer still as well!!

Remember, Bird Nerds will be meeting below Foreland (NR271617) tomorrow night at 6.30, wellies advisable...

Wednesday 12thApril

This morning Bob counted 20 Siskins on a flock on the ash tree in his garden,  we had 2 Siskins on our feeders, the first this year, and there were 35 Goldfinches count this morning.. Some sightings from today fromvisitor Oliver Woodman.. On the flats at Gruinart, there was a single Whooper Swan. On and around the River Sorn at The Woollen Mill, he had seen Grey Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Dipper. Later on along the "Glen road", he had a male and also a ringtail Hen Harrier, and another visitor that Oliver had spoken with had  seen a Golden Eagle out over the hills on the same stretch of road. Finally, he had another male Hen Harrier seen out from the cottage where they are staying.

Saturday 1st April

Another great day although there could be a slight edge to air, and before I forget, the tally for the rain for March was 5 inches exactly...

Jackie Fallows told me last night that along with her husband, and friends Ian and Margaret Haigh that they had seen 86 species during their stay, and yesterday, Ian and Margaret had seen 2 ringtail Hen Harrriers seen at different locations while going round the Rhinns. John and Kenny's top birds included a Velvet Scoter, the Green winged Teal and also they spotted a Dipper building a nest! Their tally for the week came to 102 species.. Today Richard had Chough and Wheatear at Sanaigmore, at Bruichladdich he had 6 GND and also 5 RTD. At Blackrock, Richard saw 5 Slavonian Grebes and finally up at Ardnave Loch, 2 Otters were present. Bob saw a Tree Pipit at Port Charlotte today and also 3 Greenfinches in the village. Back at his house, Bob had seen another 6 Greenfinches and also 4 Siskins. A short while later, Bob had a single Greenfinch along the road at Gearach. Carl Reavey today had seen a pair of Peregrines at Sanaigmore and on the cliffs thee were 30 Kittiwakes,  at Sanaig there were lots of Wheatears, down at Gortan, Carl had 2 Sandwich Terns. Here at home before breakfast, there was a pair of Shelduck, having a look around for a nest sight at the foot of the crag, fingers crossed...

WEdnesday 22nd March

Got a bit of a shock when I looked out the bedroom window this morning, not snow but the grass was white with frost which we do not get here that often...

This morning on the bird table we saw 3 Greenfinches, the first for a long time, in fact the first this winter...A Sparrowhawk zipped through the garden just after lunch. Later on, coming home a male Bullfinch flew into the trees beside Foreland House and a short while later on, a pair of Golden Eagles were added to the list. Over at The Woollen Mill, many Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Chaffinches were present on the feeders there, a great sight to see... I read last night that a Blue Tit was seen on Fair Isle, only the FOURTH ever record of one present there!!!

Gary today had 2 Siskin on his feeders at his house along the road from the turn off to Finlaggan. Along at Emeraconart, he had seen a Sparrowhawk. A visitor had been telling Gary of seeing a Wheatear at Machir Bay while Tom and Mike, the 2 longterm vols at Gruinart, had spotted 2 more Wheatears along at Saligo today as well.

Sunday 4th December

Yesterday, Gary had seen 20 Siskin in the treetops down at the mouth of the River Sorn as it enters Loch Indaal below Bridgend. Today, he had counted 14 Turnstone and 10 Ringed Plover over at Feolin on Jura. Also today, Mike and Val Peacock along with Pia had a pod of 8 bottle nosed Dolphin close in on Loch Indaal at Port Charlotte around lunchtime. Mike followed them down to Nerabus, about 3 miles or so. Here at home the birds have been making the most of the food available at the feeders, a sign of some colder weather coming in a few days time???

Saturday 5th November

On Monday, James had a Brambling in his garden, Fiona MacGillivray had seen a pair of Bullfinches at "the hedges" below Sunderland Farm. Earlier this week, Mandy had 2 adult Whoopers and a cygnet in Bowmore Harbour, later on she saw 3 Pintail along at Gartmain. On Thursday, Mike had braved the elements and saw a male Hen Harrier at Saligo and then a ringtail further on at Carnduncan. Amongst the alder trees past The Woollen Mill, Mike counted a flock of 102 Siskin. On Friday, Mike had a much better day, the weather was a lot kinder!!! High, over the crag at Kilchoman, he saw 2 Peregrines, a ringtail and a distant Golden Eagle. 44 Chough came out from the roost, while down on the track leading to Machir bay, he saw 3 Song Thrush with a Redwing present there as well. Along at Sunderland, Mike counted 400 Rock Doves. Also seen there was a mixed flock of Thrushes consisting of Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird and also a single Mistle Thrush. Up on Ardnave Loch, there was a Dabchick, 5 Whoopers, 5 Tufted Duck and 5 Goldeneye. Over the dunes there, a Peregrine and a Merlin were spotted.

Friday 4th November

Some birds through from Mike Bell, seen on Wednesday. Initially, Mike had 12 Whoopers flying South past Machir Bay .Down close to Foreland House, 7 Long tailed Tits flew across the road. A count from Bruichladdich to Blackrock produced 34 RTD, 10 GND, 33 Slav. Grebe, 65 Pbb Brent, 690 Wigeon, 49 Scaup, 154 Eider, 109 Common Scoter, 4 Long tailed Duck (3 males +1 female), 4 Goldeneye, 102 R B Merganser, 6 Guillemot and a Tystie. Over at Port Askaig Mike had 4 flocks of Fieldfare totalling 460 birds, 30 Redwing and a Waxwing. Over the low hills behind Kilmeny, a juv and an adult Golden Eagle were present, with another adult seen up out from Storakaig as was a White tailed Eagle and also a ringtail Hen Harrier. Down at Cluanach, Mike counted 25 Siskin and finally, he had a Sparrowhawk and also a Peregrine out over the crag behind Kilchoman. Yesterday Carl Reavey had seen 12 Whoopers fly South down Loch Indaal and this morning, 19 Common Scoter were present off Bruichladdich.

Wednesday 13th July

 

Another image taken yesterday, just along the wall from where the Corncrake was seen a few weeks ago. The birds are certainly making the most of the seed heads that are on offer at present, and also the abundant supply of insects around too... The Whitethroats and also the Willow Warblers are just great to see along with more Bumblebees around as well ...

Today over on the feeders at The Woollen Mill, we saw Siskins, Great Tits, young fledged Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, a fledgling Robin hopping around on the ground with a watchful parent on the fence nearby. On the treetops, 3 Collared Doves were present.