Monday 18 March 2024

Sunday 17th & Monday 18th March

The nice sunny weather yesterday lasted until lunchtime today, then deteriorated into rain and wind this afternoon.

No bird news for yesterday, though several of our regular contributors sent in notes about interesting moths and seeing their first Adders of the spring.

Today, Morven from NatureScot kindly sent in the counts for the final international goose count of the season, carried out on 12/13 March, totals as follows: 27,648 Barnacle Geese, 4,926 White-fronted Geese and 918 Greylag Geese.

Continuing the goose-themed blog, Jim Wells, who was over from N. Ireland on 11th March, sent in details he'd received back from Steve Percival on colour-ring sightings of Barnacle Geese his group noted while here. There was an interesting mix of birds:

  • 5 were only ringed on Islay this winter
  • 1 was ringed at Inishkea, Ireland in March 2019 and was wintering there until winter 21/22, since when it seems to have been wintering on Islay
  • 1 was ringed in Donegal in March 2018, but all other sightings each winter have been on Islay, apart from one in Iceland
  • 1 was ringed on Islay in 2018, was on Islay in subsequent winters, but had spent time on N. Uist in winter 20/21 and 21/22 and has returned to Islay to winter since
  • 2 birds ringed on Islay in October 2019 have been returning here each winter since
  • Another ringed on Islay in October 2018 has been seen here in each subsequent winter
  • 1 ringed as an adult here in October 2014 has been here each winter since

Saturday 16 March 2024

Friday 15th & Saturday 16th March

A sunny day yesterday with a cool breeze turning into a drizzly, windy afternoon today.

Mary Redman saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Claddach and a White-tailed Eagle over McKenzie Island yesterday, while Elliott Bowman had a pair of White-tailed Eagles in woods near Mid Cragabus where he found a Golden Eagle today. Clive McKay reports 70+ Dunlin on wet pools close to the road at Gruinart flats today.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Thursday 14th March

A mostly rainy, cool day.

After seeking some help on our WhatsApp group yesterday on where to find Red Grouse, Mel Chowns, on her last day birding on Islay, was delighted that the info actually worked - finding a couple of grouse on the Bolsay track, up behind Port Charlotte. Mel also found a couple of Great Northern Divers at Loch an t Sailein in the morning.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Wednesday 13th March

Mostly dry, cool and fairly sunny. 

Craig Walker saw a Kingfisher at Daill burn and Mel Chowns found a male Hen Harrier on the low road near Laggan River.

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Tuesday 12th March

Back to a very rainy Islay this evening - but it was rainy all the way along the journey north from Lincolnshire. 

Jim Wells had been over to Islay with a group by boat from N. Ireland yesterday, noting at least 4 White-tailed Eagles, 4 Hen Harriers, 3 Little Egrets and 36 Choughs. His group also read over a dozen numbered darvic rings on the Barnacle Geese which will be passed on to Steve Percival.

Today Mel Chowns reported another very enjoyable day of birding. Nothing sensational seen, but a good variety seen well including lots of waders in Loch Indaal, where there were 8 Brent Geese, plus 2 Dippers and Grey Wagtails at the Woolen Mill and another close view of Golden Eagle up towards Ardnave.

James How did see something a little more towards the "sensational" end of the scale with a re-sighting of the Red-breasted Goose at Craigens while doing one of the regular goose counts. He also noted a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Nave Island, plus Golden and White-tailed Eagles at Gruinart.

Monday 11 March 2024

Sunday 10th and Monday 11th March

Late news from Saturday from Fiona McGillivray of 18 Whooper Swans over Bruichladdich.

No news on Sunday.

Today Mel Chowns was out birding and sent in the following observations:

"Female Hen Harrier at RSPB Gruinart. Nice views of Treecreeper on woodland walk plus Goldcrest..Two Choughs at Kilnave and a further 40 choughs at Ardnave. One immature Golden Eagle being mobbed by a pair of Buzzards, then 3 fabulous immature White-tailed Eagles on the sand at Ardnave  on north end of Loch Gruinart. Finally a single Peregrine and 25 Whooper Swans on the Ardnave loch. What a first day! "

Down at Cornabus, Ed Burrell counted 50+ Skylarks and noted 6 Eiders at White Hart beach. At Claddach, Mary Redman had 3 Whooper Swans this morning, 2 White=tailed Eagles on McKenzie Island and another over Nerabus.

Over on Jura Louise Muir had two Yellowhammers on her bird feeder at Craighouse.

Saturday 9 March 2024

Friday 8th & Saturday 9th March

There was some late news for Thursday including 18 Whooper Swans at Cornabus and 4 Little Egrets at Gruinart.

Yesterday (Friday) Theo found a Russian White-fronted Goose with the Greenland White-fronts at Gruinart - quite a rarity on Islay.

No reports on birds for Saturday.