Friday's Birds Saturday

I am writing this a day late - sorry! On Friday we had a great time around Loch Indaal and
down to Claddach. Arctic Terns, Plovers, Eider, Megansers and Gannets too. A Hen Harrier
and Merlin and Buzzard too. Greta Northern Divers were cracking in fuull summer plumage. Two Barnacles and Whitefronts as well. Today we headed northwards to Askaig for the afternoon. At the Merse the Carnain Swans with their cygnets still were around and there were huge numbered of Shelduck again. More Buzzards, Razorbills and other Auks too. Sedge, Willow and a Wood Warbler was a good find.

Wood Sandpiper Hen Harriers

A morning tour started with Shelduck at the Merse, Terns at Ionad Challium Chille Ile and the Carnian Swans with seven cygnets. From Eresaid we spotted a male Hen Harrier and a female in the heather doing what they do at this time of year - it is spring after all! In the distance, a Golden Eagle. In the afternoon, having seen a Wood sandpiper on a pool behind Bruichladdich, we took Ron and Manuela, of http://www.islayinfo.com/ fame, out for a Bushcraft Sausage Sizzle up beyond Killinallan. It was such a perfect day and Campbell's sausages were delicious, cooked over and open fire on the beach. Brilliant. Mark Hancox, photographer, phoned to say that there was now a male and female Garganey at the RSPB wetlands on Gruinart. Thanks.

Marsh Harrier

Out again with Mark Hancox photographing Gannets at Frenchman's Rocks. The light was superb and opportunities wonderful. However, even more interesting was a female Marsh Harrier passing over us and heading out to sea! That and Manx Shearwaters, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbill and a Peregrine kept us busy all day!

Photographer's Special

Out at 0400hrs this morning till dusk with Mark Hancox
http://www.markhancoxbirdphotography.co.uk/
a wonderful image maker who is here for a week. He wanted Gropper, Whinchat, Hen Harrier
and Golden Eagle and.... we got all of them (joy)- also some cracking pictures of Chough preening each other. All from the Landrover - a terrific mobile hide - save the Eagles,which were a wee
walk in the hills on a stunningly beautiful Islay day.

Pale Bellied Brent arrival and departure

this morning with clients we were looking around the top end of Loch Indaal. 37 PB Brents arrived up the loch and hung around for an hour then up and left climbing high and heading North. A wonderful sight and we were so privaledged to witness. Handfuls of Whimbrel are still coming in and so are Arctic Terns too. The sun shone and it was good to be biridng in the warm spring air.

Whimbrel and Arctic Terns

On the Rhinns again today with a group of Canadian birders. Excellent light and views of Divers on Loch Indaal, Common Sandpipers and a cracking male Hen Harrier at Port Wemyss. This is rarly seen there, more often on the Portnahaven side. Plenty of Lapwing, Gannet fishing
and Manx Shearwater. Several young Lapwing too and lots of wee birds with food for young.. Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Sedge as well. A report of a Marsh Harrier is interesting at Portnahaven. At Frenchmans' Rocks therewere over 50 Arctci Terns resting up. We headed back with 8 Chough overhead at Tormisdale and Fulmars at Kilchirian.

Corncrakes and Hen Harrier

At 0400hrs it is still dark but when I set out for our dawn tour and picked up the folks, the light was coming through but unfortunately, no sun! (If that makes sense!). We really enjoyed a dawn chorus behind Islay House and as the light improved were delighted to see a Roe Deer Fawn, hear tits, finches and Thrushes welcoming the new day. A Buzzard drifted over the field and as it was so still the flying teeth(midges) started flying. They were not enough to put us off and soon a Corncrake started crexing. Later along one of field edges we enjoyed seeing a male Hen Harrier sitting on a post waiting for the morning mist to burn off. Dawn. Islay. Brilliant!