Week 7

12 – 18 February 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the seventh week's recap. This week we will spend 3 nights birding on Islay! The number next to the day indicates my year list at the end of that day. Birds written in italics indicate year ticks.

February 13 - Day 44: 112
At 6am this morning, we got in the car and, after dealing with a broken parking brake, thinking we wouldn’t be able to go on holiday, we left for Islay. The first couple of hours were driven in the dark and even though I hadn’t slept much the night before, I was too eager and excited to fall asleep. At about 9:30, we passed Loch Earn. As we were driving past the scenic mountains, and the lake, I spotted a flock of Canada Geese flying over the loch! #109! I later spotted a few more feeding with some sheep in a field. We kept driving, arriving at Kennacraig Ferry Terminal at about 11:45. Before I could even get out of the car, my dad spotted a pair of Black Guillemots near the pier. The pair were later joined by up to five birds, of which we managed to get great pictures. On the ferry, we found a sheltered spot on the top deck, where we counted 6 Black-throated divers, 3 Red-throated divers, and 1 Great northern diver. From the ferry, we also saw a soaring Raven and a pair of Red-breasted mergansers. Towards the end of the crossing, we also spotted a Common Guillemot and 2 Black guillemots. While we were driving from Port Askaig to our accommodation in the village of Bruichladdich, we spotted a flock of White-fronted geese and Barnacle geese from the car window. Since it was getting dark, we went to the Bruichladdich Distillery, where my parents had some cocktails. In the evening, we made our plans for the day after and went to bed, since we were exhausted from the day of travelling.

February 14 - Day 45: 114
Today I woke up early after a good night’s rest. My dad and I had breakfast and left to go to RSPB Loch Gruinart, in the North of the island. On the way we spotted a young White-tailed eagle, which reminded us that we had forgotten the camera, we raced back and got the camera, but the eagle had left. Closer to the reserve, we saw many flocks of Barnacle and White-fronted geese, feeding in the fields. We walked to the first hide, where we found a few Whooper Swans, some more geese, a pair of Pintail, some Wigeon, Golden Plovers and some Lapwings. In the second hide we saw some more of the same birds as well as some Dunlin, Teal and another year tick: a few drake Shovelers.
After a report of several waders and a Brent Goose at Bridgend, we made the short drive over after collecting my mum and sisters. On the way there, we spotted two adult White-tailed eagles from the road. We parked as soon as we could and watched them for a while until they flew away over a hill. We kept driving until we found a lay-by to park in, so I got out of the car and started scanning. We found Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Dunlin and a Bar-tailed godwit but no Brent Goose or the reported Knots.
Since we were in the area, we went to Loch Skerrols, seeing many Black-headed gulls, Common gulls and Herring gulls in a large flock on the water. Behind them were a couple of Cormorants, a drake Goosander, two female Goldeneyes, and a few Mallards. As we were leaving we saw a Reed Bunting in some shrubs and a Hare running in the fields.
We had planned to go to the Islay Oyster Shed for lunch on the Loch Gruinart coast. We headed back towards Loch Gruinart seeing more geese and a Buzzard on the way. In some fields, we saw some Fieldfares (living up to their names!). As we slowly drove along the single-track road, we saw many birds including, Red-breasted Mergansers, Goldeneyes, Stonechats, Turnstones, and Curlews. When we finally arrived, we were the only ones at the restaurant. For lunch, I had oysters for the first time as well as a large portion of fish & chips that I had trouble finishing. After filling our stomachs to the very brim, we headed out into the now rather strong wind and rain. We drove over to Kilchoman to visit the distillery and to try for some Chough.
Upon arriving at Kilchoman, we realised that the distillery was closed, so we drove down to the Kilchoman Military Cemetery. On the cliffs, we saw a soaring Buzzard and two Jackdaws on the ruined church but no Chough. We decided to keep going, despite the weather, on to Machir Bay. We didn't see many birds there, apart from an adult and an immature Great black-backed gull in a flock of Herring gulls.
On the way back to our accommodation, we went down to Portnahaven and Port Charlotte, not seeing any birds however, so we went back to the house and had dinner by the fire.

February 15 - Day 46: 117
Today, we woke up early again, since my dad and I were going to Ardnave in search of Choughs. After nearly an hour’s drive along the most bumpy road ever, we arrived at the car park at Ardnave Loch. On the loch, there were a few Whooper swans, some Goldeneyes, Mallards, and Teal. As we walked through the farm, we heard a singing Song thrush and saw some Reed buntings, along with the countless Starlings and Jackdaws. After a couple of false alarms, my dad found a pair of corvids slightly different from the rest. He got a few photographs before the birds called, and I could confirm that they were Choughs; a lifer! The Chough is a rare species of corvid that is found on only two Scottish islands: Islay (their stronghold) and Colonsay. These birds are also found on the Isle of Man, the west coast of Ireland, parts of Wales, and Cornwall as well as other places overseas. On the way back to the car, we spotted the regular large flock of 11 flying North towards Ardnave point along the coast of Loch Gruinart.
After picking up my sisters and my mum, we drove towards The Oa, Port Ellen, etc. Along the way, we saw a group of birders parked in a lay-by near Bridgend, so we parked next to them and asked what they’d seen. There were many lapwings, bar-tailed godwits, and other waders and gulls but no previously reported Brent goose or any Knot. The birders found a couple of Greenshank that were sleeping near a tyre. We soon left to continue on our way.
Near Islay Airport, we spotted some more birders at the side of the road. From what I understood, they were Icelandic bird ringers who had rung some Barnacle geese in Iceland and were coming down to Islay to track “their” geese.
When we finally arrived at The Oa, there were no Twite in the car park, which was rather unusual. We walked to the American Monument and saw a few Great black-backed gulls, as well as a displaying Raven. As we walked along the stunning cliffs, we spotted a Stonechat and more Ravens. We found a sheltered place where we could sit and watch the cliffs (and passing seabirds!) without the wind in our faces. In my two minute seawatch I counted a single Gannet flying West, a first for our trip. We soon had to keep walking since we were planning to visit the local distilleries, Laphroiag and Ardbeg. On the way back to the car park, we got views of a distant Peregrine Falcon, which was making the White-fronted geese below, rather anxious. Unfortunately, no Twite in the car park again, a real shame since this is the best place in Scotland to see them, but not exclusive to Islay.
On the way back, we stopped at Bowmore since the distilleries in the south were closed. We visited the shop where we saw a bottle of 51-year-old whisky with a price tag of £34,110! Around 10x the price of the most expensive Swarovski telescopes! We went down to Gartbreck at sunset, where I got Black Guillemot and Common Scoter on Loch Indaal. At Bridgend, we spotted at the lay-by where another birder, called Clive, was scanning, so we had a quick chat. He said that he had studied zoology at Aberdeen University and after a university field trip to Islay, he fell in love with the place and lived here for 15 years. He came back six months ago, to retire on Islay. He said that he had done his PhD on Choughs up at Ardnave.

February 16 - Day 47:

This morning would be our last on Islay, so we made the most of it by getting up on time again. Clive told us that he regularly sees Golden eagles near his house between Ardnave and the visitor centre at RSPB Loch Gruinart. On the way there, we were scanning every flock of geese, in search of a Red-breasted or Cackling goose within the flocks. While doing so, I noticed a strange black and white thing in a field. At first, I thought that this must be a plastic flacon, since it was as still as a statue, but, under closer inspection, it turned out to be real! I shouted out “Peregrine!” so my dad stopped into the nearest lay-by, which was, conveniently, only a couple yards ahead. The bird soon flew, confirming that it was real, luckily I managed to get a flew photos before it was gone. We parked at the RSPB reserve and started walking, accidentally flushing a Snipe from one of the roadside pools. On some garden bird feeders, we saw some Chaffinches and a Great tit trying to get past the Jackdaws and onto the tempting peanut feeders. As we kept walking, we noticed that many Pheasants were presumably right behind the walls by the road, meaning that they would flush when we walked past. We noted a few Meadow Pipits in some muddy pools in one of the many fields. As well as more Pheasants, we also saw a doe and fawn Roe deer watching us attentively less than 20 metres away! We stood as still as possible and got a few nice pictures before they walked away. It was around now, 0845, that I spotted a flock of Barnacle geese, “Should I scan these geese?”, I thought, “Best to do so, just in case”. I set up my scope and scanned the geese. I only saw Barnies, so I moved my attention to a Greenfinch calling from the top of some trees. While my dad still watching the finch, I focused back on the geese. My dad was already walking away, so I had to scan quickly. I noticed a goose with an obvious, broad band on its side. Red-breasted goose was not the first on my mind, but I still called my dad back. "What is it?" he asked, "I don't know" I replied, which I quickly corrected to "Red-breasted goose! I've found a Red-breasted goose!". Indeed, in an unassuming flock of Barnacle geese, was one Red-breasted Goose. We quickly posted it on the Islay Birds Whatsapp group. (Visit islaybirds.blogspot.com to join the Whatsapp group and/or to get daily updates on the birds seen on Islay and Jura). We watched the bird for a while, getting distant but nice pictures of this beautiful species. While we were standing watching my lifer Red-breasted Goose, I heard a couple Chough calling from some abandoned buildings nearby. Near the car park, we also watched in awe as a young White-tailed eagle sent the geese going crazy.

We had to check out of our accommodation and pick up my sisters and my mum, so we headed back, stopping to chat to another couple of birders who had just arrived. We picked up the girls and drove back, scoring a wonderful tick in the shape of a (pale-bellied) Brent Goose. Back up at Gruinart, the barnacle geese had all left and the Red-breasted goose with them, so we went to the hide finding Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, 2 Little egrets, Redshanks, Dunlin, Golden Plover, and some Lapwings. On the way out of the hide, we were treated with views of 2 young White-tailed eagles fly right over us! The two birds were later seen flying south past Bruichladdich (towards Port Charlotte) by Ian Brooke.

We moved over to Bridgend woods in search of Treecreeper, Siskin, Dipper and other woodland species. As soon as I got out of the car, I heard the recognisable call of a Coal tit, our first for Islay. In the woods we didn't see much apart from a flock of Long-tailed tits, also our firsts for the island, a Song Thrush, as well as the ubiquitous Robins and Blue tits. In a field near the car park, there were also large numbers of Starlings (c200) and Redwings (c100). We had lunch at the "Craigard Kitchen of Ballygrant" in Ballygrant (as I hope you would have already figured out). I had the soup of the day, a warm and delicious lentil soup after a good morning's birding.

I didn't do much birding on the ferry since the wind, rain and darkness fell rather soon after we left the port. I did see a Black Guillemot, some Shags, a Black-throated Diver, and a Woodpigeon, (my first for the island, so a last-minute tick!) flying above the trees.

P.S.

I got a lot of help finding birds via the book "The Birds of Islay" by Dr Malcolm Ogilvie. It covers how to find birds on the island in great detail. As a souvenir of our holiday here, my parents got me "The Birds of Islay - A celebration in photographs" by Dr Ogilvie.

Day 44 - 46: https://ebird.org/tripreport/330738

Early morning views of Loch Earn