Doldrums!

Rain at both ends of the day but quite reasonable in between. With the girls at friends, and overnighting, it gave me the opportunity of looking at Loch Indaal during the late afternoon. A lazy high tide left wide expanses of mud and sand uncovered, but with very few birds in evidence. Curlew and Oystercatcher numbers are begining to build up slowly and a few Shelduck were around, a marked contrast to the frenetic atmosphere of autumn and winter!

Young birds continue to call from all available cover, an indication that we've not had a bad summer at all. The Outer Loch was virtually bereft of birds and, despite a good "trawl" of all suitable areas no summering Great Northern Divers could be found. July and August, (and then until late September) , are about the only months we never seem to have birds.

Hugh Harrop had been in touch yesterday ( see his comment , thanks Hugh! ) in connection with the cetacean sighting. It's his belief that it is a Risso's Dolphin. Given that I've never actually seen that species, nor was the observer anyway , it's difficult for me to comment. However, after having looked at a wider variety of pictures than in intial efforts, Hugh's advice appears to "fit the bill". Whilst there has been previous records from Islay, such are by no means regular. The Hebridean Whale and Dophin Trust web site shows only one reported record this year and three in 2008, so we're not dealing with an invasion folks!!

Cetacean identification

Given that today produced nothing it seemed an apt time to provide feedback on the cetacean that was seen off Sanaigmore cliffs by Stuart Graham on the 6th July, 2009.

It was about half a mile offshore and showed quite well. A copy of the image was sent to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust based on the Isle of Mull. The consensus appears to be that it is a Minke Whale, although the distance involved, the fact it was taken with a telephoto lens and then cropped needs to be taken into account. The fin shape and size is nonetheless very distictive. Minke Whale are seen from time to time off the ferry plying between the mainland (Kennacraig and Port Ellen, Islay ) and so it's worth keeping an eye open for them.

Return passage of high Arctic waders.

Visits to various places ((10th July ) produced little until a walk along the beach from Traigh an Luig to Uiskentuie. Three separate parties of Redshank, Sanderling and Turnstone showed that waders from the high Arctic are now on their return migration southwards. The plumage of the latter was already begining to lose it's defintion and intensity and that of the Sanderlings was something of a "half way house". An unintended pun, the latter comment might actually represent what some of these birds still have in front of them in terms of their migration, as all the species mentioned can winter way down in Africa and, therefore, still have a long way to go. On the other hand they may opt for the winter sun of the Mediterranean or , slightly further south, become part of the vast wintering flocks of waders on the Banc d'Arguin, off Mauritania.

Sadly, the above beach and adjacent areas no longer showed any terns to be present and, as in so many previous years, it would seem their breeding attempts have failed or that they'd moved to other sites as terns can often do. By contrast several pairs of Ringed Plover were present, all acting as if they had young somewhere, which would perhaps suggest second attempts at breeding, and quite successful ones at that! Thankfully the open grazed areas to one side, and the sloping beach on the seaward side, allow a route to be chosen that leaves the shingle undisturbed except, of course, the diehard dog walkers whose inquisitive charges find it irresistable.

9th July,2009.

Infrequent postings as I'm a bit restricted with a return of this .............ear infection. It's like operating in an echo chamber and a bit painful to boot!!

Continuing good weather and sallies out to the beach with the girls to get fresh air , look in the rock pools and collect pebbles to repair the track!! Suddenly Meadow Pipits seem to be everywhere, which suggests they've had a good season along with Wheatear, Stonechat and Linnet. As ever Common Eider seems to enjoy very limited success here with very low productivity ( I've yet to see a creche on Islay! ). The sea was noticeably quiet with only the odd Gannet around, although better numbers of Herring Gull, Common Gull, Fulmar, Shag and Arctic Terns are around the offshore islands.

Back at home I watched a couple of Ravens systematically scour a hillside opposite whilst adult Curlews went ballistic. Chicks are now quite well grown but I suppose Ravens would have no difficulty in despatching one! Rabbits are very slowly begining to reappear at various points around the island following myxamatosis taking its toll previously. The large warren above the house has never recovered . Coincidentally, and rather obviously, sightings of local Buzzards are fewer in number this season as, presumably, they hunt over a wider area. The very pale local individual gave absolutely tremendous views the other day and I often wonder what visitors make of it!!!

Have had some time to think about what is best required to draw attention to the woeful situation of raptor species in parts of the UK. Clearly any support people can offer to local conservation initiatives and to national campaigns is to be welcomed. But it needs more than that. The fight needs taking to the perpetrators first of all via a firm declaration by national institutions, even by Government, that the situation is simply not going to be tolerated . Over the years the relentless efforts of the RSPB must have cost an enormous amount , a case of a voluntary organization baling out Government in my view. It's ironic that , whilst the Government spends money fulfilling its responsibilities to designate Special Protection Areas (SPA's ), under obligations within European law, in the Forest of Bowland's case one of the main resources ( Hen Harrier ) it was drawn up to protect is under siege. And don't try and persuade me differently anyone as I helped draw up the data etc for JNCC! OK, we've had recovery projects and so on, but the nett gains are minimal. If it was viewed in commercial terms it would be deemed a failure set against the outlay made available. So, review, regroup and retaliate........let's all act/speak with a single voice and let it be known that things are going to change!!

7th July, 2009.

It seems Islay plays host to yet another rare breeding bird!! The reserve warden on the RSPB Oa Reserve rang to say that the male Tree Sparrow we'd spoken about previously is still "on territory " and chirping away but that, also, there is a pair at another location with young!!

Great news indeed for a species that was thought to be extinct ,as a breeder , within Argyll for around the last twenty years. With the population within the UK having reduced substantially, and dramatically, in recent times it's intriguing to consider where these birds might have originated. It made me smile afterwards as this is going to be depicted, in the eventual publication relating to the BTO Atlas, as one of those very isolated dots way away from other breeding strongholds that ,very often, produces a "What on earth?" reaction!! Such is the interest that Argyll county listers are known to be visiting shortly ( which eventually will include me )!!! The first step towards being the Inner Hebridean "" Fair Isle"...................

6th July,2009

A mixed bag in many respects. A rather relalaxed day at home after yesterday. The Swallows have hatched young in the barn which means a whirr of chaos every time you enter!

Catching up on various things I was disgusted to discover the senior constabulary of the Lancashire area, which covers the Forest of Bowland , are to be awarded up to 15% salary bonuses for, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lancashire Police Authority states, " excellent performance" !!! As I see it if a senior police officer had overseen the theft of a series of national treasures, say art, on their "watch" would they be qualifying for bonuses!!! I hope you'd agree "no" !! Your thoughts are probably in line with those of Burnley Council, Hynburn Council and the Ribble Valley MP!! Constituent parts of our natural heritage, e.g Hen harriers, especially protected by law, should require to be part of the equation wherein the measure of success is made against which, in the current season, the Lancashire Constabulary has failed miserably in my view. It's no good pointing to the success achieved on United Utilities estate ,who bend over backwards to protect their rare birds of prey, when nothing is being produced from identical habitats alongside on different estates. All a question of statistics I suspect and a reduction in urban crime, welcome, but not the whole story!! As previously, the old headmaster would have said, " Can do better"!!

Off Sanaigmore on Sunday my colleague, Stuart Graham, had a cetacean that we're still not sure about. A picture has been sent off for a definite identification and we'll post both it and details in due course.

5th July, 2009.

Collected Rachael and Katherine from Kirkhill, Inverness by 1000 hours and we commenced our journey back to Islay via the Great Glen route. Again a sunny and hot day with little respite due to the distance needing to be travelled. As can be imagined cars, caravans and motorbikes were also enjoying the delights of the Highlands and the whole journey was somewhat of a "convoy" operation. A stop in Oban for the habitual supermarket top-up provided variety followed by a busy, full but non eventful ferry journey arriving on time shortly after 2000 hours in Port Ellen, thereby allowing us to get back around 2115hours. A full day!!