20th January, 2010.

Increased winds and rain didn't forbode well for the second day of the International counts. Thankfully things settled out later and were much better. The counts are done over two days and the figures compared to give as much accuracy as possible. The wintering geese tend to use the same general feeding area each day, although not necessarily the same field! This has been shown based on the study of marked birds and their loyalty to given areas is quite remarkable. All such obviously assists in the compilation of accurate count records within a census of this kind. When first I came to Islay in 1999 quite a number of Greenland White-fronted Geese "wore" numbered collars, which they had been fitted with after being captured during their moult on the breeding grounds or via the use of cannon nets on their wintering grounds. The latter are huge nets which are propelled over a group/flock of feeding geese and allow them to be ringed and fitted with discretely numbered neck collars that can be read from afar. It is from the study of such birds that we know so much about their movements and allegiance to given wintering areas and feeding areas within these.

As the years have progressed fewer and fewer of these collared birds are evident as natural mortality takes its toll. The costs and logistics of mounting expeditions to their breeding grounds are colossal but, given their current status and the concerns this generates, further studies clearly need to be mounted to determine the contributory problems and effects and, most importantly, what might then be done to improve the situation.

19th January,2010.

The first day of the International Count of Greenland White-fronted Geese, although all other goose species are counted at the same time. As mentioned on previous occasions the Greenland sub-species of White-fronted Goose comprises a discrete population, such that it is treated , in simple conservation terms, as being a separate species in its own right. The population has certainly reduced in recent years, and concerns expressed, hence the interest in its numbers and the surveys carried out each winter.

Whilst the weather was in sharp contrast to yesterday, a rather more normal winter's day, count conditions were favourable. A couple of Pink-footed Geese was present with Barnacle Geese and Grey lag Geese near Gartmain as were a pair of Light-bellied Brent Geese in a large gathering of Barnacle Geese at Springbank. Otherwise little else was noted.

Birding on the way home saw a surprise encounter with the Little Egret at the head of Loch Indaal. Whilst I was stationary, its sudden appearance 30m. away caught both of us by surprise( they've actually quite a fierce gaze! ). Eventually it moved even closer and fed within 20m with no apparent concern . Tremendous.

18th January, 2010.

An Islay day of the sort which makes it good to be alive! Elevated temperatures and golden sun bathing the landscape throughout! Lovely.

A check for the Gyr Falcon early in the morning, but without success. Sadly other local interest later failed to locate the bird either.

The image opposite was kindly provided by a friend, Keith Betton, who was birding on the island with his colleague, Nigel Peace. After locating it on Saturday I managed to contact them, ( not always the easiest task given mobile telephone reception on Islay! ), a consequence being that they established the land speed record between Port Askaig and Portnahaven and then secured the above image! Many thanks.

Much later in the day I again went down to view the small offshore island where the bird had first been seen, but the hope of it coming in to roost was in vain. It's appropriate to mention that none of this would have emerged had Portnahaven "locals", Ian and Jean, not reported the presence of a large white raptor in the above vicinity late on the Friday. Thanks to them too!

17th January,2010.

Playing catch up with entries at the moment, until the 20th, for which apologies.

As mentioned yesterday this weekend had been designated for the second census of the winter for Light-bellied Brent Geese, for the monthly BTO waterfowl counts , but also for the International Census of Whooper and Bewick's Swans. We rarely get any of the latter anyway, and almost qualified as having the same status for Whooper as only two could be found. Normally there are a few remaining with us through the winter, but the severe weather appears to have encouraged them to leave!

Initially I'd checked the site where the Gyr had been seen , but without success, although it was seen later. I managed to complete a survey of Outer Loch Indaal, mainly for divers, but an increasing southerly wind saw conditions deteriorate and it will be necessary to repeat it. Up to that point I'd had 20 great northern diver and a small flock of Common Scoter. At a couple of places on the Rinns numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare and Starling were noticeable, their appearance certainly being a feature of recent days.

The Inner loch was also being affected by tidal swell , but a reasonable array of birds was to be seen. I actually got the impression bird numbers were increasing after apparent "lows" of the last few days. The Greater Scaup flock showed better numbers than yesterday but it appears to be "down" by almost 50% compared to the last few years. Recent days have seen quite high tides and some waders like Bar-tailed Godwit may be commuting between Loch Indaal and Gruinart, as quite a lag in tide times occurs. A visit to Loch Gruinart also produced a good selection of waders including two Greenshank with another mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare on adjacent fields and a good flock of Linnet.

Another good day, but with the weather eventually deteriorating and heavy showers coming in during the evening.

Gyr Falcon located!

Overnight the weather had been quite fierce, with strong winds and lashing rain, and I was less than convinced that attempting to seek out the Gyr Falcon would meet with success. After looking at maps, and discussions with Andy Schofield ( "a young man wise beyond his years", who insisted on one of the islands probably playing host to the bird ) I set off and progressively checked off the sites.

So, guess what, on one of the islands off Portnahaven there the bird was, being harassed by two Hooded Crows!! Scoped from a long distance away, I chased round to the village and moved opposite to where the birds were. Tremendous sight ! The bird was perched on a protruding rock , but being mobbed regularly and flew around a couple of times. Powerful, languid motion but with the contained menace of an efficient predator. I managed to contact Keith Betton and colleague, who are here on holiday, and they then saw the bird and even got a photograph ( a copy will appear later ). Super stuff. At distance the bird looked white but, on closer examination, the back was pale whitish-grey, which might suggest an Icelandic bird, although I'd always presumed them to be darker.

The remainder of the day was, inevitably, an anticlimax. A "circuit of Loch Indaal to count the Light -bellied Brent Geese, for which the second winter census occurs this weekend , and a couple of WeBS counts ( B.T.O. wildfowl and wader counts ) saw most of the day absorbed when linked to a couple of personal things I'd to attend to. Duck and wader numbers are most certainly reduced but there is still a good variety to be seen. A couple of waters I visited were still frozen in part indicating how solid they must have been earlier.

Even the sea showed some life. A few auks, mainly Razorbill, went south and Fulmars were both on two local colonies and at sea, although not much else other than low numbers of Common and Herring Gull.

Finally, a journey home with, hopefully, the car now having no further problems and a smile from ear to ear. Not a bad day!

Gyr alert!!

Now, no slurring the words together! A report today on the Rinns of what must surely be a white morph Gyr Falcon, "large white falcon chasing another bird, later mobbed by Hooded Crows," links with the possible sighting of a bird before Christmas and a very brief possible sighting of an individual on the Oa a few days ago.

Notorious for going unrecorded for days on end, it seems worth everyone's while keeping an eye open to gain confirmation of the bird and absolutely anywhere on Islay too.

14th January,2010.

A pretty filthy day with rain and mist until mid-afternoon. Then, golden sun and the lengthening day served to suggest we might yet escape this debilitating weather.

Birds are still visiting the garden and feeding voraciously at the feeders. It's good to see numbers of Reed Buntings amongst them. A journey northwards up the Rinns saw the large Barnacle Goose flock still coming over to the west coast and even exploring new fields. Farther on good numbers of Greenland White-fronted Geese and Grey lag Geese were feeding where ,until recently, a single Whooper Swan had been present.

Mid-afternoon a sole Grey Heron flew south, very high and down the whole length of the valley, until lost to sight, presumably on its way to Ireland which, in the improved conditions, was plainly visible.

Eagle Owls again!

A couple of frantic days in many respects. However, firstly a comment on the weather.

Since immediately before Christmas I'd been receiving reports of Woodcock and Common Snipe from various friends visiting Islay, and seeing many birds myself along road verges and in ditches. A couple of farmers had commented similarly and mentioned not having seen so many previously. It seems likely that lesser numbers of Jack Snipe were also amongst these too from various reports. The relative improvement in the weather has probably been a reprieve for these, and other species of wader, with the ground now being accessible in more places and the upper part of the Merse being free of ice. Whilst it's likely that all these species are with us in numbers in "normal" winters the desperate quest for food in the last three weeks brought them into ever closer proximity.

The Eagle Owl saga continues! News of the imminent publication of a paper presenting results of isotope analysis on an Eagle Owl picked up as a road casualty in Thetford Forest suggest the bird was from a clade of Continental origin. Similarly a paper published by Aebischer, giving results from young Eagle Owls bred in Switzerland and fitted with satellite tags , suggest they disperse over much greater distances than previously thought , including over Alpine passes if necessary. Both will obviously add further dimensions to the existing debate.

More worryingly was the discovery yesterday that the Risk Assessment relating to Eagle Owl , as a component species in the revised Schedule 9 becoming applicable in April, is out for public consultation, the closing date for which is the 6th February, 2010. Transparent Government such may be , but a better indication of when such documents are being held up to the light would be a major step forward!! A major concern is a comment "containment/control is an option and is likely to be most effective if carried out in the early stages of the establishment phase".

Having said that there is some recognition that there is a degree of public interest and that various aspects relating to its presence and status have not yet received proper consideration so such might just operate as a stay of execution in the short term!!

Eagle Owl concerns.

In April ,2010 Eagle Owls will be included in the newly revised Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England and Wales. Doubtless at some point the necessary legislative steps will make the revisions applicable in Scotland too. The overall provisions ban the sale of certain species and make it an offence to release into the wild any animal , or plant, that is not indigenous to Britain. A proven offence against the provisions carry a possible two year jail sentence or a £5000 fine.



There is much within the legislation that is sensible associated with , for example, the prevention of invasive plant species within watercourses, or the further introduction of non-native crayfish which have already been found to have decimated our own stocks in certain areas and so on.



When it comes to the Eagle Owl I support the intention aimed at limiting any releases to the wild, but feel there are a number of other issues the Government's agencies need to address rather than feel the job of work is finished. To this extent its inclusion in Schedule 9 might muddy the water as opposed to providing an all embracing , once and for all solution! The whole question of the status of the species within the UK needs future examination and an unequivocal statement issued as to its position within our avifauna.

Image supplied by T.Pickford. Photographed in Czech Republic.

Undoubtedly some Eagle Owls have been released to the wild and some have escaped captivity. It is known that the species has bred freely and raised young in Britain in recent years too. Now whilst I feel we don't want to see endless birds released willy-nilly into the wild , to include the bird on Schedule 9 amongst a list of other aliens begins to confuse what could be
a different situation at the present time. In my opinion there are sufficient facts relating to a gradual westwards extension across Western Europe to suggest we be very careful about what label we do attach to the species!!

Birds can easily be seen in Iberia but now, much farther north , there is emerging evidence of breeding pairs in the Low Countries and of a persistent colonisation of the Baltic islands. So why not the odd migrant to Britain? Some sceptics pronounce the bird to be large and sedentary with a probable predilection against flying over a large body of water, i.e. the North Sea. Well , other raptors do it, as do Long-eared Owls, a selection of photographs of which can be seen on the North Sea Bird Club web site. Indeed it may well be the case that, as a species, it doesn't like the idea of flying over the sea and, therefore, its westward extension comes to an abrupt stop. That presumption, at this very point in time, appears non-proven and somewhat convenient! We can't prove immigration has not occurred, nor what would be the aftermath if a sufficiency were in Britain and part of the operating fabric of our countryside. Would they be a disastrous threat?

The web page the RSPB displays on the subject is, in my view, a fair assessment of the position despite the organization having concerns on the subject. A declaration that, if it were to arrive naturally, then they would welcome it as part of the avifauna, is firm and ad vocative and provides the clarity needed. Similarly their suggestion ( to Government ) that an impact assessment be completed of what is currently an increasing population again would provide a basis upon which better predictions could be made whatever happened in future years. The difficulty at the moment is that the offspring produced may be from escaped birds, but there is no way of knowing. Simply designating them as such is irresponsible in my view and ignores the demands of the situation, difficult though these may be.

There are those , of course, who will delight in the lack of recognition afforded to the species, and for whom its relegation to "alien status" will provide an opportunity to call for its control, or worse! At the present time I feel , quite sincerely, that we should be willing to be open minded and make every attempt to determine what the true situation might be. Difficult, of course it is, and demanding of imaginative ways of tackling a very challenging problem, but attempting to achieve this through "labelling" will never give us the truth and will be used by some to distort the situation. If, in the fullness of time, the population reaches a plateau, and then diminishes, we can accept the current provisions to be adequate and reflect the correct perspectives of the situation. In the meantime it seems to me that we should be open to a possible changing process and set prejudice and self interest aside so as to witness, properly, what could be a natural phenomenon ( running in parallel to what has been a similar "domestic" phenomenon in recent times ).

Discussions with colleagues have raised various points , almost legal points , about which I haven't yet reached clarity in my own mind due, mainly,to a lack of precise knowledge on my part. Given Eagle Owl is a resident , "accepted " species in Continental Europe it is obviously, and its young, afforded protective status under the European Birds Directive . As we are part of the European Union presumably the young produced in this country from parents whose derivation is presumed at the moment, not documented or proven, could be ( should be? ) afforded the same protection. Such would mean it being accepted into our avifauna? Heigh ho , that should get the "grey suits" in a state of flux!!!

10th January,2010.

A walk/drive out to various points on the Rinns was enjoyable , although the wind took the edge off things! There was little happening over the sea and not that many birds around the coast, other than Shags and the odd GBBG and Herring Gull. A few Common Gull fed on likely looking pastures along with low numbers of Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover and a couple of flocks of Starling.

Whether it's indicative of the weather having any effects already, or not, I'm conscious that I've not seen as many Wrens or Stonechats around compared to normal. Of interest were two skeins of Barnacle Geese that came north over the southern coast, flying very high, and gave the impression of coming over from Ireland.