Well the whole morning was wreathed in excitement, not I might add in anticipation of the Election, change, rebirth and all that , but by the possibility of Choughs finally taking up residence in one of the nest boxes in the barn!!
Frantic calling in the early morning showed a couple of birds to be whizzing around the house, with one periodically going into the entrance in the gable end. This went on all morning and was quite absorbing ( and , in a strange way, exhausting ). Later I had a conversation with James How ( RSPB ) who advised this can happen, sometimes they can nest quite late and wished me luck. Whether or not these were failed adults ,or a new, young pair exploring sites ( my preferred option!! ) I've no idea , but it all completely messed up my day. Suffice to say all the frantic activity was about as decisive as the Election itself as they've not been back so "rebirth and change" appear unlikely in this very local constituency!!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5th May,2010.
Well, I'm completing this in the early evening given the whole day has been a waste of time. From soon after dawn the southern part of the Rinns where I live has been enveloped in mist. Now I'm sure there'll be many who will link the conditions to the volcanic dust cloud which has moved south over Scotland, closed the airports and so on, but all I will say is that it was forecast beforehand on various weather sites!!!
A male Whinchat that alighted on the garden wall mid-afternoon looked as bewildered by the weather as I was seeing it!! A couple of pairs of local Northern Wheatears spasmodically have a fall out, which provided some occasional entertainment!! Otherwise I've been busy entering things on to Mapmate or on similar computer duties!! Noticeably local Raven, Buzzard and Hen Harrier have "gone very quiet", which always confirms they are immersed in the early stages of nesting, somewhat later in the Raven's case. Early morning glimpses of the odd bird belies their presence. but very little follows and you certainly don't hear much calling!!
A male Whinchat that alighted on the garden wall mid-afternoon looked as bewildered by the weather as I was seeing it!! A couple of pairs of local Northern Wheatears spasmodically have a fall out, which provided some occasional entertainment!! Otherwise I've been busy entering things on to Mapmate or on similar computer duties!! Noticeably local Raven, Buzzard and Hen Harrier have "gone very quiet", which always confirms they are immersed in the early stages of nesting, somewhat later in the Raven's case. Early morning glimpses of the odd bird belies their presence. but very little follows and you certainly don't hear much calling!!
4th May,2010.
Locally a Grasshopper Warbler had arrived and stoically announced its presence in the early light of dawn. Later a Common Crane was seen arriving into fields near Coul Farm in the NW of the island and produced the inevitable panic to get there before it left. Leave it did an hour or so later, and without being seen too, whilst we were all scanning around for other things!!
At least two groups of "Greenland" Wheatear were seen ( 5 and 9 ) although I also felt our Northern Wheatear numbers had increased on the Rinns. The numbers of "Northern" Golden Plovers are also dwindling around Ballinaby with only ten or so seen hunched down in the furrows of a favoured ploughed field. "White" Wagtails are still to be seen but numbers are possibly past their peak already.
At least two groups of "Greenland" Wheatear were seen ( 5 and 9 ) although I also felt our Northern Wheatear numbers had increased on the Rinns. The numbers of "Northern" Golden Plovers are also dwindling around Ballinaby with only ten or so seen hunched down in the furrows of a favoured ploughed field. "White" Wagtails are still to be seen but numbers are possibly past their peak already.
3rd May, 2010.
A nice day , with plenty of sun, but cold due to the northerly wind.
A flock of 63 Light bellied Brent Geese at the head of Loch Indaal in the early morning held one ringed bird ( yellow above another ring) that tantalisingly went into a lens of water and stood still!! Eventually I'd to leave without the confirmation!
After some routine survey work I spent time within the Ballygrant Woods, which was warmer and also a great pleasure given the spring flowers in evidence. Good numbers of Willow Warbler were present, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Lesser Redpoll. Equal satisfaction arose from the presence of several singing Wrens on territory, good numbers of Great Tit ( less so of Blue Tit as in Bridgend Woods ) and three singing Goldcrest. The male Ring-necked Duck was still present along with a few Tufted Duck.
Visits to other sites produced nothing new, a situation over which the continuing northerly winds must be exerting some influence.
A flock of 63 Light bellied Brent Geese at the head of Loch Indaal in the early morning held one ringed bird ( yellow above another ring) that tantalisingly went into a lens of water and stood still!! Eventually I'd to leave without the confirmation!
After some routine survey work I spent time within the Ballygrant Woods, which was warmer and also a great pleasure given the spring flowers in evidence. Good numbers of Willow Warbler were present, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Lesser Redpoll. Equal satisfaction arose from the presence of several singing Wrens on territory, good numbers of Great Tit ( less so of Blue Tit as in Bridgend Woods ) and three singing Goldcrest. The male Ring-necked Duck was still present along with a few Tufted Duck.
Visits to other sites produced nothing new, a situation over which the continuing northerly winds must be exerting some influence.
Whimbrel migration.
This is the first in what might best be described as a "mini series" of occasional summaries relating to bird migration, or similar subjects, here on Islay.
Each spring we witness Whimbrel migrating through northwards and both their presence and ringing cries herald the emerging new season. Numbers differ, based on the influence of weather, observers , the sheer good luck of being in the right place when a group sweeps through or alongside a field where they taking time out to feed and rest.
Actual migration past Frenchman's Rocks, SW Islay is minimal contrasted against the numbers that are recorded around Loch Indaal and in the NW of the island. These birds are, I believe, exclusively associated with the Iceland and Faeroe's population, although it's feasible that some of the birds could cut across the Great Glen , at height, heading for Scandinavia. Remember too that we do have a small breeding population in the UK mainly centred on the Shetland Islands. The majority of birds in flight over Islay tend to be moving north or NW, either over our land mass or along the coast. The first birds come through in mid April and passage continues to mid May, but with stragglers outside of those dates. Groups often number around 20 , but flocks in excess of 60 are not uncommon.
Some years ago, when associated with the Wintersett Ringing Station in West Yorkshire, spring birds were invariably singles or in low numbers and most often passed to the N or NE. Later knowledge emerged of a roost at a reservoir in west Bowland, North Lancashire, of birds on Morecambe Bay and of a favoured feeding area on farmland near to the Bleasdale Estate. Invariably any of these latter birds seen leaving flew off to the north east suggesting they were part of the Scandinavian or Russian populations. Birds are recorded on the Solway Firth which suggests passage up the Irish Sea northwards towards Islay. At this stage they've probably completed two thirds of their long migration from their wintering quarters predominantly in West Africa.
Ferns et al (1979) counted spring migrating Whimbrel and, at that time , there were notable concentrations associated with sites around the Severn Estuary. A peak spring passage count showed ca. 2500 birds to be involved, with a notable single site where birds concentrated being the Somerset Levels. This phenomenon now appears to have ceased. Interestingly birds caught on the Severn Estuary in spring had fat reserves sufficient for them to make a direct flight to Iceland, which suggests many birds might simply pass over Islay. Work in Ireland has seen huge roosting concentrations on occasion, i.e. 1000+, and substantial numbers passing through northwards, again presumed from the Iceland population. In other years only small numbers are seen which suggests the route taken is quite narrow rather than being across a broad front. In the last two years, when we had more easterly winds in spring, fewer birds passed through suggesting they were being displaced westwards over to Ireland. Strangely enough, in all these western areas passage in autumn is much lower and flock sizes smaller.
Whilst we're in the middle of the 2010 passage period at present I've already records of almost 400 birds (399!! ) passing through and doubtless the actual total already is much higher. An interesting local phenomenon providing an absorbing subject each spring!!
Each spring we witness Whimbrel migrating through northwards and both their presence and ringing cries herald the emerging new season. Numbers differ, based on the influence of weather, observers , the sheer good luck of being in the right place when a group sweeps through or alongside a field where they taking time out to feed and rest.
Actual migration past Frenchman's Rocks, SW Islay is minimal contrasted against the numbers that are recorded around Loch Indaal and in the NW of the island. These birds are, I believe, exclusively associated with the Iceland and Faeroe's population, although it's feasible that some of the birds could cut across the Great Glen , at height, heading for Scandinavia. Remember too that we do have a small breeding population in the UK mainly centred on the Shetland Islands. The majority of birds in flight over Islay tend to be moving north or NW, either over our land mass or along the coast. The first birds come through in mid April and passage continues to mid May, but with stragglers outside of those dates. Groups often number around 20 , but flocks in excess of 60 are not uncommon.
Some years ago, when associated with the Wintersett Ringing Station in West Yorkshire, spring birds were invariably singles or in low numbers and most often passed to the N or NE. Later knowledge emerged of a roost at a reservoir in west Bowland, North Lancashire, of birds on Morecambe Bay and of a favoured feeding area on farmland near to the Bleasdale Estate. Invariably any of these latter birds seen leaving flew off to the north east suggesting they were part of the Scandinavian or Russian populations. Birds are recorded on the Solway Firth which suggests passage up the Irish Sea northwards towards Islay. At this stage they've probably completed two thirds of their long migration from their wintering quarters predominantly in West Africa.
Ferns et al (1979) counted spring migrating Whimbrel and, at that time , there were notable concentrations associated with sites around the Severn Estuary. A peak spring passage count showed ca. 2500 birds to be involved, with a notable single site where birds concentrated being the Somerset Levels. This phenomenon now appears to have ceased. Interestingly birds caught on the Severn Estuary in spring had fat reserves sufficient for them to make a direct flight to Iceland, which suggests many birds might simply pass over Islay. Work in Ireland has seen huge roosting concentrations on occasion, i.e. 1000+, and substantial numbers passing through northwards, again presumed from the Iceland population. In other years only small numbers are seen which suggests the route taken is quite narrow rather than being across a broad front. In the last two years, when we had more easterly winds in spring, fewer birds passed through suggesting they were being displaced westwards over to Ireland. Strangely enough, in all these western areas passage in autumn is much lower and flock sizes smaller.
Whilst we're in the middle of the 2010 passage period at present I've already records of almost 400 birds (399!! ) passing through and doubtless the actual total already is much higher. An interesting local phenomenon providing an absorbing subject each spring!!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
BOB SCOTT MEMORIAL QUIZ.
A little over a year ago Bob Scott died at the early age of 70 years. To many the name was synonymous with the "ornithological establishment", to many others it signified much,much more! Whilst Bob was the member of many a committee, he was also a field man, a birders birder, who in his time had added four new species to the British List, worked at the Natural History Museum in London,, been Warden of the Dungeness Bird Observatory and the RSPB Reserve and, latterly, worked as Reserves Manager at RSPB HQ for several years before his retirement.
He had a ceaseless passion for birds, his lectures were legendary, his tours abroad fully patronised, his humour and infectious enthusiasm incapable of being surpassed, but there were even further dimensions, often less well known, associated with his contributions to bird conservation. Work in Italy, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Bulgaria and India signified the need for all of us to have wider horizons when it came to bird conservation. The detailed and moving tribute to Bob ,written by Dick Newell in the July,2009 edition of British Birds, reveals much more about an outstanding man, a birder and conservationist. This was a man who was very much|"one of our own" and someone whom I feel privileged to have known as a work colleague over many years.
HOWEVER here now is an opportunity to underline that unfortunate loss by contributing to an appeal, or completing a quiz too with the incentive of winning one of the substantial prizes. The proceeds will be directed to two things dear to Bob's heart......Africa and migrant birds. In recent times it has become increasingly apparent that worrying changes are taking place within the wintering areas of our summer visitors and that these are contributing to their declines. All funds raised will be used on initiatives aimed at addressing these changes and declines.
To take part in the quiz, or just donate, please visit
www.birdguides.co/bobscott
If you wish to obtain a paper copy of the quiz, please send a 9" x 6" stamped addressed envelope to Bob Scott Appeal, FREEPOST PLUS RLSE-XAJX-UYRY,
BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL,Wellbrook Court, Girton, Cambridge,CB3 0NA.
A donation of £5 is suggested, but please do not send cash. Cheques should be made out to BirdLife International( Bob Scott Appeal). The closing date for the quiz is 30th September, 2010 and the prize winners and answers to the quiz will be detailed on the BirdGuides web site above.
Now, the prizes!!
A Sunbird holiday for one to Gambia.
A pair of 8x20 Swarovski Binoculars.
BirdGuides gifts valued at £500.
Photo of Simon Kings of two cheetahs entitled "The Brothers".
This appeal, organized by Ann Scott, has received help from the BTO, BirdGuides, BirdLife International, RSPB and the World Land Trust. When Ann contacted me recently she said, in her inimitable modest way, if we could get 1000 to participate that would be £5000 for birds!
In my view if we can't get substantially more than 1000 donations we will have failed the man and the cause!! Before 2009 Bob's knowledge, humour, support and comradeship was lavishly gifted on all with whom he had contact. It's up to us now to offer a tribute to what had been a ceaseless and selfless contribution to birds.
Let's do it!! Thank you.
He had a ceaseless passion for birds, his lectures were legendary, his tours abroad fully patronised, his humour and infectious enthusiasm incapable of being surpassed, but there were even further dimensions, often less well known, associated with his contributions to bird conservation. Work in Italy, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Bulgaria and India signified the need for all of us to have wider horizons when it came to bird conservation. The detailed and moving tribute to Bob ,written by Dick Newell in the July,2009 edition of British Birds, reveals much more about an outstanding man, a birder and conservationist. This was a man who was very much|"one of our own" and someone whom I feel privileged to have known as a work colleague over many years.
HOWEVER here now is an opportunity to underline that unfortunate loss by contributing to an appeal, or completing a quiz too with the incentive of winning one of the substantial prizes. The proceeds will be directed to two things dear to Bob's heart......Africa and migrant birds. In recent times it has become increasingly apparent that worrying changes are taking place within the wintering areas of our summer visitors and that these are contributing to their declines. All funds raised will be used on initiatives aimed at addressing these changes and declines.
To take part in the quiz, or just donate, please visit
www.birdguides.co/bobscott
If you wish to obtain a paper copy of the quiz, please send a 9" x 6" stamped addressed envelope to Bob Scott Appeal, FREEPOST PLUS RLSE-XAJX-UYRY,
BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL,Wellbrook Court, Girton, Cambridge,CB3 0NA.
A donation of £5 is suggested, but please do not send cash. Cheques should be made out to BirdLife International( Bob Scott Appeal). The closing date for the quiz is 30th September, 2010 and the prize winners and answers to the quiz will be detailed on the BirdGuides web site above.
Now, the prizes!!
A Sunbird holiday for one to Gambia.
A pair of 8x20 Swarovski Binoculars.
BirdGuides gifts valued at £500.
Photo of Simon Kings of two cheetahs entitled "The Brothers".
This appeal, organized by Ann Scott, has received help from the BTO, BirdGuides, BirdLife International, RSPB and the World Land Trust. When Ann contacted me recently she said, in her inimitable modest way, if we could get 1000 to participate that would be £5000 for birds!
In my view if we can't get substantially more than 1000 donations we will have failed the man and the cause!! Before 2009 Bob's knowledge, humour, support and comradeship was lavishly gifted on all with whom he had contact. It's up to us now to offer a tribute to what had been a ceaseless and selfless contribution to birds.
Let's do it!! Thank you.
30th April,2010.
After the inevitable couple of days attending to paperwork and domestic duties the opportunity arrived to have a good look at the recording area after an absence of a week. The first obvious impression was of the number of Swallow and linnet that had arrived during the period. Goldfinches are continuing to go through, the overall numbers of which must be quite high.
A nominal hour's seawatching saw plenty of activity ( Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag, and auks ) but nothing outside of the usual constituents "presence" due, in part, to a fog bank out to sea. A flock of 12 Whimbrel flew over Loch Indaal, a further nine was at Loch Gorm and, later,a flock of forty + flew north over Outer loch Indaal suggesting the now fine and calm conditions was encouraging passage. Sedge Warblers were at several sites ,but not yet present at all the small locations normally occupied and several places had two or three Northern Wheatears, which from their plumage and size were not "Greenland" race birds.Two single House Martins showed them too to be arriving and the odd Cuckoo appeared at a couple of places.
Evidence the season was already advancing came in the form of young Lapwing chicks being frantically escorted across a road by a parent and two broods of Mallard at Gruinart. A count of Grey lag Geese in the Loch Gorm area showed at least 60 to be around, many of which were pairs, a fact that possibly heralds yet a further increase in the population.
At Gruinart a fine array of birds of different species was on offer. A group of at least 12 Black-tailed Godwits added to a party of five seen previously near Loch Gorm. A male Garganey, a female Goldeneye and a pair of both Tufted Duck and Red-breasted Merganser added variety to the Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall present, but the Pintail now appear to have departed. Of interest was a small group of Greenland White-fronted Geese which was later supplemented by a further flock of around forty . A similar "appearance" was made by around 50 Barnacle Geese that may have come from somewhere local or being passage birds. With some of these species having left around three weeks ago it's a matter of conjecture whether these late birds will benefit from arriving in better weather in the Artic or lose out if the short season within which they have to complete their breeding activities prematurely closes in. As ever wader activity was at its frenetic best around the whole site with Lapwing, Redshank and Curlew in evidence. A single Greenshank, feeding quietly, was doubtless a migrant stoking up before the next leg of its journey.
Back at Loch Indaal at least two Arctic Terns was present, the remnant flock of around 50 Greater Scaup bobbed around offshore and various Great Northern Divers were dotted around. Such was a drastic contrast between a species that had already travelled thousands of miles from its wintering quarters in the southern hemisphere ( the terns ) and those which had not yet set off on their journeys northwards.
A nominal hour's seawatching saw plenty of activity ( Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag, and auks ) but nothing outside of the usual constituents "presence" due, in part, to a fog bank out to sea. A flock of 12 Whimbrel flew over Loch Indaal, a further nine was at Loch Gorm and, later,a flock of forty + flew north over Outer loch Indaal suggesting the now fine and calm conditions was encouraging passage. Sedge Warblers were at several sites ,but not yet present at all the small locations normally occupied and several places had two or three Northern Wheatears, which from their plumage and size were not "Greenland" race birds.Two single House Martins showed them too to be arriving and the odd Cuckoo appeared at a couple of places.
Evidence the season was already advancing came in the form of young Lapwing chicks being frantically escorted across a road by a parent and two broods of Mallard at Gruinart. A count of Grey lag Geese in the Loch Gorm area showed at least 60 to be around, many of which were pairs, a fact that possibly heralds yet a further increase in the population.
At Gruinart a fine array of birds of different species was on offer. A group of at least 12 Black-tailed Godwits added to a party of five seen previously near Loch Gorm. A male Garganey, a female Goldeneye and a pair of both Tufted Duck and Red-breasted Merganser added variety to the Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and Gadwall present, but the Pintail now appear to have departed. Of interest was a small group of Greenland White-fronted Geese which was later supplemented by a further flock of around forty . A similar "appearance" was made by around 50 Barnacle Geese that may have come from somewhere local or being passage birds. With some of these species having left around three weeks ago it's a matter of conjecture whether these late birds will benefit from arriving in better weather in the Artic or lose out if the short season within which they have to complete their breeding activities prematurely closes in. As ever wader activity was at its frenetic best around the whole site with Lapwing, Redshank and Curlew in evidence. A single Greenshank, feeding quietly, was doubtless a migrant stoking up before the next leg of its journey.
Back at Loch Indaal at least two Arctic Terns was present, the remnant flock of around 50 Greater Scaup bobbed around offshore and various Great Northern Divers were dotted around. Such was a drastic contrast between a species that had already travelled thousands of miles from its wintering quarters in the southern hemisphere ( the terns ) and those which had not yet set off on their journeys northwards.
25th-27th April, 2010 inclusive.
A late decision to visit some areas farther north saw a rather miserable and cold journey on the 25th. As elsewhere, and at home, the full onslaught of the arrival of spring migrants hasn't yet occurred this far north , other than with a few obvious exceptions. My goal to have an intensive couple of days seeing birds like Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Osprey and Scottish Crossbill was fully realised , but only after a lot of hard work. I confess I wimped out of a trek in the high hills to see Ptarmigan given the amount of snow cover and , in all honesty, insufficient time. Crested Tits seem to be in short supply, or is it just that time of year (?), but several Scottish crossbill parties were seen.
A thoroughly enjoyable sojourn with memorable highlights being a Capercaillie male and two attendant females seen well, a female Capercaillie seen "gritting" at a roadside , which then flew to a nearby Scots Pine tree showing its wonderful tail and rump patterns off to full effect, a very robust and active lek of Black Grouse and a pair of Red-throated Diver in full summer plumage and full display only forty metres away. I'd come across them by pure accident and, by similar coincidence, they never saw me either! My condition, after crouching in the undergrowth for twenty minutes , was not dis-similar to that of the many London Marathon runners who would have been finishing their battle with discomfort around the same time!!
All too soon it was time to return home after a very pleasant, if somewhat tiring, couple of days. The extent to which the winter weather had extracted its toll in this part of Scotland was extremely evident in the number of snapped off trees and branches which had succumbed under the weight of snow. With temperatures having plummeted to minus 16 degrees this latter winter had been the worst within the last twenty years according to local people and photographs graphically illustrated the conditions. Set against all that the presence of a few Goldcrest and Wren, and relative abundant numbers of titmice ( other than Crested!! ) paid testament to the resilience of some of our wildlife.
A thoroughly enjoyable sojourn with memorable highlights being a Capercaillie male and two attendant females seen well, a female Capercaillie seen "gritting" at a roadside , which then flew to a nearby Scots Pine tree showing its wonderful tail and rump patterns off to full effect, a very robust and active lek of Black Grouse and a pair of Red-throated Diver in full summer plumage and full display only forty metres away. I'd come across them by pure accident and, by similar coincidence, they never saw me either! My condition, after crouching in the undergrowth for twenty minutes , was not dis-similar to that of the many London Marathon runners who would have been finishing their battle with discomfort around the same time!!
All too soon it was time to return home after a very pleasant, if somewhat tiring, couple of days. The extent to which the winter weather had extracted its toll in this part of Scotland was extremely evident in the number of snapped off trees and branches which had succumbed under the weight of snow. With temperatures having plummeted to minus 16 degrees this latter winter had been the worst within the last twenty years according to local people and photographs graphically illustrated the conditions. Set against all that the presence of a few Goldcrest and Wren, and relative abundant numbers of titmice ( other than Crested!! ) paid testament to the resilience of some of our wildlife.
24th April,2010.
A day devoted to moths , not birds.My reason for being in the Perth area was to attend the Scottish Moth Recorders Conference organized by Butterfly Conservation. An absorbing and rewarding day about which further details can be seen on the Islay Wildlife Blog site shortly.
Whilst not seeing terribly much of it in reality, the day appeared fine and bright and provided the opportunity to hear a Chiffchaff singing lustily within the grounds surrounding the Scottish Natural Heritage Centre at Battleby where the proceedings were held.
Whilst not seeing terribly much of it in reality, the day appeared fine and bright and provided the opportunity to hear a Chiffchaff singing lustily within the grounds surrounding the Scottish Natural Heritage Centre at Battleby where the proceedings were held.
23rd April, 2010.
An early ferry to the mainland in good weather , which then turned foul with rain across the east of Scotland. My intention was to visit the north bank of the Firth of Forth, haven to many wintering wildfowl. Whilst the visit was a short one I wasn't disappointed. Velvet Scoter were present in good numbers, showing off their white wing panels when in flight, and a single Slavonian Grebe in full summer plumage sailed past. Several small groups of Long-tailed Duck were present , the plumages of both sexes contrasting markedly with their appearance at the height of winter. I actually prefer the full winter plumage of both sexes, particularly that of the males. Compared to these the small number of birds we get on Islay seem to move off quite early each spring compared to these. A few Sandwich Terns were around and a small flock of Sand Martin fed low along the strand boundary.
Later, as I arrived in Perth, the weather improved but was still cool after the weather front had moved through.
Later, as I arrived in Perth, the weather improved but was still cool after the weather front had moved through.
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