Isle of Islay - Birding Days 3 and 4

Birding Day 3!

These 2 days are days where we didn't see much, so I have merged them together to make one post. Anyway, enough of the waffling, let me tell you about our days!

On the 5th, we started off at Duich Lots, a place not far from where we stayed. We were looking for a reported Red Grouse but we didn't see that. We did see a ringtail Hen Harrier though which was nice...

For the rest of the day we headed round to the other side of the Island around Port Charlotte area. It was a miserable day in terms of weather so the only other birds of note during this day was a Peregrine and a couple of Chough which is still better than nothing.

Birding Day 4

Birding Day 4 was a lot more successful than the previous day in terms of birds and whether, so here goes...

We went down to Laggan Point in the morning which is a lovely rocky area good for sea birds...

 We got some cracking Black Guillemots, including a close one on a rock!

We also got a nice family of Ringed Plover here too...

We also got a Shag...

And a very obliging Dunlin...

On the way out the fields were filled with Sand Martins, and a few Hooded Crows...

In the afternoon, we headed out to Port Ellen, Ardbeg and Claggain Bay. We came across a fantastic sight which was a pair of Golden Eagles flying really close to the road. How cool is that!

We got to Claggain Bay and found a summer plumaged Red-throated Diver, Small Copper and 4 Eider. Great stuff!

2014 Year List Total - 205

Happy Birding!

Spring is here!

Yesterday, Dad and I went to Minsmere, in hope of some spring migrants. The day started off very well with our 2nd ever Blackcap singing and showing well in our garden.

We got to Minsmere, and the first birds were about 15 Sand Martins on the sand banks by the visitor center...

We then got a singing Willow Warbler outside North Hide which was a very early spring migrant for me. In North Hide, we got Avocet, Ruff and Common Snipe.

We saw a Stone-curlew in the usual place, but there was a heat haze and it wasn't moving, so not very exciting to watch. Out to sea, we got about 30 Red-throated Divers, which was a nice surprise, as we thought they would have gone by now. In East Hide, we got 3 Mediterranean Gull, Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Ruff, Dunlin, Turnstone, Avocet, 3+ Caspian Gull, Pintail but no Spotted Redshank nor Grey Plover (as the were both reported)...

We then went up to South Levels, but didn't see the reported Short-eared Owl nor the Spoonbill. We carried on round the scrape, and didn't see Swallow nor House Martin (as the they were both reported too). We then got a very showy Cetti's Warbler outside South Hide.

We then went to Island Mere. But on the way, we got a few Adder in their usual place...

And a very showy Robin...

We got a cracking Jack Snipe by the hide, but not much else.

Dads

 Mine

In Bittern hide, we got a brief Bittern and Bearded Tit. Could have seen a lot more, but an enjoyable spring walk around the reserve.

Happy Birding!