Isle of Islay - Birding Day 2

Technically Day 4, saw us heading to the Isle of Jura to try and find the only White-tailed Eagle pair on the surroundings of Islay. Before this though, I found a Whinchat outside our cottage early in the morning,  which was a welcome year tick...

We arrived at Port Askaig, to get the Ferry, and looked across to the Paps of Jura.

We looked across the Sound of Islay and over the Paps of Jura, to see if any raptors were soaring. We picked up 2 massive birds, which had to be White-tailed Eagles, as they soared distantly over the mountains. We pin-pointed their location, so we could look for them on the Island.

As the boat arrived to pick us up, we hopped on...

As we were on board, we saw Gannets, Kittiwakes and Shags surrounding the boat. Then, Dad and I spotted a pale morph Skua flying north at the same time! We're still not 100% sure of it's identity, but it was big bodied, seemed to have a visible collar and Dad thinks he saw spoons. I have had feedback from Twitter, and all of them say Arctic. However, showing other birders face to face with a book beside the picture think Pomarine! Personally, I think Pomarine too, but I would really like your help. If you think you know what specie it is, then let me know. Comment on this post on this blog, or DM me on Twitter to @MoysieBirder! Thanks. Anyway, here are the pictures...

There is only 1 road on Jura, and it comes to a dead end after a little while, so there was no circular route back to the ferry. We started off with a ringtail Hen Harrier, another Whinchat and a Dark Green Fritillary by the roadside...

We got a couple more ringtail Hen Harriers but couldn't find the White-tailed Eagles anywhere. We had to stop in though at the Isle of Jura Distillery, but I wasn't allowed any! Couldn't believe it! By the end of this trip it was about 15:00pm. 

When we got back onto Islay, we decided to go down to The Oa, the second RSPB reserve on the Island. We went on the circular route path taking us to the cliffs and to the American Monument.

Our target bird was Golden Eagle, as there is a pair here. We didn't see them though unfortunately, but we did see a pair of Chough and several Twite...

We also got a very close Raven...

And a Willow Warbler.

When we reached the American Monument, we noticed that there was a Goat having a snout around the point.

Approaching the car park, we came across a Willow Warbler, a Reed Bunting and a Wheatear all in the same shot. Nice!

End of Day 4 on Islay - 203!

Happy Birding!

What a start to the week!

On Easter Monday, Dad and I went to Kessingland to see the Ring Ouzels and the Dotterel. Unfortunately, the Dotterel moved on at 5:30am, so we just focused on the Rouzels. After finding the place through the help of locals (we didn't have a clue), we found the Ring Ouzels after a bit of a walk south of the Caravan Park towards the sluice. There were 3 males and 1 female. As usual though, the dog walkers didn't help, and all the birds were flushed and went and landed by the sluice. I had a detour round the area, and I found 3 Sedge Warblers and 3 Whitethroats, both welcome year ticks.

I then joined Dad, and the Ring Ouzels were showing really well, allowing for decent pictures (LOL)...

We also got a flyover Green Sandpiper, Wheatears and Linnets

Didn't see much else or go anywhere throughout the rest of the day so no need to report.

Needham Market Ringing

I went out with the local ringing team to a site in Needham Market near the sewage works this morning. We ringed a range of birds included Lesser and Common Whitethroat and Blackcap (no pictures), Wren, Treecreeper, Robins, Linnets, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Dunnocks and a Blackbird. Before I arrived, they had also ringed a Garden Warbler, female Bullfinch and a Reed Warbler. I saw the Garden warbler, and also heard a Nightingale, and saw a Swift over the sewage works.

At about 10am, I was looking across the river, when a black thrush flew high from right to left. My initial thoughts were Blackbird, but when I put my binoculars up to it, I was shocked, stunned and bewildered to see that it was a male Ring Ouzel. I shouted out RING OUZEL and it flew in a tall tree by Flordon Road. As I went to have a better look, it flew out of the tree, and onto a bramble mound north of the sewage works. I relocated, and got some great views, even if the pictures don't show that....

A superb patch find!!!

Happy Birding!

Isle Of Mull 2012 - Day 1

Our 3rd consecutive year on this wildlife spectacled, Isle of Mull. This place is literally a dream come true, especially in the south of the Island. Based on the Western Isles of Scotland, it gets its rarities, as well as its beautiful scenery, incredible. You don't need to be a bird or nature lover to come here, its just incredible! Anyway, enough of the persuading, lets got on with the actual holiday.

First trip on the first day was down to Grasspoint, and it was a great couple of hours to spend the day after getting off form the ferry crossing. Plenty of Auks were visible from the ferry, all that was missing was a Puffin. Guilemot, Black Guilemot, Razorbill and Rock Dove were all visible. Grasspoint is a bit isolated on the island in the south-east corner, so its a bit of a drive. on the way through Glen More mountain range, a pair of Golden Eagle were on the lookout. A Wheatear in Pennyghael was an intriguing site, but they definitely breed here. Also on the list were plenty of Hooded Crows (Hoodys), a brief Redstart, Stonechat, Willow Warbler in good numbers, Lesser Redpoll and Common Sandpiper. A great number of Short-tailed Voles bring back breeding Hen Harriers, and Short-eared Owls. Only Hen Harrier were seen today, but Shorties were seen most other days. Another nice sighting was a male Whinchat, which are also breeding here in good numbers. Back in Pennyghael, a male Cuckoo was singing from a fence post, and remained settled for a while, and allowed photographs to be taken. All three resident Pipits here were present at Grasspoint, and not surprisingly, Water Pipit is not seen here.

Wheatear in Pennyghael.

Golden Eagle at Glen More

TOTAL OF BIRD SPECIES FOR 2012 = 176