Northamptonshire Birding: Islay Birds Monday

Skylark

Grey Heron

Wren

Iceland Gull superimposed
against a Highland Cow and a
Rock Dove flying over!

Hello

Another full day on the island of Islay today, and although there was the odd rogue shower we enjoyed sunny if rather breezy conditions. We saw as a many as four different Iceland Gulls, all of them first years on our travels today but the high-point of the day was a pair of displaying Golden Eagles over the Mull of Oa, the male for a very protracted period of time. He was extremely energetic, performing rapid stoops with flexed wings and diving down at high speed towards the ground before hurtling back up again. Other birds in the same area included plenty of Ravens, some distant Chough and as many as fifty Twite feeding with Skylarks. The Fulmars were on their breeding ledges and wild goats were about in good numbers.

Earlier we saw two male Hen Harriers quartering the marshes next to the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve and Common Buzzards were seen throughout our travels. The usual species of geese were out in force and we stumbled across three Pale-bellied Brent Geese late in the afternoon. Roadside birds included large numbers of Hooded Crows and Ravens and the more interesting passerines were probably Grey Wagtail, Lesser Redpoll and Rock Pipit.

Regards

Neil M