Islay

We arrived on Islay a week late after re-arranging our accommodation and ferry. The crossing was still a bit rocky, just glad we got there. We were based in Bowmore and despite many reports of divers, grebes and ducks seen from the harbour we saw very little, just some Red-breasted Merganser, our kitchen window overlooked Loch Indaal, seeing plenty of Gulls, the odd Oystercatcher and some Red-breasted Merganser.

We travelled the island thoroughly and saw 63 species in the week, we looked in all the places that 'people' were saying they had seen things, but none of the rarities were found. (Cackling Goose and Green-winged Teal) Scoter and Slavonian Grebe of which there were almost daily sightings also eluded us. Eben the famous Otter at the Bunnahabain Distillery failed us, although we went a few times when the tides are allegedly most favourable.

Here's a few snaps of some of the things that dained to show themselves:
White-fronted Geese at Loch Gruinart,

 Barnacle Geese at Loch Gruinart,

 Stonechat,

 Two White-tailed Eagles at the Oa,

 Hooded Crow,

 Starlings,

 Ringed Plover at Loch Indaal,

 Greenshank at Loch Gruinart,

 Lapwing at Loch Gruinart,

 Little Egret at Loch Gruinart,

 Lapwings,

 Believe it or not that's a female Hen Harrier at Loch Gruinart,

 Chough at Ardnave Point,

 King of the Sheep,

 Rock Pipit at Loch Indaal,

 Red Deer on Jura,

 Great Northern Diver at Bunnahabain,

 Common Seal on its perch,

 Eider om Loch Indaal,

 Part of a flock of 30+ Chough at Ardnave,

 Whooper Swans on Loch Ardnave,

 Pintail at Loch Gruinart,

 Roe Deer at Loch Gruinart,

Scaup on Loch Indaal,

and Brown Hare at Loch Gruinart Hide Car Park

We still had a great time though, we can't all be on Shetland for the Tengmalm's Owl! Other birds of note without photos, were a group of Snipe on the rocks at Bruichladdich on Loch Indaal, a couple of Brent Geese seen near the same place a couple of days later, Sparrowhawk over our back garden in Bowmore, a White-tailed Eagle taking a Teal at Loch Gruinart (awesome) it all happened to quickly to get a picture or any video, a Peregrine trying the same the day after and failing! Black-guillemot in various places around the island, a Red-throated Diver off Jura.

We finished with a small pod of Common Dolphin from the ferry back to the mainland. All in all a great couple of weeks with 82 species seen in all.

A quick visit to North Wales and RSPB South Stack

Last weekend brought about the need to head to Rhyl for family reasons, so we tagged a couple of nights on the front, found ourselves a hotel deal in Llandudno and did a bit of birding in our one full day that we had.

It's a few years since we had been to South Stack and the great film of Chough on Springwatch whetted our appetite to see these marvelous birds again. So as the reports at South Stack were good we headed straight there last Friday morning. Now you may have seen in previous posts that I have been moaning about my camera following a mishap, so now it is in for repair. So the only photo I have is a dodgy couple from my phone;

These were possibly the best views we have ever had of Chough and no camera!!! But for the record we were actually over the moon. We had numerous sightings while we were there in a few different spots, but when one landed just 6 feet away we were gobsmacked.

We only saw one Puffin and that was on the water, there were plenty of Guillemots, Razorbills, Gulls and Kittiwakes around. We saw one Fulmar while walking along the cliff paths, plus Stonechat, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Oystecatcher, House Martin, Swallow and Skylark. Plus the usual common species.

After an ice cream purchased at the RSPB visitor centre, we drove along to RSPB Valley Wetlands, parking first at RAF Valley to watch the Hawks coming in and out, except they didn't. We had a bite to eat there before going to the reserve car park just for a short walk to the first view point. Nothing out of the ordinary was seen... Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada and Greylag Goose, plus Reed and Sedge Warbler.

We went to Bangor for a cuppa and sat near the pier, for a while, the only thing to add were a couple of Shelduck and Cormorant. After our cuppa we started back to Llandudno, calling in at RSPB Conwy, even though the reserve and car park was now closed. We still had a wander for an hour, but it was very quiet, although we did add Heron and Lapwing to the days total.

A lovely day out ion glorious weather

Pembrokeshire and a Night on Skomer

Another catch up post...
Over the Bank Holiday Weekend we headed down to Pembrokeshire and stayed a few nights before heading onto Skomer to spend the night, so I will start with our days out first. Day 1 we decided to do the circular walk at Stackpole along the coastal path to Bosherston and then inland around the lakes back to the car.
There were plenty of Pipits about:

with both Rock and Meadow, Wheatear and Stonechat on the meadows at the cliff tops. Fulmar were seen patrolling the cliffs as they do, along with Lesser & Great Black Backed Gull and Herring Gull of course. But very few photo opportunities until this Heron posed on the lakes down near Bosherston:

We met Jo & Jimmy at Bosherton before heading back, with just this Buzzard giving one last chance to use the camera:

Next day we went for another coastal walk, this time from Marloe Marshes to Martin Haven and back stopping at the hide at the Marshes on the way back to avoid the rain!
Of note were Wheatears,

 These Swallows surely ready to fledge,

 A Dunnock posed

 and this Kestrel put on a little show

So next day up early and off to Skomer taking all our food and bedding with us. As we boarded the boat the heavens opened and by the time we had crossed, unloaded our stuff, loaded the departing groups stuff, climbed the 85 steps, then trekked to the accommodation we were soaked, despite our waterproofs! After settling in we decide to brave the rain and head out to the hide in the centre of the island, not much to see as the rain was relentless and the wind had got up so it was just sweeping in in sheets, not great for viewing birds or photography, but here are a couple from the hide:

We gave up and headed back to the digs and decided to have a relax until the weather cleared, which it eventually did and lo and behold the sun came out, so off we set for a walk......
The rabbits were now out soaking up the sun whilst it lasted:

Now you may (or may not!) be thinking why go to Skomer and spend a night in late August when all the breeding seabirds have long gone, well was it for the Oystercatchers?

or the Rock Pipits?

or the Whitethroats?

or the Stonechats?

or even the superb Choughs?

or even Porpoises?

No it was what we got up to at night!! Let me explain.......
Skomer holds the largest population of Manx Shearwaters in the world, approximately 600,000, but being poorly designed for a life on land the adults spend all day out at sea and only come back in the dark, to feed their young, when they are safe from the predatory Gulls. The chicks are safe in their burrows so again no sign during the day. So after dinner and in the dark (and rain again!) we set off to meet up with the wardens and researchers. We had a couple of great talks by two PhD students, who are researching the Shearwaters after which we went out, (thankfully the rain had stopped) with our torches covered in red tape so as not to alarm the birds. As regards photography it was pitch black, but we were allowed one flash photograph between us per bird that we found, so here are a couple of mine:

I have to add whilst walking around we have never seen so many toads in one place on our lives, they didn't mind having a photo taken!

Next morning it was up early for the boat back, this is a shot from the boat as we left with the next group making their way up from the jetty:

Finally this part of Pembrokeshire isn't just about the wildlife, the scenery is spectacular too: