Breeding Season Begins

Even on Islay last week, with wintery weather, the breeding season had begun with pairs of Ravens nest-building.

Upon returning home this week my regular Herons were well into breeding with several nests showing the signs and sounds of having young in them. This weeks gallery shows photos I took from this Heronry a couple of years ago when I filmed one nest extensively. It is a time consuming job with feeds sometimes five hours apart!

On the 4th March there was a big passage of Woodcock through Hopwood and in less than one hour I encountered four birds which is a March record. Any left after the month end may indicate breeding birds so we shall have to wait and see. On the same date I watched a pair of Long Tailed Tits building a nest that must have been started in February.(My earliest ever nest was one found on the 24th Feb).

In the garden 5 Bullfinches fed together on the 8th with at least four Reed Buntings now feeding daily. Will we have a return of last years Redpolls in the next couple of weeks?Click here