February 25, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Last week on Islay was highlighted with a mid-air conflict between a Buzzard and an adult Sea Eagle. The Eagle had strayed into the breeding territory of the Buzzard and despite being only a third the size of the Eagle it fearlessly attacked and drove it off!
The forest where the above encounter took place had a heavy crop of cones and Crossbills were breeding with at least one fledged young being seen. Some photos were taken of the Crossbills eating lichen on trees and a wall – see gallery.
During our last week we also came across Red Deer eating seaweed and some time was spent baiting a pair of Buzzards with roadside casualties and photos of both birds were obtained. click here
February 18, 2018 at 9:32 pm
A dramatic week on Islay with heavy snow, gales, rain and one sunny day! It is winter of course and both we and the wildlife have to put up with it. On the plus side it does lead to dramatic photos so enjoy this weeks gallery.Click here
February 10, 2018 at 9:35 pm
On a superb sunny day I visited my local Heronry to find six birds were present and had already re-occupied their two pine trees. Although there was much vocalisation no nest-building was seen during my one hour of observations. I was some distance from the two pines and the photos in this weeks gallery are no more than record shots.click here.
The harsh weather during the last few weeks has resulted in some good local records – the Lapwings on the roof of the industrial estate peaked at a new record of five hundred. On the 7th Feb there were five Woodcock in Hopwood woods which is my second highest count in fifty years.
February 3, 2018 at 4:32 pm
This weeks photo is of a first winter Glaucous Gull trying to eat a black piece of plastic. It is a bird of the Arctic but was filmed at Hollingworth Lake only three days ago and is still there today. I find it sad that a bird from the pristine environment of the Arctic can be found amongst the myriad of water-birds eating whatever it can find around the lake edge even if it is plastic. Within an hour it had found an apple core which, thankfully, will not do it as much harm as the plastic. More photos in the gallery.click here
The big event of the garden this week has been a record count of fourteen Long Tailed Tits. Clearly they have survived the winter so far and should commence breeding in five weeks time! Maybe in your garden?
