TIREE 7TH-9TH SEPTEMBER 2011

An exciting few days on Tiree although I can't help feeling this is just the beginning of yet another amazing autumn for the island. Many thanks to John Bowler for the following update.

A 2-hr seawatch off Aird in the morning of the 7th produced highlights of 1 juv Sabine’s Gull, 1 Leach’s Petrel and 5 Sooty Shearwaters, as well as 790 Manx Shearwaters, 510 Gannets, 135 Fulmars, 8 Bonxies and 3 Common Scoters. In the afternoon, Mark Fanshawe found another juv Sabine’s Gull at Traigh nan Gilean.
Best bird of the 8th was the Nightingale at Vaul first seen on the 3rd, and a long-dead 10m long Sperm Whale was discovered at Traigh nan Gilean. The 9th saw large arrivals of Golden Plovers and Snipe as well as a confiding juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on a flooded field at Balinoe.

Sabine's Gull by Mark Fanshawe

Nightingale by Mark Fanshawe

Pectoral Sandpiper by John Bowler

Pectoral Sandpiper by John Bowler

7TH SEPTEMBER STUNNING SEA-WATCHING OFF COLL

With all these winds I decided to step up the seawatching today. I tried an hour off Cliad early afternoon with some success. An adult Pomarine Skua was the highlight but there were also five Arctic Skuas harrassing a migrating flock of 50+ "Commic" Terns.
This evening was much more rewarding. The first hour (1630-1730) saw two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas amongst a flock of over 300 Kittiwakes, Gannets moving SW at 15 birds per minute, Manx Shearwaters moving NE at 20 birds per minute and Fulmars at 10 birds per minute. Amongst the Manxies were 6 Sooty Shearwaters and one Balearic Shearwater. The second hour was even better with totals of 7 Leach's Petrels, 4 Storm Petrels, 1100 Fulmars, 600+ Gannets, 300+ Kittiwakes, 4000 Manx Shearwaters, 22 Sooties, another Balearic, a probable Great Shearwater, 11 Arctic Skuas and 34 Bonxies.
In summary then, the two hour session from 1630-1830 produced estimates of 1500 Gannets, 800 Kittiwakes, 1700 Fulmars, 5200 Manx Shearwaters, 28 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 probable Great Shearwater, 7 Leach's Petrels, 4 Storm Petrels, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 11 Arctic Skuas and 34 Bonxies.

SW GALES AND SEAWATCHING 6TH SEPTEMBER

Tried two seawatches this afternoon in SW 4-5 winds, firstly off Arinagour where the highlights of an hour were 6 Sooty Shearwaters amongst 36 Manxies and then off Cliad where the only birds of significance were 2 Storm Petrels. There was however a Pectoral Sandpiper in a huddle with 2 Curlews and a Barwit on the golf course there sheltering from the storm.

 

Meanwhile, over on Tiree the Nightingale was still present on 5th and John Bowler had two successful seawatches off Aird with highlights being 12 Leach’s Petrels, 9 Sooties, 10 Arctic Skuas and 21 Bonxies on the evening of 6th and a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, 1 Leach’s Petrel & 5 Sooty Shearwaters on the morning of 7th. Many thanks to John Bowler for the Tiree update.

WILDLIFE TOURS 4TH-5TH SEPTEMBER

A couple of really good tours this last few days. Bird highlight yesterday was a juvenile Little Gull off Cliad. Seven Bar-tailed Godwits flew in off the sea and there were good numbers of Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstones. Bumblebees there included a Great Yellow and numerous Red-shanked and Moss Carders. Botanical highlights were a single Irish Ladies Tresses and still thousands of Grass of Parnassus in bloom. A superb hunting Hen Harrier brought the tour to a nice end as it harried a flock of 200+ Twite.

Highlights of today's tours were Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper amongst the throngs of Sanderling and Dunlin at Crossapol. Great views of Otter and Grey & Common Seals were had there and a female Hen Harrier hunted the Twite flocks at Breacacha. A superb Osprey slowly drifted south over the Roadside Lochs.

Osprey

AUTUMN MIGRATION STARTING TO PICK UP

Following on from the long staying Hoopoe at Arnabost on Coll (22nd-30th August), reasonable numbers of Sooty Shearwaters and Pomarine Skuas and some good wader passage including Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot, the autumn is now beginning to really get going.
Reports from Tiree today included a Nightingale at Vaul and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Loch a' Phuill. What next? Many thanks to John Bowler for the Tiree update.
These two islands have a great record in autumn and Coll Of The Wild is now taking bookings for 5-day all-inclusive guided birding holidays in September and October. 

 

Nightingale (Keith Gillon)

OTTER & HOOPOE IN LATE AUGUST ON COLL!!!!

August 26th couldn't be described as a 'normal day' on Coll. The species at Crossapol were quite the usual mix - migrant Sanderlings along the shore, Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, a few dozen Gannets fishing and a couple of Basking Sharks. The highlight was watching an Otter at 100m for an hour feeding on a crab, diving and fishing, then cavorting with a couple of young bull Grey Seals. Awesome views! After dinner we popped rounnd to Arnabost and had reasonable views of the Hoopoe that has been frequenting Skerray since the 22nd. Otter and Hoopoe, not the usual species combination for a late summer trip out on the Hebrides.

MORE HOOPOE PHOTOS FROM 26TH AUGUST

The Hoopoe at Arnabost, Isle of Coll first seen on 22nd August was still present this morning and showing very well. Here are some of Jo Scott's photos taken in her garden at 0900 this morning.

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

HOOPOE ON COLL, 22ND AUGUST

Coll's third record of Hoopoe Upupa epops was found in the morning of 22nd August in the Arnabost area. Originally seen by Colin & Jo Scott in their garden at Skerray, it was later seen by Fay Anderson in her garden at Crannaig  and then at Druim Dearg. Both previous records have been in spring, in 1976 and then 2005.

AWESOME HALF-DAY TOUR 17TH AUGUST

Had a superb half-day tour today with my customers John & Rita Gray from Perth. We began at Cliad where there was a single Basking Shark offshore. The machair was alive with Red-shanked & Moss Carder Bees, a superb queen Garden Bumblebee (look at the length of that tongue in the photo below!) and a stunning Great Yellow Bumblebee. A nice range of plants included Frog Orchid, Devil's-bit Scabious, Fairy Flax, Field Gentian, Grass of Parnassus & Red Bartsia.

Great Yellow Bumblebee

Garden Bumblebee

Next stop was Grishipol where we saw seven Irish Ladies Tresses and a fabulous Brown Hare. We checked the machair at Hogh where we saw many more bumblebees including another Great Yellow amongst a carpet of Red Clover, Knapweed and Wild Carrot.

Brown Hare

Photographing Great Yellow Bumblebee

Offshore there were another five Basking Sharks whilst the drive through the Hogh dunes included Pyramidal Orchids and a couple of cracking Highland Darters. We found a large clump of the pale striatum form of Bloody Crane's-bill alongside the normal purple form and saw numerous newly fledged Wheatears.

Bloody Crane's-bill striatum

Highland Darter

Next stop was Crossapol where we drove along the 1.5 miles of golden beach with the azure sea lapping ashore. A group of Sanderling and Ringed Plovers were seen and then numerous Dunlin, more Ringed Plovers, a juvenile Knot and a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit. Offshore were Eiders, Mergansers, several Common Seals with new pups and another 5-6 Basking Sharks. The strandline was covered with several species of orache, Prickly Saltwort, Sea Rocket, Sea Mayweed, Celery-leaved Buttercup, Sea Sandwort and Sea Beet.



Bar-tailed Godwit



Near the airport a newly cut field held a large mixed flock of Curlew, Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwits, a Buzzard soared overhead, Swallows and a Sand Martin feasted and the uncut field opposite secreted a feeding flock of 150+ Twite.

MID-AUGUST ON THE MACHAIR

The weather has been very odd this last few days with periods of glorious sunshine interspersed with torrential rain and strong wind. Despite the weather, wildlife watching has as ever been of great interest. The west end Hen Harriers have been seen daily, with both adults and all three fledged youngsters (1m, 2f) showing really well as they hunt the machair and the soon to be cut meadows. In fact, I really cannot remember the last day that I didn't see Hen Harrier - probably way back in late May at the start of the breeding season.

Eriskay Pony in sunlight

Cropped machair - Triticale

Red-shanked Carder

I've spent a lot of time bee-watching over the last day or two now that the red clover and knapweed are in full bloom. There has only been one sighting of Great Yellow Bumblebee but the machair has been absolutely alive with many hundreds of Red-shanked Carders. Despite its very restricted UK range it is undoubtedly the most abundant bumblebee on Coll. Approximately 20% of the individuals just now are males.

male Red-shanked Carder

Moss Carder

Northern White-tailed

Accompanying the numerous ruderarius have been many Moss Carders, and smaller numbers of Northern White-tailed, Heath and Barbut's Cuckoo Bee.




The machair still looks stunning with numerous wildflowers including swathes of clover and knapweed, as well as banks of Harebells and the dainty Grass of Parnassus.

Grass of Parnassus

Harebell



Red Clover and Moss Carder Bee



MACHAIR FORAY 6TH AUGUST 2011

I spent an excellent couple of hours this afternoon on the machair at Cliad and Grishipol in lovely sunshine. Surprisingly, there were no Basking Sharks offshore but what was available on land more than made up for it. The main target was Great Yellow Bumblebee, but there was just one brief sighting of a queen. The red clover and knapweed was however covered in Red-shanked & Moss Carder bees, as well as numerous Heath Bumblebees and quite a lot of Northern Colletes.  

Heath Bumblebee Bombus jonellus

Heath Bumblebee Bombus jonellus

Moss Carder Bombus muscorum

Red-shanked Carder Bombus ruderarius

It was interesting botanically too, with Grass of Parnassus all over the machair & adjacent neutral grassland, and Frog Orchids & Field Gentians aplenty.

Grass of Parnassus

Field Gentian





I then spent some time searching another known location for Irish Ladies Tresses, eventually finding another four flowering plants - it looks like it could be a good year for this species on Coll.  

Irish Ladies Tresses

A WHALE, 7 SHARKS & RARE ORCHIDS

Saw 7 Basking Sharks and a Minke Whale this afternoon off Crossapol, Coll. Yesterday, I spent some time checking known sites for Irish Ladies Tresses, finding nine flowering plants at two locations. I also found loads of a lovely delicate blue species of Eyebright, had great views of an immature male Hen Harrier, and watched an adult Red-throated Diver feeding a fully grown chick.

Irish Ladies Tresses

Euphrasia spp.

Hen Harrier

IRISH LADY'S TRESSES

Irish Lady's Tresses is widespread and relatively frequent in North America. In Europe, the species is confined to the western fringes of Britain and Ireland, being restricted to a dozen sites in the west of Scotland primarily on the Hebridean Islands, a single location in Devon, and in the north-eastern and western counties of Ireland. The species is listed by the IUCN Orchid specialist Group as having ‘critically low populations’ in Europe.

On Coll it has been noted at approximately thirty sites, a significant proportion of the British total, although numbers and indeed presence of flowering plants varies from year to year.

There are now flowering plants at at least two of the sites on Coll that I regularly take my Day Tours to. If you want to see this species in Britain this may provide one of your best opportunities.

Irish Lady's Tresses on Coll

BASKING IN THEIR GLORY

A superb 2.5 hour Wildlife Tour this evening included views of Corncrake, lots of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters, a plethora of orchids, a breaching Minke Whale and a juvenile Cuckoo being fed by a Twite at the side of the road. But it was Basking Sharks that stole the show, with 21 off Cliad, 1 from Hogh and a further 10 at Crossapol. Awesome views of some huge 8m long males and family parties.

Basking Shark at Crossapol



Basking Shark at Crossapol



Basking Sharks at Crossapol



juvenile Cuckoo

1ST-3RD JULY

It's been a busy few days for wildlife tours and there have been some superb sightings. Highlights have been 20+ Basking Sharks, Grey & Common Seals, Otter, Corncrake, Red-throated Diver, Hen Harrier, breeding Shags and Fulmars,  a host of machair wildflowers and an impossible number and variety of orchids.

Basking Shark

Hen Harrier







Best bits of an evening session at Cliad included a breaching Minke Whale, Basking Shark, Moss Carder and Red-shanked Carder Bees, a pair of beautiful Hebridean x Early Marsh coccinea hybrids and the first Grass of Parnassus of the summer.

Shag on nest

Hebridean x Early Marsh coccinea hybrids

30TH JUNE ORCHIDS EVERYWHERE

Went on a lovely walk this afternoon looking at the bounty of orchids on the RSPB reserve near Feall. Orchids included Heath Spotted, Common Spotted, Hebridean Spotted, Early Marsh subspecies incarnata and coccinea, Heath Fragrant, Lesser Butterfly, Frog, Pyramidal, and Common Twayblade.

Common Spotted

Hebridean Spotted

Lesser Butterfly

Frog

Common Twayblade

In addition there were a number of hybrids including this superb Heath x Common Spotted. Masses of Kidney Vetch covered the machair along with Frog and Hebridean Spotted Orchids, Wild Thyme and Fairy Flax.

Heath x Common Spotted

Kidney Vetch

The wetter areas had both incarnata and coccinea subspecies of Early Marsh Orchid and hundreds of Common Blue Damselflies, in addition to Marsh Cinquefoil and Ragged Robin in profusion.

Early Marsh incarnata

Common Blue Damselfly