Autumn exodus underway. 11.8.2012.

I'd resolved to cover quite a large local area, call in at the coast and spend as much time as was needed during what promised to be another gorgeous day. So, loaded with all the necessary bits and pieces, I launched out with the sun beginning to come through  and supplying a little warmth despite a fairly brisk breeze. In reality I walked less than three miles, spent nearly four hours in the process, never got to the coast and enjoyed every minute of it.

As they say here in Scotland, the place was hooching with birds!!

Along any road, track or ditchline there seemed to be birds. Lesser Redpolls and Goldfinches buzzed around frenetically and literally dived into clumps of vegetation or on to clumps of thistles, feeding for a short while before exploding upwards , flying around in huge excitement  before returning closeby. Odd Willow Warblers flicked around in isolated bushes and what must surely have been a juvenile Grasshopper Warbler came up through dense vegetation, showed briefly and then dived back into the depths of its cover again. Whinchats were widespread, indeed more than I've seen throughout the whole summer! Whilst some adults were around, the majority involved young birds, which was quite nice to note for a species about which population concerns are so readily expressed. Likewise their close relatives, Stonechats , joined in the fun, doubtless being local birds, with loose parties now containing birds that can be aged as being from either an earlier or of a more recent  brood. This upsurge of energy and collective activity appeared to draw in other birds too. Reed Bunting, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipits, whilst a family group of Swallows swirled around overhead. Great stuff and slightly reminiscent of mornings spent in rainforest habitat when you realise you've only walked 100 m in an hour!!! Strangely enough three species I'd anticipated appearing never did!
Linnets were entirely absent and haven't been at all common this summer in many places. I'd quite expected to pick up both Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat too, both of whose numbers seemed quite good earlier in the season but then noticeably dwindled.  The occasion also provided confirmation of a late Northern Wheatear nest I'd suspected , but couldn't pin down. Both adults and five youngsters foraged and played around a small, isolated rock buttress, with an obvious entrance below its bulk, in quite the opposite direction to where I'd looked previously!!!. Odd ones of the youngsters had small bits of down on them which paid testimony to their recent fledging. First broods were poor and I suspect their appearance coincided with one of the poor periods of weather we experienced, which, for the same reason, caused the young Swallows in my barn to starve and perish. Over the past few days we've had relatively still days and open skies at night , both sets of conditions allowing birds on the move to make progress with little interference. Whilst today's weather was fine, the blustery wind  perhaps prompted a pause in the progression of birds on the move.

As if to endorse the experience , and later in the day at home, both juvenile Dunnock and Robin were in the garden. The former are present nearby and occasional individuals are seen , but Robins are very much a species of winter with Continental types predominating. Doubtless both these were juveniles dispersing from relatively nearby areas and undertaking slightly less ambitious journeys!

Bowland Eagle Owls, 2012.

Following on from the brief announcement earlier today the full text of the report presented on the World Owl Trust web site is set out below. Tony Warburton, Hon. President of the Trust requested that I put out the details to give the news as wide a readership as possible. Whilst I know there are friends and colleagues who are more sceptical about the presence of this species in the UK, and whose views I sincerely respect, the fact of the matter is that the species has successfully bred in Bowland again this season, which I personally feel, along with many others, is a cause for celebration.

BOWLAND EAGLE OWLS, 2012.

Following the failure of the first nesting attempt by Bowland's Eagle Owls ( their egg(s) were allegedly smashed following deliberate disturbance by humans on the weekend of 24/25th March ) we are delighted to announce the successful fledging of two owlets on the United Utilities Estate in 2012.

Although what was believed to be the usual resident pair were present in their territory at the beginning of the year we became concerned by the lack of calling or courtship behaviour after 6th January. However, we put this down to the horrendous weather during that month, plus the disturbance effect of a Pheasant shoot on the 1st February, which might well have caused the pair to move site for a while as this species is highly sensitive to disturbance at their breeding sites early in the season.

To our relief, on 3rd February, the pair was back at the regular site and for the rest of the month their behaviour became more familiar, strongly suggesting that egg laying was imminent. Alas, it was not to be, the last sighting of the old female being noted on the 26th February. By 2nd March it had become obvious that something had gone wrong, as all courtship and calling had ceased and only the male was present around his favourite song post. Sadly we have to report that once again the cause of the female's disappearance has to be placed firmly at the door of humans, for we found four apparent nesting scrapes in the area, which along with their appearance and certain incriminating evidence, which I'm afraid we must refrain from disclosing at this stage, strongly suggest they were man made.

On 8th March the male was found calling at a new site and , on 11th March, he was accompanied by what was easily recognizable as a new female by her exceptionally large size and dark russet brown colouration. She was found to be incubating a single egg and from then on wasn't disturbed.

All was well on 23th March but, unfortunately, this was not to last. On Sunday, 25th March it was reported to the RSPB Bowland Officer, Jude Lane, that two young men had called at a nearby farm ( why would they do this?)  to report that they had just disturbed an adult Eagle Owl and had discovered a nest containing one smashed egg from which the yolk was "still wet, having sunk into the material of the nest scrape " (sic). They seemed oblivious to the fact that, if this was the case, it was probably their own disturbance which had almost certainly resulted in her smashing the egg as she hastily departed the scene! They later reported, in an anonymously written letter sent to Mrs Chrissie Harper, that they had been searching for nesting Eagle Owls for some days before finally locating and flushing the incubating female from her nest. They had apparently collected and sent to Mrs Harper a fragment of eggshell ( presumably leaving the main eggshell remains in the scrape? ) plus what they described as " an unusually thick matted aggregation of Eagle Owl feathers, many of them soiled" for analysis. They theorised that, since the feathers had not been found within the nest scrape itself, or at a nest site, there was a suggestion that one of the adults may have been killed, then removed. However, a big question mark hangs over the description of events. having been notified of the men's report on 26th March Jude lane requested Mick Demain, the seasonal warden, to investigate the site to see if he could find any evidence of what might have occurred. Mick found the nest scrape to be empty, as reported, but the nest itself to be dry with no sign of shell fragments or Eagle Owl feathers, though a few wisps of dry down clung to the nest's interior. In his opinion what had occurred was simply a straightforward egg theft. While we have our suspicions regarding the motive for this, we cannot at this stage prove our theory, so reluctantly it will have to remain as conjecture for the time being. Frankly we were appalled at this set back and assumed that this was the end of the Eagle Owl story for 2012 especially when visits throughout the following days failed to locate any sign of the pair. It was therefore with a great sense of relief that on 30th March the new dark female and a calling male ( probably the usual breeder ) were relocated at a new site, which for obvious reasons we do not intend to disclose.

Because we were anxious not to cause the pair any further disturbance which would cause this marvellous area to be deserted completely, it was not until 19th May that we were able to confirm that the birds had continued breeding despite the trauma of losing their first egg(s). On that date a lone owlet was found at the estimated age of c.3-4 weeks old, strongly suggesting this was the product of a replacement or continuation clutch ( not unknown in this species). Given the unfortunate events leading up to this discovery we trust everyone will understand our decision not to report the success until the owlet had fledged successfully and was to the best of our ability out of danger from undue disturbance. We are glad we took this precaution for there is even better news to relate. On 3rd August it was discovered that in fact two owlets had fledged successfully, the second one having gone un-noticed until now owing to the difficult terrain and particularly dense vegetation cover which is so prevalent this year. This means that since the first successful breeding in 2007, no less than 15 Eagle Owlets  have fledged successfully on the United Utilities Estate, as follows;

2007 (3), 2008 (2), 2009 (1 ), 2010 (3 ), 2011 ( 4 ) and 2012 (2 ).

Most have been BTO ringed.

The World Owl Trust would like to place on record our appreciation of the landowners, United Utilities, the RSPB and its Area Managers and seasonal wardens ( Jude Lane and Mick Demain in 2012 ), Natural England, and , in particular, the two RSPB Voluntary Fieldworkers, Bill Hesketh and Bill Murphy. These two remarkable men ( both in their seventies ) are often on site well before pre-dawn and long into the night, frequently in seriously severe weather conditions which would deter much younger men. Without their dedication and vigilance we have little doubt that the Eagle Owl story in Bowland would be very different.

Written by Tony Warburton, MBE, Hon. President World Owl Trust and based on notes and other summarized information compiled by  Bill Hesketh.

Eagle Owls successful in Bowland! Stop Press!!

Well, despite all the disappointments, shameful politics and attempts to frustrate the breeding of Eagle Owls in Bowland this season, it's pleasing to report that a pair have actually been successful and have raised two young.

An announcement made by friend and colleague, Tony Warburton, MBE , on the World Owl Trust's web site  ( see www.owls.org , go to Reports and download the PDF file ) provides all the details and will hopefully be replicated in full on this site shortly.

In Bowland  2012 has been a season with endless frustrations and disappointments, clear opposition to the presence of the owls by some and their presence used as an excuse for wholly un-necessary remarks by others about the constituent bodies, and the workers involved. Truth will out and the news will be a cause for celebration by many.

Not quite used to it all! 23.7.2012.

Monday morning emerged fine, sunny and warm!! Distant visibility was a little obscured by haze, plus a blustery breeze was noticeable over open areas but, all in all, what a difference and certainly not the air temperatures met with very often on Islay!!  Anticipation of what to expect on the early morning walk was high and didn't disappoint.  The usual route was sufficiently enticing, embracing a passage alongside woodland, along an enclosed country lane and paths besides open farmland, some parts with cereal yet to be harvested, other areas already cropped, and always carrying the potential to provide a good list of common birds.

Odd Yellowhammers were still in song and a couple of Common Whitethroat continued to advertise their territories.  Bullfinch, Treecreeper , Tree Sparrow, parties of titmice, young Willow Warblers and various young thrush species all appeared  at various points coupled with individuals drawn from a wide list of expected species. All in all simply solid , routine birding, but nice and , above all else, warm!!  Positively Mediterranean compared to my usual experience arising from the eastern edge of the Atlantic seaboard !

Leaving the bad weather behind? 22.7.2012.

Seeing large arrows on TV weather maps when you intend travelling by ferry is never very encouraging!! Such was the scenario that was indicated for later on Sunday with the worry that the system might develop slightly earlier! Whilst it was grey and a bit breezy, the sea was little more than choppy first thing in the morning so the the imminent problem could be ignored. As we approached the mainland it became increasingly misty combined with low cloud. Some sectors of the sea journey are always more productive for birds than others , but today provided a fairly uniform picture with very little being in evidence, impaired still further by the poor visibility. A few auks, odd gulls , but that was it!

Birds then became low down on the day's agenda as poor weather locked in, news of a road closure due to an accident and, finally, to crown the conditions overall, it started raining , quite heavily at times, which continued all the way through to Inverness. Everything seemed to be in reverse as wind conditions deteriorated as the journey progressed. Just my luck, or so it seemed, to be caught in a front accompanying my journey direction,but there it was!! A further road accident and delay, and mist redolent of a November day all added to the monotony and absence of anything remotely associated with wildlife. Finally, arriving all of two hours later than anticipated, the wind had dropped, the rain stopped and the mist disappeared other than a layer over the northern hills.  Hopefully all was now left behind for the next few days at least?

A late walk out with the dogs through adjacent woods proved to be nice and fresh, mercifully midge free but necessarily quiet due to the hour. A relaxing end to a poor day, somewhat destroyed by further bad news that a good birding colleague on several past foreign trips had nigh on lost his sight. Life can be a cruel process at times!!  

Perfect ending to a dismal day! 18.7.2012.

The day was wretched, almost from end to end. Rain, mist, persistent dampness even in clearer periods! All in all, a rank and dismal day! But never give up hope when it comes to natural history as there's always something around the corner that provides an uplift!

Today that event came in the form of a wholly unexpected  E-mail from Anne Reid of Dundee Naturalists reporting the finding of a couple of Forester moths on Islay! This species provokes a deal of interest as nowhere is it common nowadays, but, if you're lucky enough to encounter it, its spectacular colour shining in the sunlight is really something to behold.  A look at the recently published "Provisional Atlas of the UK's Larger Moths" ( Butterfly Conservation )  shows the map relating to the Forester (  Adscita statices  ) on Page 10  showing that it's widely distributed in England and Wales, but with far too many records relating to the pre-2000 period. Sadly agricultural intensification has meant that many colonies have been lost. In Scotland its distribution creeps in to the eastern part of the Solway and it is shown as being present in Argyll.

Now this is where things get interesting!!  Given its isolated presence this far north, and references to its occurrence on Jura, I've attempted to trace records within what is my Butterfly Conservation representative's " baliwick" of Islay, Jura and Colonsay.  Hard work for no return at the beginning, but then things began to change. A couple of records arose, with photographs, from Jura, but whose specific locations couldn't be determined. At least these indicated all was not lost.  Cold searching of areas on Jura have, so far, produced nothing, but I'm convinced they will.

More surprisingly then came a report from Islay in 2011, and another one in the same year not too far away from the same location. Now if you look at the above mentioned Atlas you'll notice no records have ever been reported from Islay itself so this was good news indeed. Further sessions of treading the sod on Jura have again not produced a thing this season ( it's only a matter of time and Jura is a big wilderness!! ). And then, the surprise E-mail!!

Anne Reid's sister, Janet , and her husband, Roger, had been on holiday to Islay and come across a couple of Forester moths, but not only that, they'd gained good photographs too, which they've kindly allowed me to reproduce. And would you believe it, their surname is Forster!!

Now amidst all this good news there is a further irony. All the Islay records so far have come from the Rinns on the western side of the island. Now guess where I live and which areas I repeatedly pass by when setting out to Jura, enjoying routine birdwatching, going for shopping and so on? Yes, you have it !!  But let's not labour the point, but take heart that,  at the appropriate time, there was a presence available to ensure the record wasn't lost!! I now have the specific locations and can commence to cold search in ever increasing circles to try and locate any other colonies. But, on this occasion , many thanks to Anne, Janet and Roger for your help. And should anybody reading this have hitherto undisclosed records lurking in notebooks, photographic files or whatever , please get in touch (jsa@ornquest.plus.com ) .  The search goes on and will do so for some time yet!!

Tuesday, 17th July, 2012.

Finally, some time has emerged to commence "Blogging" again after a hectic period dominated by visits to the mainland, a virus ( affecting me, not my computer! ), family visit, setting up an office, and routine business taking up much more time than it ought to have done!!  Having gained the light and departed the tunnel hopefully things are back to normal!!

Taking advantage of the calm conditions I covered Outer Loch Indaal in the morning before the rain and mist descended on us all!  I'm interested in the use made of the area at different times of year and, at other times, it being almost devoid of birds. At no time is it ever heaving with birdlife but has an interesting assemblage overall nonetheless. At this time of year it's very quiet with a few auks ( Razorbill and Guillemot ) in evidence, odd Eider but not much else compared with the Inner Loch.  Auk numbers will increase as adults bring their young into quieter waters to feed , even numbers of Manx Shearwater can be seen occasionally feeding in the wider mouth of the loch's entrance. Gannets explore both lochs, but never assemble in the numbers that can be seen off the coast at Port Weymss or Frenchman's Rocks where ,clearly, fish shoals become concentrated. Later numbers of Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver can be found in groups in the Outer Loch , presumably having arrived from farther north and then taking time out to rest and feed before dispersing. Whilst birds are seen on migration in both autumn and spring, they are usually singles or in low numbers. Closely assembled groups perhaps suggest that they also move at night, as do geese and swans, and the perils this embraces with the current upsurge of wind turbines being located out at sea. Concerns such as this are obviously difficult to study, and also potentially enormously expensive, which, I suspect, is a core element attached to so many modern developments nowadays besides the time aspects involved. Various duck species also congregate temporarily so that the outer loch becomes an area to witness various species that are possibly all on passage, as opposed to the the inner parts of it and all of the Inner Loch itself which plays host to a variety of wintering species as well as carrying a breeding population of our commoner residents. To witness all this happening requires a regular scrutiny of the outer loch being undertaken, which might be intended but which the weather succeeds in frustrating on may occasions as viewing conditions become difficult. And so, an ever changing tapestry that makes birdwatching the absorbing activity it will doubtless always be!!

Locally Willow Warblers are now "on the move" , although only as occasional birds. Stonechat appears to have had a successful season so numbers may now be moving back to the level previous to them being decimated by the winter a couple of years ago. Odd Whinchats are also moving through and some of the recent fine evenings, when the sun has bathed the landscape in golden light , has seen a whole variety of feeding passerines on display. As well as the above species Meadow Pipit, which also seems to have done well, Skylark, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Reed Bunting have been a delight and in numbers which attest to their success. Less so with the Swallows at home, who appear to have given up after a period of bad weather when their youngsters starved in the nest and the attempt was abandoned. The adults are still around, returning each evening to roost in the barn, but are largely absent during the day.

Not the best two days!

I really see feel sorry for visitors when the mist and rain locks in on Islay. Perhaps anticipated in ,say, November, but in July it feels utterly alien. Such it is not and once "established" appears to move away in its own time!  It's true to say that I haven't seen  (literally) very much over the past two days as the local landscape beyond 100m., with a few whirling periods of exception, has been obscured. Sadly the  Swallows in the barn have failed, no doubt due to their hard working parents not finding enough food for ever demanding youngsters, who were quite well feathered too.
Information gratefully received from Malcolm Ogilvie advised that there were 18 active Peregrine eyries in 1991, which had reduced in number to 12 in 2002.  I would suspect this figure has reduced further, although not as drastically, and it would perhaps seem sensible next season to try and carry out a survey. It's intriguing if they have reduced as  (a) we're hardly short of sites, even beyond those used traditionally and (b)  with our ever buoyant population of Rock Doves ( plus waders , Pheasant, Teal  etc ) the food availability is good even in winter.

In transition one might say! 2.7.2012.

Off well before 0600 hours to get the early ferry, now leaving from Port Ellen given the development work has been completed. It's almost at the farthest point from here around to the south east, but the journey is much improved by the road upgradings which have finally been completed!  Sadly the journey and crossing was spoilt with  light rain combined with mist, but periodically improved.
I was a little surprised to hear both Song Thrush and Willow Warbler in full song on the mainland possibly signalling repeated breeding attempts by both. The local pair of Mute Swans resident around Tarbert Harbour are obviously going for the "Most Photographed Avian Family of the Year" award as they and there six cygnets strategically placed themselves next to the adjacent car park, studiously ignoring cars and walkers  alike.
The return ferry journey in the evening progressed over a metal grey sea stretching , unrelieved, in all directions until lost in ill defined horizons shrouded in mist. Very little was in evidence except for a few auks and the opportunity to record any passing cetaceans across a reasonable sea surface went unrealised.

Routine, but enjoyable day ! 1.7.2012.

Exploring various areas along the coast was enjoyable in itself, but yielded nothing of particular significance. Whilst lacking any data, I sense a reduction in Peregrine pairs over the last few years on Islay, as successive areas/territories where you might expect to come across the odd regular pair now have nothing. Perhaps something that bears looking at?
As might be expected at this time of year birds seen moving over the sea  comprised the "usual suspects" with no exceptional numbers being involved. This will change fairly soon as feeding movements are more apparent, followed not too far ahead , with birds beginning to move off south. The season marches on, although, in reality, there's a number of weeks before things really commence to get serious!! Nonetheless , some high Arctic waders will be on the move already and are worth keeping an eye out for.

Locally, some young birds are in evidence ( Northern Wheatear, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting ) and much activity from Skylarks and Meadow Pipit suggest it may have been a reasonable season. The resident Starlings have already moved off and doubtless will be scouring the increasing number of fields from which silage has been cut. Singing Sedge Warbler and pairs of Goldfinch and Lesser Redpoll locally confirm breeding activity is still proceeding apace. The next few days will no doubt see the appearance of the first young Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats as they begin to disperse in time honoured fashion. Single pairs of both Lapwing and Curlew on the hill continue to be fiercely protective of unseen young, presumably the late products of failed breeding attempts earlier.