I left Glasgow at 3:30 am on Friday 24 th September to catch the 7am ferry from Kennacraig to Port Ellen. After a very welcome full Scottish breakfast in the ferry's cafeteria I went out on deck for some birding and to take in the scenery:
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| Just left Kennacraig |
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| Paps of Jura in early morning light |
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| Mid Channel |
C 15 Manx Shearwater were seen, together with 3 Black Guillemot, several Common Guillemot and Kittiwake & Gannet.
Arriving at Port Ellen at 9:15 am:
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| Port Ellen |
Iain was there to meet me and we headed over to Port Charlotte for some coffee and to drop off my bags. On the way we stopped at Garloist at the head of Loch Indall and scanned the bay. 6-7 Bar Tailed Godwit, C7 Pintail and a large flock of Wigeon were noteable.
After coffee we headed to the fields just above the village to where the Buff Breasted Sand had been for a couple of days earlier in the week. It appeared to have gone. A Sparrowhawk was little compensation.
We moved round to the shore at Bruichladdich that is often a good site for waders. There was little of interest apart from 2 Red Throated Diver in the bay.
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| Ringed Plover at Bruichladdich |
We stopped briefly at Loch Gruinart to see if anything was new in on the island. There were C10 Twite in trees close to the centre.
On the way to The Mull of Oa we had a brilliant view of a male Hen Harrier at Glen Machrie as it quartered the rough grassland close to the car. The Oa was quite windly but a stubble field close to the car park held upwards of 100 Twite and Linnet and the occasional Greenfinch.
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| Twite |
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| Stonechat |
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| Stonechat |
Close to the Mull we scanned the ridges for Golden Eagle but none were seen. There were several Hooded Crows, Ravens and Kestels present and we had another splendid view of a Hen Harrier, this time a female. Back near the car park we had up to 2 Merlins hunting the large Twite/Linnet flock.
A Golden Plover showed well by the roadside going down towards Lower Killleyan and at that location we had 2 Chough and another female Hen Harrier and several wild goats.
Heading over to Ardnave via Gruinart we had yet another female Hen Harrier and at Ardnave we had 5 Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and a single Yellowhammer.
The light was fading by the time we stopped at Bruichladdich again to check the waders that included both Turnstone and Dunlin.
It had been a very enjoyable 1st day and we retired to the Port Charlotte Hotel for a meal and a few drinks.
Saturday the 25th dawned with much more cloud and it was quite cold in a brisk northerly wind. After breakfast we did the South West corner of the island in the hope of connecting with Crossbill near Octofad but drew a blank. On the way we had descent views of 2 Chough feeding on the ground near Kilchiaran and yet another female Hen Harrier.
A brief stop at Frenchman's Rocks produced C30 Manx Shearwater. By lunchtime we headed up towards Sanaigmore where we connected with 2 Peregrines and 2 Sparrowhawk. In addition one of the small lochs held 4 Greenland Whitefronts with a flock of Greylags and 3 Snipe.After lunch we explored the South East end of the island and stopped at the Ardbeg Distillery that is a good Otter site but we were out of luck.
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| Pied Wagtail on the roof of Ardbeg Distillery |
Up towards Ardtalla we again dipped on Otter at another reliable site but we did connect with Red Deer and Grey Seal:
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| Red Deer Hinds |
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| Loafing Grey Seal |
We had hoped for some divers off the East coast but there were none and we had to be content with 2 Black Guillemots and several Red Breasted Merganser. On the way back to Port Charlotte we had a Grey Plover at Loch Indall.
It had been another good day. Our Hen Harrier total had now reached 8 including 6 females.
The final morning (Sunday 26th) was bright and sunny and much warmer than the previous day. We decided to do the Oa again in the hope of connecting with Golden Eagle. Despite spending over an hour scanning the headland we were not to be rewarded. A further 2 Choughs were seen and heard. We headed in the direction of Port Ascaig for the ferry and stopped at a small fishing loch on the way. A drake Scaup was good as well as 7 Tufted Duck and 6 Little Grebe. There was also both Siskin & Redpoll present.
To end up we walked up the River Sorn and connected with Dipper.
The ferry left Port Ascaig at 3:30 pm. There was no sign of the reported White Tailed Eagle on the shoreline south of Port Ascaig and I had a possible Eagle over Jura but it was far too distant to be sure.
All in all it had been a very enjoyable few days birding in good company.
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