islay late nov - any tips ?

[treecreeper]

I'm going to Islay this week and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Are Barnacle and White-Fronts guaranteed anywhere on the island or is it dependent on location and time of day ?

Are Geese present at the Loch Gruinart reserve 24/7 during the winter months ?

What else might I see and where ?

Tom

[ronsteenvoorden]

I'm going to Islay this week and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Are Barnacle and White-Fronts guaranteed anywhere on the island or is it dependent on location and time of day ?

Are Geese present at the Loch Gruinart reserve 24/7 during the winter months ?

What else might I see and where ?

Tom

Hi tom,

As far as I know you can find most Geese in the Loch Gruinart area. If you want more info about Islay and Islay birding I suggest you use the following links:

General Information about Islay (http://www.islayinfo.com)

Islay Birding with a comprehensive news section (http://www.islaybirding.co.uk)

I hope these links are of any use. If you need further info just let me know and I can see what I can dig up for you.

[deborah4]

Hi Tom

You may find some of the info in my recent trip report helpful

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=70694

Once they've arrived, after a few weeks, the Barnacle and GW's tend to spread themselves around according to the RSPB and are not so concentrated on Gruinart. Towards head of Loch Indaal, just near Bridgend, is a good place to find good numbers roosting.

The most valuable resource I had was Malcolm Oglivy's book 'Birds of Islay' which you can purchase on line:

press'at'indaal.demon.co.uk

It gives a complete systematic list of Islay birds, where to find them, and at what time of year all for £5.50 (price may have increased slightly) - it was spot on regarding likelyhood of birds seen and I saw everything that one would expect for the time of the year by using this book (and an OS map!) and planning my days accordingly the night before.

The RSPB Visitor's Centre at Gruinart is very informative and open every day until 5pm - RSPB volunteers will give you all the info you need re: Geese etc

The Wildlife Visitor's Centre at Port Charlotte may still be open but their hours vary - you can buy maps and books in here too.

The only person really doing tours on the Island is Jeremy Hastings - prices not too bad - everyone knows him and he is easy to contact but very busy so book in advance. Google ''Islay Birding Tours''. Personally, I didn't bother, I prefered to go it alone as I had all the locations I needed from Malcom Oglivy's book, but you may find it helpful.

Where ever you are on the Island, you won't miss the geese, there's around 55,000 wintering on the Island, maybe more!

The majority of Islay birds I saw were either on Gruinart Reserve, Ardnave Point just up the road, and Loch Indaal (particularly near Bridgend) and generally walking to and from these areas.

Hope that's helpful

Have a great time - I did!!!

[saluki]

The most valuable resource I had was Malcolm Oglivy's book 'Birds of Islay' which you can purchase on line:

press'at'indaal.demon.co.uk

It gives a complete systematic list of Islay birds, where to find them, and at what time of year all for £5.50 (price may have increased slightly) - it was spot on regarding likelyhood of birds seen and I saw everything that one would expect for the time of the year by using this book (and an OS map!) and planning my days accordingly the night before.Just to add to Deborah's excellent advise, and in case you don't have time to puchase his book, Malcolm has a website here:

http://www.indaal.demon.co.uk (http://www.indaal.demon.co.uk/)

Click on the 'Birdwatching on Islay' section, it has a map and a description of favoured sites on Islay. You could print this out and take it with you.

Have a good trip!

Jonathan

[dan pointon]

If you're planning to do some goose watching, might be a good idea to read up on all the forms of Lesser Canada Goose, I think there's a few knocking around on Islay, though can be found in almost any flocks of Barnacles.

[hampers]

You will find good numbers of barnies and GWF on the RSPB reserve at Loch Gruinart. Barnies will be in the fields on the flats and around about, especially at Craigens across the Loch.
GWF will be in the rough ground along the edge of the resevre coming in from Uiskentuie, on road from Bridgend to Port Charlotte. Look for Hen Harrier on flats as you cross the RSPB reserve. Also good in evening for Barn Owl. Look straight out form the hide over the hills for golden eagle, also peregrine on the saltmarsh. God chance of merlin on the resevre as well. Go towards Loch Gorm and you'll find more gwf, also good chance of short eared owl. Would recommend Malcolm Ogilvie's book on Birdwatching on Islay, or Richard Elliot's - get them from Roy's in Bowmore.
Often whooper on Loch Gorm. Bridegend woods for woodland species. LIved and worked there for a number of years, pm me and I'll think of some more sites for you.

[deborah4]

If you're planning to do some goose watching, might be a good idea to read up on all the forms of Lesser Canada Goose, I think there's a few knocking around on Islay, though can be found in almost any flocks of Barnacles.

Just to add: Keep eyes peeled for ringed Greylag - Icelandic mig. species - I found one there ringed in Inverness by Highland Ringing Group - Please report any sightings to Malcolm. (Spelt Malcolm's name wrong earlier - apologies - 'Ogilvie' it is. If you want to see Whooper, some 35+ roosting at Ardnave when I was there last month) - no point repeating all the sites in Malcolm's book but really recommend it!!!!!! (Chough roost at Ardnave - best time is about 4pm to see them)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I'm going to Islay this week and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Are Barnacle and White-Fronts guaranteed anywhere on the island or is it dependent on location and time of day ?

Are Geese present at the Loch Gruinart reserve 24/7 during the winter months ?

What else might I see and where ?

Tom

Hi Tom,

If you'd like some fairly detailed info I can email some to you (maybe best to PM me your email address!).