Sunday, 30 January 2011
Barnacle geese
It has been a rather grey and miserable afternoon following a quick blast of midday sunshine. Typical Islay winter weather. The Barnacle geese seem to back to their more usual haunts and patterns of behaviour following the hiatus caused by the very cold spell.
Turbine
George has a 2.5kw Proven wind turbine above Shorefield near Bruichladdich. Islay Energy Trust hosted a renewables exhibition/Open Day in Bowmore Hall yesterday.
House Sparrows
Just some (12, I think) of the 38 House Sparrows I recorded for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch this morning.
Malcolm
Malcolm
Saturday, 29 January 2011
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
I have just dutifully submitted the results of a rather cold hour standing in the garden to the RSPB - and they are not really all thatr exciting. They included (in order of appearance) House, Sparrows, Starlings, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Dunnock, Herring gull, Rook, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Robin and Collared Dove.
That was the list of birds IN my garden - the list of those seen FROM my garden was rather more impressive - but the RSPB, quite rightly, are not interested in those. They are not the purpose of the exercise...
Carl
Friday, 28 January 2011
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Islay in the 1950's - more of the photographs of Walter Rintoul
| Dairy cattle being paraded at the Islay Showground |
| Horses at the Islay Show |
| The Islay Lifeboat |
| MacBraynes buses at Port Askaig |
| Port Ellen Pier |
The Museum of Islay Life
Labels:
Islay,
Museum of Islay Life,
Photography,
Walter Rintoul
Tormisdale Cliffs
| This is taken peering over the edge of the cliff. You can see a Kittiwake flying by down below while a Guillemot and Razorbill look up to see who has arrived... |
| The seabirds nest side by side - with the Kittiwakes building nests and the auks laying onto the bare rock. There is a significant build up of guano through the season... |
| If you crawl up to the edge and peer over with a long lens it is possible to get some close up portraits of the birds - which are not at all bothered by having their pictures taken |
| Here you can see the classic pointed shape of the Guillemot egg - the Darwinian explanation of the shape being that it is less likely to roll off the edge.... |
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Rooks and a Rainbow
Thanks to Jan for this one from her archives - Rooks (Corvus frugilegus) at their nests in Port Charlotte.
BBC commission major new series featuring Islay wildlife
BBC Scotland have commissioned a series of programmes from Nigel Pope and John Aitchison, two of the best known producers of television wildlife documentaries. Filming will take place over two years and will result in four episodes based around the seasonal cycle in the Hebrides. It is anticipated that Islay will feature prominently. Set out below is an overview of the series produced by Maramedia, the production company owned by Nigel and John.
The INHT met with Nigel Pope last week - and we hope to bring you updates throughout the production process. The series is expected to be broadcast some time in 2013.
The team made its first visit to Islay last week - and was successful in obtaining 'exciting' footage - particularly featuring Golden Eagles on the Oa.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Spiny lobster or Crayfish - Palinurus elephas - Clive Booth
Thanks to Clive for this shot of a crayfish being caught in a tangle net off Islay. Crays are a very sought after catch - commanding even higher prices at market than lobsters.
Here is a link to a gallery of classy Islay shots from Clive Booth. Check it out - you may be in it...!!
www.clivebooth.co.uk/islay/
Labels:
Clive Booth,
Islay,
Signal Crayfish
Cirrus and Barnacle Geese
It has already been noted that I am taking a temporary break from fenceposts and concentrating on clouds. This is entirely due to one of the best Christmas presents ever - a book on clouds by the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. It is excellent and is to blame for my having my eyes on the skies since Christmas and what a wonder they are! I think they're still natural history so bear with me . . .
This beautiful wispy specimen is a Cirrus cloud. Cirrus inhabit the higher altitudes of the troposphere (sky) and consist of falling ice crystals. They look as if they've been spun from the finest celestial silk - according to Gavin Pretor-Pinney that is - and I couldn't agree more!
The Barnacle Geese were also enjoying the bright skies at Kintra on that day, but we didn't see any Canada Geese. There had been two present the previous week. There's a plethora of hybrid sub-species of Canada Goose and I wouldn't want to say which one it was that is currently present on the island
Becky
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


