Islay Birding News

car free day

2009-09-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

every so often we have to have a re-think.
it happens to all of us.
over the past year we have been looking very carefully at our code of conduct
and our policies.
we try to live without too much impact on planet earth,
it is frustrating at times.
we are realising that unless we, as individuals, take responsibility then little will change.
big governments are big ....and slow
and even those who care about the future of our planet seem to have their hands tied.
we know that there are things we can control,
and we have choices:
sometimes hard,
hard before one makes them, and then easy once done.
we are at that point now.
today is world car free day and we are doing just that.
from the end of this week we will be car free as a business.
we will now use bicycles, tandems or feet.
if you wish us to guide you from a vehicle we can do one of two things: use yours or rent one for you with us driving ................
today is a good day for rethinking - thank you for helping us to be better

green rant!!! climate change....

2009-09-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

10:10 is being launched today, Franny Armstrong of The Age of Stupid (if you do not know about this movie then go and find out about it NOW!) and The Guardian newspaper have got together to get people into action rather than just talking about it! there are plenty of people out there who know about climate change, and the challenges that it brings but now 10:10 is about old-fashioned ideas of responsibility (a rare thing nowadays!) but also about a more enlightened understanding of our collective self-interest - (which means letting go of ego). It is about an optimistic view of what ordinary people can achieve, and of human nature itself. Now over to you.
http://www.1010uk.org/

Raptor-ous Friday!

2009-08-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

The folks who were out with us already had had some great birding
with Stuart on the walking safari earlier during the week and
yesterday it was the cherry on the cake. Having spent the morning
watching three Golden Eagles, numerous Raven and Pipits, Goldfinches,
and lots of Linnets, we headed to Bridgend a had stunning views of
Peregrine hunting waders and a Ringtail too. Fantastic!

Busy week

2009-08-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

Taking out a lovely couple of families earlier this week was great.
We watched Whimbrel and other waders coming in from the north
foraged the shoreline, wild cooking and spending time just being and
absorbing the wonders of nature.
The rest of the week has been spent working onthe new TWMP
tweed cycling jacket that will be launched in London at the cycle show
in October. Gill from Mosquito who is working with us on this project
has spent three days with us.it has been fun and we have been out
biking and birding and discussing too!

rain and away

2009-08-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

Time has caught me again and so has the rain. What with preparation for the show and then the grass track racing with 35 kids the rain came down on Friday. Gannets fed on the loch - fabulous against the wild grey sky. Am off to catch the bus this am to take our eldest to the capital - she is playing at the Edinburgh Festival in an orchestra. We are staying with friends and doing bits and bobs on the mainland. back soon!

sunday onwards

2009-08-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

It was glorious and we enjoyed fishing and trying to catch sea trout whilst listening to Curlew, watching Redshank coming in and
wee groups of Dunlin too.A great Northern Diver flew overhead as the youngsters slept in! Although no trout happened upon us there were plenty of mussels and cockles for our wilderness paella on the beach - fabulous. The following morning was still as a still thing and the flying teeth were out in strength. Luckily the wind blew up ofr our cooked breakfast and then fire husbandry training afterwards.
Tuesday was much harder with rain and sea har and the group consisted of Swedes who were great fun. Birding was challenging and we managed till lunchtime and then - it was not worth it for anybody so we called it a day - we had had Chough, grasshopper warbler, Swallows, Starlings, Linnets and Eider amongst others. Oh and of course the numerous Buzzards that loiter of ever other post!
Today, Wednesday we were setting up the Port Mor Wheelers track for the Islay Show tomorrow - it rained a bit!

Saturday already!

2009-08-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Have been busy all week and somehow overlooked the blog....have been taking folks and families birding, biking, bushcraft and fishing too.
Gannets, Chough, Hen Harriers, Greylag geese, Merlin, Peregrine, wee Stonechats, Whinchats and waders too. Also plenty of fish have been caught and cooked as well as foraging for shellfish and seaweed and eating it too! A grand week!

windy round the rhinns

2009-08-04T00:45:00.000-07:00

after yesterday's (sunday) wonderful sunshine Monday was wet and very windy but we still still managed to get a family out around the Rhinns watching Gannets, Chough and we found a very young seal at Portnahaven, waiting in a wee cleft for the tide to rise once more. A few Fulmars flew around but none were on the ledges at Kilchiran. Plenty of M'ipits, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Linnets too.

whilst....

2009-07-31T00:48:00.001-07:00

..we were camp with the Wildwood Wisdom kids our friend Kevin who is a webmaster extraordinaire was busy here birding - not only was he satisfied with White Tailed Eagle and Golden eagle too but also was enchanted with tree Sparrows and Merlin amongst the numerous birds he spotted but best of all for him were the Black Guillemots hanging around Caol Ila. Great!
The Wildwood Wisdom camp went went and all enjoyed their experiences of being out of doors (youngest aged 7 to oldest of 14 years) in variable weather doing a variety of wilderness tasks form cooking and camp making to wood carving, fly fishing and nature watching as well as plenty of time to tell stories around the camp fire.

birding fishing and biking

2009-07-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

yes we mixed all three and it was good - saw Hen Harriers, Whinchat, Merlin and Sparrowhawk, Buzzards, Gannets and Auks, caught Mackerel and enjoyed the views...and weather. Fabulous.

rain and rain

2009-07-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

For the first time for a couple of week the rain started at kelly kettle time and carried on for the rest of the day. Somewhat disappointing at first but we had some good sightings all the same: Buzzards feeding young, Skylarks, Pipits, Wagtails, Terns, Mergansers and a resting Otter too! A hen hen harrier was also a good spot too. Plenty for our french folks(family of six) who arrived from Orleans by public transport - chapeau!

rhinns birding

2009-07-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Good morning tour with a couple of folks from San Francisco. Gannets, Chough, Buzzards, Merlin, Oystercatchers and Fulmars as well as plenty of lbj's! Also lots of interesting plants in flower too.

Esther's Photos

2009-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

further to the biking bushcraft here are esther and warren's photos - fantastic

http://www.esthertacke.f2s.com/IslayArty/

thanks

wildwood wisdom camp

2009-07-07T02:02:00.001-07:00

off till the end of the week running wildwood wisdom camp back friday

wilderness food and nature

2009-07-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

We avoided the rain, and watched a Golden Eagle, Common Sandpipers and Pipits too. Finding plenty to forage and cook on an open fire on the beach. Wonderful. Wild gourmets!

nature report

2009-07-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

summer summer summer..and orchids everywhere!

.............and other wonderful flowers as well as skylarks singing.

this week i was with a couple of folks and we were riding bikes traveling through the nature. It is such a great way to experience all sorts of happenings. Time to watch, time to slow down and easy to stop. Time also to sniff the ever changing air as it is now full of all sorts of smells. there are now amazing flowers that have suddenly appeared. It also allows one to hear a wilderness orchestra and how it changes as one progresses. the really nice thing is that as one rides a bike one finds oneslf within the nature and can become part of it. I have noticed that birds and animal are less disturbed by bikes than when one is on foot. Strange but true! We watched Chough, Buzzards, Eiders, Linnets and plenty of Oystercatchers as well as Arctic Terns and Hen Harriers but best of all we saw plenty of wild orchids.

On the folklore side of things it is commonly thought that any purple orchids were magical plants ("lus an Talaidh" - herb of enticement). Used in love charms. It has two roots, one larger than the other, representing a man and
a woman. The plant is to be pulled by the roots before sunrise, facing South.
Which-ever root is used is to be immediately placed in spring water; if it sinks the person in question will be the future husband or wife. The root can also be ground up and placed under the pillow to bring dreams of your future partner.

Of course I would not recommend this as it is illegal to pick any wild flower.....but who knows what would have happened in the past!

for a full report see www.isleofislay.info

biking bushcraft

2009-07-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

We had a really great time exploring the wilds on bike and camping, foraging and watching. We were lucky with the weather and although there were a handful of clouds and wetness we remained mostly dry and enjoyed looking for flowers and plants that sustain and nourish and heal - brilliant. The birds were, of course great too: Chough, Terns, Harriers and Oystercatchers. A large Sea Bass also launched itself just as we were cooking an evening meal on the beach - fantastic!

help me to help others....

2009-06-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

here is my just giving site....every penny counts and goes towards the fund - we have covered the costs of the race ourselves- and there has been a separate collection on Islay....

http://www.justgiving.com/jeremyhastings/
THANKS

Off to paris!!!

2009-06-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

In the morning I begin the long journey to London - bus, boat and train then bike from London to paris. riding in the London to paris Sprortif and raising monies for the Geoff Thomas Foundation. 600 Kms on fixed wheel.....back next week.

4 days of wilderness

2009-06-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Last week we were wildness living with two franco-americans - brilliant fun. Not only foraging, finding and exploring but alos we were lucky enough to see Sea and Golden eagles, Gannets, Chough, Fulmars, Red deer, kestrel, Buzzard, Skylarks, pipits, yellowhammers and numerous others too. Plants were good too: orchids, mosses and lichens - fabulous. We also had plenty of time for reflection and just being...

harrier harries eagle!

2009-06-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Out on the Rhinns and we missed the rain. Great Northern Divers, Auks, Gannets, Atlantic Grey seals, Chough, Cuckoo and this afternoon we watched eagles. Firstly being mobbed by corvids on a cliff then being chased by them and a male Hen Harrier too. Soon it was right over the landrover and ourselves. Fabulous views of one specifically - so close it was too much for binoculars!

wilderness 24

2009-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

returned from a 24 hours in the wilderness with a biologist from the Isle of man. An excellent time - plenty to see - sea birds: Fulmar, Auks and Ducks as well as superb plants both edible and non edible. Good night around fire and sleeping in caves. Long talks about education, folklore, travel and everything in between....wonderful trip

around the rhinns

2009-06-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Brilliant weather and great birding today: GND's, Arctic Terns, Sedge Warblers, Hen Harrier, Gannets and Sandpipers - and a Golden Eagle too. Marsh Fritillaries at Claddach were a delight to see amid Orchids, Eyebright and Sea Pink. Fabulous day.

walking portnahaven

2009-06-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Walking safari today. excellent weather and light meant that our folks got great sightings of wee bird: Sedge Warblers,
Whitethroats, Chough, larks, Roe Deer, Gannets, Lapwing, Curlew and Common Sandpipers. we heard three Chough too. Plenty of opportunity for the camera to click! Later after lunch was enabling a family to discover the wild of the coast, foraging and eating it's bounty - lovely!

gravity gathering

2009-06-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

off on Thursday with a bunch of kids from Port Mor Wheelers to the World Cup mountain bike championship, camping and biking in Nevis Range - back on Sunday......