Monday 25th November

Whilst gathering sheep on the hills of the Oa today we saw 2 Golden Eagles, 3 Woodcock, 5 Snipe, and a female type Hen Harrier. Some counts from the Oa from last Friday included 427 Twite, 51 Chaffinch, 54 Golden Plover and a Grey Wagtail.
Today, Pete had seen a Water Rail well when flushed from a ditch at Bolsa Track near Port Charlotte. The saga in his garden continues with a very bold rook flying off with the food he put out for the Blackcap yesterday. Undaunted he has crushed another one of his fat balls and put that in a more sheltered spot in the garden in the hope that smaller birds may find it more accessible......

Thursday 1st August

Yes, the rainfall certainly was dry for the month, a mere 2" in total, and according to the official weather forecast, high record temperatures for Islay for July. Today it has been different, another month you may well say, but almost 0.5" so far and the day is not through yet...Yesterday some sightings through from James and Mary from the reserve at Gruinart... A Water Rail was seen, later on a Corncrake as it crossed over the track leading down to the old hide. 2 Peregrines were spooking the waders, mainly Redshank and Lapwing but 2 Greenshank were spotted there too... James also had 2 Hen Harriers on the reserve . A Lizard was seen out on the footpath at Gruinart too, as had been an Adder earlier on!!! Mary also was saying that she has been seeing more Willow Warblers lately down at Portnahaven, plus the fact that they are more vocal of late!!

Monday 4th March

This image of one of the Canada Geese hutchinsii sp, resting up with some of the Barnies taken last Thursday at the top of Loch Indaal by Pavel Ruzel, one of the visiting Czech birders. Thanks to Pavel.

David Jardine returned home yesterday, but managed a few more sightings before heading back across the water... Saturday evening, David had a Tawny Owl at Bridgend. On Loch Indaal, out from Bowmore, 7 Scaup, 27 Common Scoter, and 8 Slavonian Grebes were seen. The possible Black necked Grebe that David had seen the other day turned out to be a moulting Slavonian Grebe. Loch Tallant, 3 Water Rails were heard calling. At Cruach, 7 Yellowhammers were seen, the Moorhen was present at Carnain and a male Goosander was noted on Loch Skerrols. New arrivals, Kathie, Mick, Dave and Jacquie saw a White tailed Sea Eagle from the ferry as they came over on Saturday. Yesterday they had a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp amongst the Barnies at Gruinart, round Loch Gorm they had 3 Hen Harriers (2 male and a ringtail), a Golden Eagle and 2 Raven. Up at Ardnave they had a Merlin, a count of 45 Chough and lateron another ringtail Hen Harrier, on Arnave Loch, 8 Whoopers were seen. Today on Loch Indaal they had 3 Scaup and down on the Oa, 2 Peregrine, 2 Chough, a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier were present as was a flock of 26 Twite. Here at home, late afternoon 14 Chough were doing their acrobatics over the crag.

Tuesday 16th October

Bob took this image yesterday of one of the 2 Snow buntings that he had seen. Andrew from Lancashire had been up at Gortantoid yesterday, but no joy with either the Firecrest or the Yellow browed Warbler, but the Brambling was still making the most of the Rowan berries! In the sky over Killinallan, he had a juv Golden Eagle, an adult Golden Eagle and 2 White tailed Sea Eagles. Later on in the evening, Andrew had a couple of Woodcock roding over Ballimony on the Rhinns. This week also, a group of SOC members from The Stewartry are over, they sent in some sightings they had yesterday, 7 Slavonian Grebe on Loch Indaal, a flock of over 60 Twite at Saligo, juv Golden Eagle at Sanaigmore, an Otter on Loch Indaal just out from Bowmore Distillery, 1 Brambling amongst a mixed flock of Chaffinch, Twite and Greenfinch close to Coille, 5 Lesser Redpoll near Ballinaby, male Kestrel at Saligo, female Kestrel near Loch na Caiche, below Rockside. They also had a small, performing, mumeration of Starling close to Rockside. They were well pleased with seeing our Choughs and also the sightings of our winter visitors, Barnacle and Greenland Whitefronted Geese. The Leigh Birders, Pauline, David, Ian and Anne also had a great day yesterday starting off with a ringtail Hen Harrier where they are staying down on the Oa. Just after Sunderland Farm as the road drops down towards Loch Gorm , in the scrub there were 8 Long tailed Tits along with Great Tits.Up at Kilchoman Distillery they had a Brambling along with a Greenfinch, down on the "new pond" (after the recent heavy rain!) at Machir Bay they around 200 Common Gull and round there too were 12 Chough with also 5 Buzzards too. Saligo held a female Peregrine with the fields at Ballinaby, 23 Greenland Whitefronts. Heading back up the hedges to Rockmountain a male Hen Harrier was seen. They commented on the number of Stonechats around, a long time missing from their home patch in Lancashire, also the numbers of Robins around...Gavin had watched a Golden Eagle this morning for around 45 minutes, down on the South East coast of Islay. James today at Gruinart had a White tailed Sea Eagle, 431 Greenland Whitefronts and a Pink footed Goose. Andrew from Lancs this morning had 6 Scoter, 52 Scaup, 12 Slavonian Grebe on Loch Indaal from Blackrock. He also saw 3 White tailed Sea Eagles on the sand close to Gartmain. This afternoon, from the new hide Snipe, Ruff and 6 Black tailed Godwit. Later from the old hide, 3 Dabchick, 18 Red legged Partridge , possibly recently released birds, Gadwall, Moorhen, 5 Greenland Whitefronts with neck collars on them, and a Water Rail over towards Loch Gorm. James too has been seeing the Whitefronts with collars, and will find out more details about these birds.