Monday 10th February

A few squally showers sped past today, but not enough to deter our birders....Mary and Amy from RSPB had been round Ardnave between the showers. They had a total of 41 GND as well as 1 Red throated Diver, 1 Black Guillemot, 12 Red breasted Merganser, 9 Shag, 4 Eider and also 9 GBB Gulls. Down at Tayovullin 3 Redshank, 21 Curlew (including 1 with colour rings on), 116 Lapwing, 21 Turnstone and 2 Ringed Plover. Later on Amy had 2 Bullfinches whilst along the woodland trail at Gruinart. Today, the Rochdale birders had a female Sparrowhawk in at Loch Skerrols, a really dark ringtail Hen Harrier close to Cladville, a Barn Owl out up the back of Port charlotte, over at Lagavullin Bay they saw 2 GND. The Sevenoaks birders had been out to Claggain Bay and had an Otter, 10 Black Guillemot, 5 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Dabchick, 8 GND, 12 Red throated Diver,15 Eider and 1 Shag. Aros Bay held 40 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank and a Turnstone. Just inland, there were 20 Meadow Pipits along with 6 Reed Buntings, then to top it all a female Merlin appeared out of nowhere within 10 feet of them! The wee lochan up behind Laphroaig had some Teal and Wigeon along with 5 Whoopers and also a pr of Goldeneye. Finally, they saw another female Merlin perched on a bough of a tree as they returned back to Port Ellen.

Sunday 2nd January

A better day over here today, compared to previous days that is!!! There was some rain today yes, but we saw the sun shining too, so do not give up yet! The visiting birders from Lochwinnoch yesterday had seen a male Hen Harrier down below Rockside. At the top of Loch Indaal a raft of 50 Scaup were present and on their way back to their cottage in the early evening, they saw a Barn Owl down close to Foreland House.

Wednesday 29th January

Some sightings through from yesterday, Amy who is a "long term" vol at Gruinart and the Oa had done walk along the trails at Gruionart with her tally coming through at 3 Wren, 6 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, 6 Blackbird, 10 Fieldfare and 3 Mistle Thrush. David and Jane had 2 Golden Eagles up at Sanaigmore yesterday, with another 2 later on, possibly the same pair. Up behind Bridgend, they had a Merlin on their way home. George reported through to say that he only has been seeing the 2 juv. Whooper Swans of late on his ponds, no sign of the adult bird. On our way out to the Bird nerds last night we had a Barn Owl sitting on a fence post at the side of the road at Lyrabus, and on our way home another close to Grainel as we dropped James off. Last night was our "social" night out with 18 folk enjoying the evening at the Golden Dragon in Bowmore... No tales to tell from there! Today Malcolm had a 2nd yr Iceland Gull down at Portnahaven this morning and around midday an imm White Sea tailed Eagle out over the hill at Coultorsay

Thursday 16th January

Forgot to mention last night that I had a ringtail Hen Harrier fly past when I was up at Shepherd's cottage speaking with the builders... Coming home last night, we had a Barn owl sitting on a fence post down close to Foreland. This morning, around 10am, Pia had a White tailed Sea Eagle soaring overhead while she was out with her dog, along from Gortan towards the spit, with the Eagle high up over the raised beach. Going round to Gruinart around the same time, we had a Kestrel, hunkered up in the gravel quarry at Coull. On our travels, we saw 3 Buzzards and another 2 over the wood outside Bushmills. We also had a Hooded Crow up past the old Kilchoman School. Back home again, and the Lapwing flock were out towards the War Graves again, and a couple of Chough flew past as well, can't they ever not fly past quietly? Bob around 3pm had the White tailed Sea eagle directly above his house.

Sunday 22nd December

Computer and internet are up and running at Grainel again so I can up date you all with some Islay bird records. On Friday Mary had a trip around Ardnave- 9 Mallards, 1 Little Grebe, 20 Whooper Swans, 3 Mute Swans, 5 Wigeon, 126 Teal and 5 Goldeneye as well as 12 Choughs and 11 Reed Buntings at Garraeallabus. Mary has also been seeing a Barn Owl most Mornings in Portnahaven near the old primary school. On the reserve at Gruinart Hen Harriers have been frequent with 2 ring tails hunting today.

Wednesday 16th October

The Horwich birders had a Swallow at Smelly corner this morning, down on the Rowans at Foreland they counted 20 MistleThrushes. On Loch Indaal, just after "Cash Kelly's" former house at Blaskrock, a male Goldeneye was  present with some Red breasted Mergansers. On the  River Sorn they had a Dipper and also a Grey Wagtail. Coming back along the top of Loch Indaal they had 6 Barwits and "hoards" of Barnies and also Wigeon. Along on the stubble below Rock Mountain, 4 Whoopers were present and a ringtail Hen Harrier was out over the pools along beside Loch Gorm. The "vols" at RSPB had been out on the Oa doing a "field survey" yesterday with their tally being 322 Twite, 24 Reed Bunting, 66 Linnet, 150 Starling, 14 Stonechat and a Yellowhammer. A Merlin and a Hen Harrier were also seen. Andrew and Jane today 9 Pale bellied Brent at Bowmore along with some Turnstone, at Craigens a Merlin, over the flats a ringtail. On the flats, 4 Pinkies and a leucistic Barnie. The floods held  2 Blackwit, 2 female Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and Snipe. James carried out a count late afternoon at Gruinart, his birds tallied up as 28,980 Barnies, 18 Pinkies and 1 Canada hutchinsii sp. Coming home this evening, we had a Barn Owl was sitting on a fence post at Ballinaby. 

Wednesday 3rd April

Going into Bowmore, I happened to look at the temperature,  I had to look again, yep, it was in double figures up to 10 degrees. Later on, while coming home, over the other side of Loch Gorm at Ballinaby, the temperature had dropped back  to only 9 degrees. On the Weather forecast this evening, they announced that some parts of the Scottish Highlands had only had 46% of the seasonal rainfall for March. Think they should be quiet, look what happened in other areas when they brought in the hose pipe ban last Spring! Clive had a Golden Eagle while he was over at Bunnahabhain yesterday. Later on, down close to the Auction Market at Bridgend , he had a Barn Owl out on the wing. Today coming over the hill from Carnain to Gruinart, we saw several small groups of Fieldfares. At Craigens roadend, there was a flock of Golden Plover present, most of which were in summer plumage. Today Peter had been up at Ardnave and commented on how dry the ground was  there. Top bird was a Jack Snipe close to the steading. Over on Nave Island, Peter had over 60 Barnies with around 30 Eiders present there too. On the shore, there were about 30 Oystercather seen with 10 - 12 GBB Gulls appearing to be on territory. Coming home, down close to the coalyard at Gortan 11 Pale bellied Brent Geese were counted.

Wednesday 27th March

Yesterday, Malcolm had a Barn Owl out hunting at 14.30 just opposite the Gaelic College at Bowmore.  Also yesterday, Bob Young had a Buzzard mobbing a Golden Eagle up at Ardnave. Later on, over at Killinallan, Bob had a White tailed Sea Eagle being initially being mobbed by a Gull and then by a Shelduck! Coming home last night, we had a few single Woodcock taking off at the "edge" of our car lights along the flats at Gruinart and up towards the former Kilchoman school.The Bolton birders today had started the day off with 2 Razorbill and a GND at Saligo. Ardnave Loch held 6 Tufted Duck, 2 female Goldeneye, 1 Red breasted Merganser, 2 Mute Swan, 25 Teal, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. While out round Ardnave Point, a juv. White tailed Sea Eagle was seen flying in from the North, and later on a Golden Eagle flew across from the other side of Loch Gruinart. 45 Chough were seen tumbling around in the sky close to Traigh Nostaig. On the ground there were 22 Twite, and on the shore 6 Sanderling and 10 Ringed Plover. 3 large Canada Geese were seen up towards Ardnave Point. 12 Eider were counted off Nave Island with 1 Snipe at the Lobster ponds. Over close to Killinallan gate, a ring tail Hen Harrier was present and later on another was close to Sunderland Farm. Down on the Sound of Islay, Mick and Edmund had a White tailed Sea Eagle and soon after a Golden Eagle as well.

Monday 25th March

Here on Islay, the electric board boys are winning the battle, with praise coming from all around. It is still rather cool, think the phone lines will take longer to restore as they do not appear to have the same number of back up crews...The Bolton birders had seen 24 Oystercatcher, 12 Twite and 6 Redwing in a field over at Ardtalla. In Ardtalla Bay, they had 8 Red breasted Merganser, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Eider, 4 Shelduck and 6 Turnstone. On Loch Indaal, just out of Bowmore, 8 Pale bellied Brent Geese and a female Goldeneye were present. Coming home, they counted 70 Teal at Carnain with 2 Mute Swan in the pools there. Along the flats at Gruinart, a male Stonechat was seen, and at Ballinaby the Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Lapwing were still there from yesterday, but today 6 Whoopers were also there along with 22 Curlew. Betweeen Saligo and Coull, a Barn Owl was out early at 6.15pm! Finally at Coull roadend, they counted 46 Curlew. Today Mick saw a Dipper at the mouth of Glen Logan on the Sound of Islay. Wally and Jude had a Greenshank and their first Barwit (this visit) over past Bun an Uillt. They also reported that another visitor saw a White tailed Sea Eagle over close to Port Ellen. James had a juv. WTSE over at Gruinart yesterday and later on a Peregrine Falcon over his house. Early this evening James counted 10 Whoopers over at the ponds on the flats at Gruinart. I saw 2 Whoopers fly in from the sea heading towards Rockside around midday.

Wednesday 20th March

Sorry folks a bit of a late entry, but you ain't been forgotten about.... Steve and his brothers yesterday had a Wheatear up at Sanaigmore, some Gannets and some Black Guiilemots offshore. Earlier on at Ballinaby, they had a Merlin and later on a Sparrowhawk at the reserve at Gruinart. Another visiting birder, yesterday had some Gannets on the sound of Islay and on our way out with him last night , we had a male Hen Harrier come off the hill past Sunderland. Coming home we had a Barn Owl at Foreland on a fence post. Michal the other night, had a Barn Owl on the reserve at Gruinart, and early this morning George had one fly past his hose at the edge of Bruichladdich. James had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the top of Loch Indaal, and later on,  another at Gruinart. After that Mary saw a second one at Gruinart, and I heard this evening of Steve and his brothers seeing 2 over towards Bunnahabhain, could they be different birds, must try to find when they were seen! The Bolton birders are back again, seeing a Merlin just up from Gortan this afternoon, and then they counted 26 Chough while down towards Machir Bay. Here at home , we had 41 Greylags in one of the fields

Saturday 16th February

A lot of birds for you tonight, coming in from all around, here goes...On Thursday, Malcolm had 5 species of geese in one field. Over at Ballytarsin there were around 1400 Barnacle Geese, 41 Whitefronts, 1 Pink footed Goose, 3 Pale bellied Brent and a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp. Later on Malcolm had 24 Pale bellied Brent on Loch Indaal, just below the "Power Generating station" at the edge of Bowmore. Yesterday the Hampshire birders had Long tailed Duck and Common Scoter on Loch Indaal. Round Carnain their highlights included Curlew, Scaup, Heron and Wren. Today in the same area they had a male Hen Harrier, Song Thrush and Rock Pipit. On a walk up to Loch Cam, later on they saw 2 Golden Eagles, 4 Chough and 2 Snipe. Bob had a male Hen Harrier up behind Port Charlotte, a Sparrowhawk down in Port Charlotte and also Lapwing displaying up in the fields beside his house. Last night on our way over to Bunnahabhain, after The Woolen Mill and on our way to our destination, we saw a total of 5 Barn Owls out on the wing, great to see! James today had a walk round Ardnave. His top birds included 32 Chough, 34 Raven, 1 Grey Plover, 10 GND, 7 Skylarks (1 attempting to sing!) 1 White tailed Sea Eagle (juvenile bird) out over towards Nave Island, 5 Cormorant and the leucistic Barwit was seen too. Back home at Grainel, he counted 45 Skylarks later on. Anna had a couple of Goldeneye in the harbour in Bowmore today, down close to Port Ellen she had more ducks and geese there as well as a couple of Shelduck. Late this afternoon, over the house here, we had 23 Chough in a flypast, pity they were not here the other week, it could have confused the Big garden birdwatch computer!!!!

Sunday 12th January

Yesterday Tom and Jo had been out and about, their highlight for the day was possibly seeing 5 Long tailed Ducks on Loch Indaal, 3 from Bowmore and other 2 at Blackrock. Along at Bruichladdich they saw 2 Purple Sandpipers, 9 Turnstone and 10 Ringed Plover.  At Neriby, they had a count of 2,700 Barnies, 90 Whitefronts, 1 Pink footed Goose and a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp. While at Bowmore they also had 14 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 16 Goldeneye, 8 GND and 11 Slavonian Grebes along at  Blackrock they counted 24 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 38 Common Scoter, 14 Red throated Diver and a Guillemot. James last night had a Barn Owl at Grainel. Earlier on he had a further 2 Barn Owls and a Tawny Owl at Erasaid and today had 4 Hen Harriers on the RSPB reserve at Gruinart, 2 males and 2 ringtails. We saw a Stonechat the "Eastern side" of Loch Gorm, just after dropping down "The Hedges" and another along the Southern side" of Loch Gorm, close to the memorial is to the Kilchoman Bards

Friday 11th January

Some sightings through from yesterday as I wrote yesterday's blog a bit earlier than normal! Mary on her way home last night had a Barn Owl along the flats at Gruinart. James in the afternoon had count on the reserve as follows, 4,665 Barnies, 209 Whitefronts, 39 Greylag, 1 Peregrine, 170 Rock Doves, 185 Lapwing and also 5 Whooper Swans. Paul  Graham had an Otter down at the coal yard at Gorton. Tom & Jo are back for a few days again and had been down on the Oa yesterday. They had seen 2 Fulmars on the wing along the cliffs, in the fields the had a Golden Plover and also 8 Whitefronted Geese, returning home they had a Peregrine at Mulindry. This evening coming home, we had Barn Owl close to Sunderland.

Friday 21st December

A better day with the weather over here today, perhaps just a wee lull until we get the next rain front and its' associated wind coming through tomorrow!! Here goes, birds etc from earlier in the week... James had seen a Stoat along the flats at Gruinart, but not in its ermine coat!!! On reserve he also had seen 2 Tawny Owls over towards Erasaid and also 2 Woodcock. Mary yesterday had Jack Snipe up on the moor at Gruinart. Fiona McGilvray saw 2 Barn Owls the other night on her way home, one at Erasaid and the other at Woodside. James last night had one at Grainel, sheltering from the rain and another out from the Visitor centre, we had another Barn Owl also last night along at Sunderland, do n't often see them out in the rain! When Mary was out goose counting at the start of the week, she had a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp along the flats at Gruinart. Back on Tuesday, Bob had seen 12 Fieldfare feeding alongside 70 Golden Plover at Ballinaby, on Wednesday down at Lossit Farm on the Rhinns, there were 40 Fieldfare feeding  with 130 Golden Plover. 

Saturday 8th December

A dreich sort of a day out here, but on the positive side of things, it was not so cold but.... Back on Wednesday evening had seen a Barn Owl  sitting on a fence post beside the road at Gortan. He was also telling me that he found the remains of a dead Barn Owl in one of his fields at Bruichladdich. The owl by the looks of it had been dead for quite some time. Bob had seen a Sparrowhawk carrying its prey, what looked like a Blackbird when he was out goose counting earlier in the week. Later on the same day, he had another Sparrowhawk, further on during the goose count. Yesterday, Bob had a Kestrel down beside Loch Gorm and then over the crag at Kilchoman, a Golden Eagle.

Monday 3rd December

Not much to report from Islay tonight, there have been the odd shower of rain around today, the best part of half an inch of rain since this time last night, most of it through the night. Back on Saturday evening there was a Barn Owl out on a fence post down close to Sunderland Farm and later on another at Erasaid over at Gruinart. Coming home from the walk with Bob yesterday, I had a Merlin just this side of the wee memmorial stone to the Kilchoman Bards down beside Loch Gorm and earlier on  just coming out of Bowmore there were 8 Pale bellied Brent Geese, the first I have seen for some time, must get out more often!

Wednesday 28th November

Last night was the monthly meeting of the Islay Bird nerds, so managed to get a few sightings through from those there of sightings that had not come through earlier. Down at Bruichladdich, George had seen 2 Otters the other day. Paul B. had seen 2 Golden Eagles down on the Oa on Tuesday, and up at Craigens he had 3 Brambling amongst a mixed flock of finches. This morning, before he left for home, Paul had an Otter about 30 yards from where he was standing along with his dog, the Otter was quite unfazed! Mary, back from her holiday on Tobago, had 3 Barn Owls down towards Portnahaven. Up in one of the fields beside his house, Bob had a flock of around 400  Ravens earlier in the week. Many thanks to Paul Beresford for sharing his sightings with us and see you again next year!

Thursday 15th November

A still day - with little wind or ocean roar, the geese filled the air with their chattering.
The juv white tailed eagle was seen again at Gruinart this morning plucking at a goose.
Barn owls seem to be very active, with 3 reported in the Gruinart area by Mark and Sally. They also reported on seeing the white tailed eagle at Gruinart on Monday, again tucking into a barnacle goose.
I have just come in from locking up the chickens- as I was about to shut the shed door out flew a barn owl!