Monday 7th October

Yesterday, down at the new hide at Gruinart, Bob had a male Peregrine sitting on a fence post watching all that was going on. Then a few moments later, a large female Peregrine swooped along the loch and put up 48 Redshank and 3 Dunlin. Later on at the head of Loch Indaal, Bob had 120 Pale bellied Brent and then down at Kintra, a Bonxie was seen. Finally back at Port Charlotte, a Swallow was present. Today, here at home, there was a Peregrine sitting up on the crag. Is it the same bird that keeps an eye out on the Rock Doves???

Monday 2nd September

I know that yesterday was the first day of  the Autumn, think we now realise what that means as the temperature has dropped quite a bit and today the weather has been rather miserable, certainly no sun shining here for sure... Fortunately I saved some birds that James had at Gruinart yesterday. The Osprey was seen again, a Bonxie or Great Skua seen, 20 Blackwits counted, Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk seen as well. I had a Sparrowhawk out over the wood here at home this morning as I went up to the shed. Not really a day for doing much outside work with  the mist rolling in and out shrouding the crags quite often!  Not often you get me complaining about the weather....

Sunday 5th May

Another image sent through by the Argyll birder, Jim Dickson of a Ringed Plover which he saw in the rain this morning before heading home. Between the entrance and sailing up West Loch Tarbert, Jim had 26 Black throated Divers, 32 GND, 12 Red Throated Divers and 12 Sandwich Terns. Thanks to Jim for his input and also sharing his images with us.Yesterday, George had 4 Hares running around close to his house, certainly there appear to be more of them out and about, just counted 10 down at Rockside! Back to birds, The Hammils from  Glasgow had seen 3 Shorelarks up past Killinallan today, the last sighting as far as I know was by Gus Keys when he worked with RSPB on the Oa. Bob and Martin today had been down past Ardbeg and had seen 4 Herons, 10 pr Greylags, pr of Canada Geese, 1 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 1 drake Wigeon, 3 pr Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Sandwich Tern and heard 2 Cuckoos. Round at Ballinaby today, Peter counted 45 Golden Plover, 20 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin. He also reported through that the Black Guillemots are back at Bruichladdich Pier. Emily had 10 Whimbrel and 3 Barnies fly over Moulin at Gruinart today. Up past Moulin on the verge side there were 5 Goldfinches. She was also complaining of a Cuckoo calling from 4 am the last 2 mornings....Andrew and Jane today had a Black throated Diver and over 50 Scoter on Loch Indaal down between the Airport and Carn. Off Port Wemyss, they had a Bonxie and also Manx Shearwater, round Claddach a fall of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff, finally a male Hen Harrier towards Gearach. Round Loch Gorm this evening, we had 32 Greylags up on the barley field behind Machrie, many Wheatears all the way round, a Reed Bunting at Saligo. At Ballinaby, there were 101 Golden Plover and 27 Dunlin, no sign of any Ringed Plover, further on there was a Golden Eagle and another 39 Greylags.
Finally , in case you have forgotten, if you spare an hour tomorrow night , watch the TV, BBC1 Scotland at 9 pm for the first of 4 programs called "Hebrides, Islands on the edge". See if you can spot some humans that you may know as well as the abundant wildlife on show.....