Wednesday 27th November

Not much news sent through so just more birds from the Oa. Another good day for seeing raptors, with Golden Eagle, Merlin, male and female Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk all seen whilst out and about today. Yesterday 2 Goldeneye were on Loch Kinnabus, a Red Grouse was seen on the hill and a good count of 93 Rock Dove also at Kinnabus.

Friday 13th September

Yesterday, going over the "Glen road" from Ballygrant down to Mulindry past Storakaig, Paul and Kathleen had  seen a Sparrowhawk and also 2 Hen Harriers.  On Loch Lossit they had a Dabchick. Later on at the top of Loch Indaal, they saw 2 GND and from "smelly corner" 100 Barwits, 36 Ringed Plover and 46 Dunlin were added to their tally for the week. This morning Paul headed down to Frenchman's Rocks for a couple of hours sea watching from 7am. His tally there was 297 Manx Shearwater (all flying South), 424 Gannet (flying both N & S), 16 Fulmar, 8 Kittiwake, 1 Razorbill, 1 GND and 11 Shag. Mid afternoon, looking out of the kitchen window and over the big crag, there were 5 Buzzards flying around together along with 3 Ravens. There were around 50 Swallows flying round about the old church at the same time, so wonder if they were some youngsters gathering before heading off for warmer climes... We will wait and see if they are here tomorrow!

Friday 8th February

Today was the last full day here on Islay for the Lochwinnoch Birders, Garry and Sam. The weather stayed good for them so Garry and Sam had a good day birding. Down along Machir Bay they had Kittiwakes and a few Fulmar. Far along the hill, above the masts along at Kilchiaran, a Golden Eagle was seen, along the dunes at the back of Machir Bay they had a total count of 9 Buzzards, some on the ground others on the wing. Down there too they saw a ringtail Hen Harrier. This afternoon they headed over to the reserve at Gruinart where they counted a flock of 533 Golden Plover and also over 400 Lapwing. Other birds at Gruinart included 49 Dunlin, 4 Redshank, 38 Barwits and 68 Shelduck. In the wood at Gruinart, they had a small flock of Long tailed Tits. Many thanks for sharing your birds folks! Yesterday, Jane Griffiths had a Dipper on the River Sorn.

Monday 5th November

This morning the weather was not too good, but after midday it turned a great day... Yesterday Michael, a visiting birder over for the week, had started off at Loch Gruinart with 2 Golden Eagle (1 imm.) , 160 Golden Plover, 25 Ringed Plover, 104 Sanderling, 140 Dunlin and 15 Turnstone. Up at Ardnave he had 3 GND and 5 Snow Buntings. Finally down at Bridgend he had a count of 520 Golden Plover. David and Jenny yesterday had a Merlin over at Gruinart and a Golden Eagle as well as a Peregrine at Loch Skerrols. Today, Michael had 21 Whoopers arriving at Gruinart, 1 Peregrine, on the estuary there rather than on the floods, 4 Gadwall, 41 Pintail and 34 Shoveller were present. On his way down to Loch Indaal, at Lyrabus and looking over to Foreland, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin were seen. On Loch Indaal itself, between Blackrock and round to Bruichladdich, 13 GND, 24 RTD, 1 Black throated Diver, 13 Slavonian Grebe, 114 Scaup (very close to the road giving good sightings), 1 Long tailed Duck and finally off Bruichladdich Pier, 29 Common Scoter were counted. Earlier this morning, George had a count of 21 at Brichladdich. Today David and Jenny had seen 150 Wigeon on Ardnave Loch with around 700 Barnies roosting up on the beach over on Nave Island. Down at Claggain Bay, they had around 80 Meadow Pipits with a fall of 22 Robins! They also had a couple of Yellowhammers along at the Kildalton Cross. A Sparrowhawk was seen on the high road  out of Port Ellen. Peter this morning had a Waxwing fly over Bruichladdich.. Bob today had 220 Whitefronts out on the barley stubble out in front of his house along with some Rock Doves. There was also a imm. Peregrine perched up for ages just watching, then it started to cause havoc with the doves!  High up 7 Whoopers were seen heading South. On Bolsay Moor, Bob had 3 Red Grouse along with a couple of Snipe. Here at home at lunchtime, over the big crag, I had a count of 10 Buzzards all wheeling around, I counted them 3 times and came with 10 each time! Later on closer to 5pm, as the light was starting to fail there were 4 Buzzards out and also a Golden Eagle. Robin from Settle, had done a count down on Loch Indaal at 9am, 17 Slav. Grebe, 8 GND, 6 RTD, 14 Knot and 60 Golden Plover. Bridgend Woods held a Woodcock, a flock of around 100 Chaffinch along with usual Tits and Treecreepers as well. On Loch Gruinart from the Killinallan side, 20 Pintail, 14 Shoveller, 1 male Gadwall, 2 Greenshank, 1 Grey Plover were seen. Out from Port Bhan on Loch Indaal, late afternoon, Robin had 3 flocks of Common Scoter, one with 20 females, and mostly males in the other 2 flocks, totalling 54 in all. Finally back up to Gruinart, but on the reserve this time, Robin had 97 Shelduck, 87 Golden Plover, 32 Whoopers and around 20 red legs.