Friday 25th October

Just as well we manage to keep a few birds in reserve for you, as today the weather has not been great.... Some of our contributors, Danny and also Sheila Bancroft headed home today, so thanks for their birds while they were here. The Horwich birders yesterday had seen  12 Whoopers on Loch Gorm, and then seen 12 take off from Gruinart and head away. On Traigh Baille Aonghais up past Killinallan they had a total of 72 Sanderling, and also 92 Ringed Plover. Whilst parking up at the gate at Killanallan they saw a pr of Stonechats there. Up at Gortantoid, 2 Wrens, 2 Robins, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Blackbirds were seen, as was a Peregrine which flew over low down and then headed off to the hills!Yesterday was the first day that they had not seen any Otters... The Red backed shrike had been seen again at Gruinart. Down on the Oa, Dave had seen a juv WTSE scaring the Geese present. Also on the reserve there were 2 Golden Eagles, Merlin, Buzzard and Hen Harrier. Dave had a count of 400 Whitefronts  with Twite numbers up to 420. other birds seen yesterday included 12 Redwing and 7 Whoopers. The Collinsons had seen 7 Pale bellied Brents down at Bowore today. The birders over with Naturetrek had seen 2 WTSE off Ardnave today and a Garganey amongst the Teal from the hide at Gruinart. Finally off the pier at Bruichladdich, some Common Scoters were seen but no sign of the Surf Scoter.

If you around on Tuesday evening, the "Islay bird nerds" will be meeting up, for their monthly meet, at the Visitor centre at Gruinart at 7.30pm. So if you are over, come along and have a blether, all welcome. 

Monday 13th May

James today had a dark phase Arctic Skua over the reserve at Gruinart. Out on the floods, 2 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall and 2 Wigeon were seen. From the new hide, the male Garganey was still present along with 3 White Wagtails and 3 Barwits. Along the flats, in the field behind Loch Gruinart House there were around 3,000 Dunlin and 2- 300 Ringed Plover. Visitors had commented on groups of Whimbrel being around. Andrew and Jane saw 2 Turnstone on the spit on Loch Indaal. On the woodland walk at Gruinart, they had a pr of Treecreepers carrying nesting materials. Alsopresent there were Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Willow Warbler, Wren and Robins. From the new hide they also had the Garganey and the Barwits, an Oystercatcher with a BTO ring on, Mallard with ducklings, 4 Teal, 3 Shoveler, Moorhen and 2 Reed Bunting. This evening, over at Coull there were 5 small groups of 4-5 Linnets. Between Coull and Ballinaby, there appear to be more Wheatears around at present. There was a small mixed flock of 30 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin at Ballinaby and also a pr of Canada Geese. On one of the barley fields down at Rockside there were 20 Greylags present.

Sunday 12th May

In between showers and now this evening, it is quite nice outside, even although the ground is soaking. Clark cheered me up no end by announcing this afternoon, that we have had more rain so far this month than we had for the whole of May last year... Think the weather is looking to improve from the middle of the week onwards, fingers crossed.... New visiting birder Alistair yesterday had 3 groups of Whimbrel, each around 20 birds between Bruichladdich and An Gleann down towards Portnahaven. He also heard at least 2 Corncrakes calling at Portnahaven. Today Alistair saw a Cuckoo on the overhead wires close to Wester Ellister. A sea watch from Portnahaven produced over 500 Manx Shearwaters flying North and also an Arctic Skua. Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots in good numbers too. Around 60 Fulmars flying North too, 4 Arctic Terns in the bay along with a GND. 2 Whitethroats were in song around Portnahaven. Andrew and Jane carried a out a sea watch from Port Wemyss for a an hour  this afternoon, with all birds heading North to Frenchman's Rocks. They were as follows, 300 Manx Shearwater, 150 Gannets, 250 razor/ motts, 50 Kittiwake, 15 Fulmar, 1 Bonxie and the Corncrake was heard behind the church at Portnahaven. James had heard  a Corncrake over at Grainel on the reserve at Gruinart. This morning before the weather broke down while he was out doing his surveys, James heard a total of 4 Grasshopper Warblers, and also saw a Shoveler sitting on a nest. Meanwhile Peter and Pia had been out in the rain and down at Foreland where they had heard 3 Grasshopper Warblers and a Sedge Warbler, also a Whitethroat singing away in the adverse conditions... This evening out in front of the new hide, they had a male Garganey. Back down at Bruichladdich 6 Common Sandpipers were seen along the shoreline.