Wednesday 26th February

Yesterday Bob had seen a Sparrowhawk just out of Bowmore. Today Ed had spotted an adult Glaucous Gull on the shore at Blackrock, later on he had an adult White tailed Sea Eagle near to Ballygrant. Back here at home, over the few days, some of the Lapwings appear to be pairing up and dislaying. This morning the Fulmars were back at the crag again...

Saturday 15th February

Yesterday, the Rochdale birders had seen a Glaucous Gull over at Duich, on their way there, they saw a male Hen Harrier hawking over the gardens as they left Bowmore!Whilst looking at the lbj flock of around 300 birds at Corsapol, a female Merlin zipped past, may be there are not 300 now! Behind Machir Bay they saw the flock of 100+ Lapwings. At Esknish, they had 25 Redwings and back at Port Charlotte there were 2 Sanderling and a Razorbill in the bay there as well as an Otter earlier on. In Port Charlotte itself, they have been seeing a female Grey Wagtail "attack" itself in its own image on a car mirror! Along at Carn, some Hares were seen "boxing" each other. Today James had a count on the floods at Gruinart, the scores on the doors were as follows, 182 Teal, 384 Lapwing, 73 Pintail, 10 Redshank, 2 Red breasted Merganser, 21 Shoveler, 117 Mallard, 9 Whoopers, 7 Mute swans, 44 Greylag, 2 Gadwall, 9 Wigeon, 4 Heron and 4 Snipe with a count of 680 Golden Plovrer out on the estuary.

Wednesday 5th February

Another good day out here with the weather, not that a lot of folk can say that today. Carl, today had counted 75 Curlew down at Port Ban. The Lochwinnoch birders shared some sightings through as well, yesterday they had 3 Purple Sandpipers at Bruichladdichh, a Black Guillemot on the Sound of Islay off Coal Ila. Today they had 11 GND and 11 R B Merganser in the bay at Port Ellen. Later on up behind Port Charlotte they had 16 Fieldfare and 24 Redwing, along at Kilchiaran Bay a Glaucous Gull was present.

Friday 3rd January

Yesterday, James saw a Golden Eagle over the reserve at Gruinart from his house. This morning, Jack Fleming had a Glaucous Gull from his his house along the flats at Gruinart. Visiting birder, David Bates had sent some sightings through via Malcolm. On the 31st December, David had 2 Canada Geese, hutchinsii sp over close to Mulindry, with another one seen down at Uiskentuie on the 1st of January. Other birds seen by David were a flock of 125 Skylark at Lyrabus, 3 Greenshank on reserve at Gruinart, 200 Twite and also 200 Rock Doves both at Craigens. He also saw a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull at Uiskentuie on the 2nd and also again today. So I wonder if that was the same bird that Jack had as I was not sure of its' age, and a different one from the Bruichladdich gull...

Monday 30 December

Thanks to James to writing the blog while I was down South in Surrey enjoying Xmas, think I missed all the stormy weather although there was frost on the cars when we headed for Gatwick yesterday morning.... we are not used to frosts over here!!! Down there, we saw Foxes(2), Molehills, Grey Squirrels, Green paratkeets, Green woodpecker, Magpies, Jays, Nuthatches, which we not see here on Islay, the odd Magpie yes, and the even rarer (to us) Green woodpecker. Yesterday Malcolm had a first winter Glaucous Gull in his garden at Bruichladdich, visiting birder Marc Eden had 7 Purple Sandpipers at Bruichladdich along with the Glaucous Gull, 130 Scaup on Loch Indaal with 5 Long tailed Duck also present there. Going over the moor to Gruinart, a Golden Eagle was seen above Cnoc Don, further on a flock of 60 Skylarks were noted and then on the rape field at Corsapol, 80 Twite were seen. Other visiting birders, Graham and Catherine Whitby had seen a Greenshank at Bun an Uillt.

Friday 5th April

Anna sent through this image of a Skylark which she took today down at Gartbreck. There were several up in the air, but Anna caught this one for us. Also there were several pairs of Lapwing displaying away on territory, must be that time of year again! Yesterday, George had 3 Wigeon, 5 Whitefronts, 15 Greylags, 2 Teal, 4 Mallards on his ponds with a Buzzard nearby. Today, George had seen 2 Otters, one directly below his house, the other along at Port Bhan. A short while later, the Otter below George's house was up on the shore eating away at a fish for some time! Yesterday, Dave had his first Wheatear of the year on the RSPB reserve on the Oa reserve. He also had 2 Otters, a Golden Eagle, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Peregrines and an adult Glaucous Gull. The Hen Harrier and the Merlin were mobbing one of the Peregrines, and then the Harrier peeled off and flew directly off over Loch Indaal towards the North side of Portnahaven. This is about the widest part of Loch Indaal! Here at home, there was great excitement as a pair of Shelduck had a look at the burrow where the Shelduck of Springwatch brought their brood from. The pair flew in and landed close to the entrance and were seen doing exactly the same a short time afterwards. There have not been any Shelduck there for the past 2- 3 years, so fingers crossed for 2013.

Friday 15th March

Mary and Nat had carried out a count on the floods at Gruinart today. The scores on the doors were as follows, 5 Snipe, 42 Mallard, 6 Wigeon, 12 Curlew, 7 Whoopers, 445 Teal, 4 Mute Swans, 3 Red breasted Merganser, 6 Pintail, 3 Heron, 20 Lapwing, 18 Greylag and 7 Shoveler. Marc Eden was in touch with some of his sightings from through his stay. Marc had the Red breasted Goose amongst the Barnies over at Gartbreck. Also at Gartbreck, Marc had an adult Glaucous Gull. Back on Tuesday, up at Ardnave he had a Wheatear, the first sighting of this year as far as I know here on Islay. Thanks Marc.

Thursday 21st February

Another great day with the weather out here today although as I write this entry around 10 pm it is a bit on the cool side outside at present, cold for here that is! Our birders on their last day had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier down close to where they have been staying at Carnain. On Loch Indaal, they had seen Scaup, Common Scoter, Eider Duck and Red breasted Merganser, waders included Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Close their cottage, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Robin were present. With the weather being that bit colder, the bird feeders have been really busy yesterday and today compared with the other day when temperature was a bit warmer.Many thanks for your sightings folks which you have shared with us. Down at Gartbreck other visitors today had seen the Glaucous Gull.

Monday 18th February

The Hampshire birders had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the top of Loch Indaal yesterday morning. Later on up towards the hills past Mulindry they had a Heron, a flock of 20 Fieldfare, with a Golden Eagle out over the moor. This morning they had a ringtail Hen Harrier close to "smelly corner" or Carnain to give its' correct name! New birders over for the week, Steve and family, on Saturday had seen 2 Golden Eagles from the Glen road. Yesterday at Bunnahabhain the Iceland Gull was seen. On Loch Indaal, 4 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Long tailed Duck as well as some Common Scoter and GNDs were present. Close to Bowmore they had seen a Glaucous Gull. Yesterday, Peter Roberts had a small flock of 30 Twite up towards Gortantoid. This morning Jane Griffiths had a Golden Eagle on a road kill Hare along from Uiskentuie, it was not having much peace from the traffic, but gave up in the end, for 2  pesky Hooded Crows to come along and then finally a Buzzard came for the remains!

Thursday 14th February

The temperature out here almost got in to double figures today, even had my jersey off  for a while this afternoon...Bob heard a Skylark singing away over beside where he lives. He also had seen a Golden Eagle out over the forestry behind Octomore, a male Hen Harrier as well as a Woodcock and a Short eared Owl. This morning, we had a Golden Eagle sitting on a straining post as we headed down towards Sunderland. As we got closer it took off and it was great to see one so close, no mistaking it, might even have been the same one that Bob saw, not that far over the hill! Coming home over at the road end to Culbuie, there were a pair of Stonechats and back at home there were around a dozen Fulmars soaring around along the front of the crag. Earlier on in the week, Michal and Nat along with the vols at RSPB carried out a count on Loch Gruinart. Highlight was a Glaucous Gull, other birds seen were 383 Shelduck, 181 Wigeon, 59 Pintail, 222 Oysterctcher, 600 Golden Plover, 78 Lapwing, 80 Sanderling, 89 Dunlin, 97 Barwits, 190 Curlew and 55 Redshank. Nat had 5 Heron, 8 Goldeneye, 10 Whoopers, 17 Wigeon and 205 Teal all on Ardnave Loch.

Wednesday 2nd January

Pete Clements kindly sent through this image of the Iceland Gull via Peter Roberts, taken today up at Bunnahabhain. To cap his day, Pete also saw a imm. Glaucous Gull along the top of Loch Indaal, between Uiskentuie and Bruichladdich. A new type of "tick" for Pete as he has never had the 2 species on the one day before! Earlier on, Pete had 32 Pale bellied Brent Geese up at Bridgend. Peter reckons that the Glaucous Gull is a first for Islay this winter, certainly I have not heard any other sightings from anybody else. Pia spoke with a group of visiting birders up at Whinpark at Bridgend today who were watching a pair of imm. White tailed Sea Eagles. George the other day had a Peregrine from the new hide at Gruinart. Managed this morning to speak with Clark, and between us the "unofficial" tally for rain in 2012 was a mere 55 inches, compared with 61.5 inches in 2011....hate to think off some figures from other areas away from Islay!!!

Monday 19th November

A really wet and wild night- more than an inch of rain. The view from my kitchen window over the Gruinart Flats was an extremely moist scene.
Still more whoopers moved through the reserve, with a total of 23 split into 2 groups. Also on the mud were 120 golden plover all huddled against the wind.
Dave sent me through a report from the Oa (thankyou)- a Glaucous gull, 330 twite, 2 golden eagles, a ringtail hen harrier, 5 goldeneye, a red breasted merganser and several groups of fieldfares and redwing.

Wednesday 7th November

Sorry about the late entry, but here goes....Yesterday, David and Jenny had been round at Saligo Bay and had an interesting sighting of a Shearwater, but were not 100% sure whether it was Cory's or a Great, but it was a Shearwater for sure and not a young Gannet either. David realises that it possibly is a bit late in the year but some can occur in November. Answers on a postcard....Today, they were back at Saligo with 60 Kittiwake, a Fulmar and a Gannet. Along at Ballinaby were 80 Golden Plover and a ringtail Hen Harrier, up behind Port Charlotte, a Sparrowhawk was seen. Michael today had 2 RTD, 2 GND,  65 Common Scoter, 1 Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone at Bruichladdich. Along at Blackrock, 18 Turnstone were seen, further on along the top of loch towards Bridgend were a total of 48 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Over at Loch Gruinart, Michael had a White tailed Sea Eagle, 290 Golden Plover, 190 Barwits and 2 Greenshank. Up at Sanaigmore a Peregrine, 2 Chough, and 16 Linnet were counted. Machir Bay held 16 Chough and also the 1st winter Glaucous Gull and back at Kilchoman at the dusk, a repeat of last night again (forgot to mention this yesterday...) a Peregrine flew through the Jackdaws as they came into roost!!! Through the day today, I saw a Coal Tit at the feeders, the first for some time! James had a count of 9770 Barnies, 371 Whitefronts and 12 Greylags on the reserve, 3 Whoopers flew in and also out on Loch Gruinart itself were 255 Wigeon.

Saturday 3rd November

A miserable sort of a day out here today, with squally showers coming out of nowhere and also the temperature not that great either, it's that time of year I should remember....On to more positive thoughts! Yesterday, the Red breasted Goose was seen up towards Ardnave, proving quite a bit of a challenge to be seen! The Waxwings were still present at Port Askaig . David and Jenny round at Coille had the large "finch flock" consisting of mainly Chaffinch with some Twite and a Linnet too, but the 2 Bramblings were seen there too! Further on they saw 2 Golden Eagles up towards Sanaigmore. At Ballinaby, a flock of 30 Golden Plover were present. Over at Gruinart, they had both a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, 2 Greenshank and 6 Gadwall.  Michal had Snow Bunting on the track at Saligo.  George had an Otter down at Bruichladdich. Today at Machir Bay, David and Jenny birds included 2 Gannets, a Long tailed Duck, an immature Kittiwake, an imm. Glaucous Gull and a ringtail Hen Harrier. Pia had 6 Waxwings in her garden in Bruichladdich, offshore on Loch Indaal a flock of over 60 Common Scoter were present, and an Otter was seen eating a large crab, not bad going from the house!!

Tuesday 30th October

Bob sent though this image of a Waxwing which he took in his garden at lunchtime today, perched on topof the Raspberry bushes, note the Dahlias out in bloom too.... Earlier on Bob had been down at Frenchman's Rocks and seen several groups of Common Scoter flying South and also a Glaucous Gull. On his way there he had 2 Stonechats as well. Jim Dickson had been over from Lochgilphead for the day. At Sunderland Farm Jim had the Red brested Goose as well as a Golden Eagle there too. Along at Coille, he had 8 Brambling. On Loch Indaal, Jim had a total count of 86 Pale bellied Brent Geese, with 2 White tailed Sea Eagles at the head of the loch, and finally up at Cruach behind Bowmore there was a single Pink footed Goose present. David and Jenny, regular visitors from Staffs yesterday had the following birds, Golden Eagle up towards Sanaigmore, White tailed Sea Eagle flew from Ballinaby towards Gruinart, male Hen Harrier at Ballinaby, a total of 9 Stonechats around Loch Gorm, 180 Greylags on Loch Gorm, 4 different Kestrels round Loch Gorm, 100 Scaup on Loch Indaal, 2 Long tailed Ducks on Loch Indaal, 3 RTD & 8 GND there too