Monday 3rd February

I was speaking this morning to a friend who lives up behind Bridgend who was telling me that their rain guage for January tallied out at 11.2" for last month, see the folk that live up in the hills....Some sightings now for you. The Lochwinnock birders had seen a Sparrowhawk hunting over the gorse bushes at Gartbreck on Saturday and a small flock of 12 Golden Plover down between the Airport and the shore (I forgot to put them on!)Yesterday they had a ringtail Hen Harrier out in front of the hides at Gruinart. They also had a Peregrine out from the old hide. Along at Leck Gruinart they saw 2 Buzzards. Over the reserve, there was a flock of over 700 Golden Plover along with some Dunlin were flying around being chased by another Hen Harrier! Out in front of the hides were 50 Redshank, 50 Shelduck, 6 Pintail, many Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon as well as some Lapwing. They also saw a Stonechat. Also seen were 3 Hares and 5 Roe Deer. Peter had taken a walk out to Ardnave Point, highlights included a Snow Bunting, 2 groups of Twite totalling 40 in all. Between Ardnave Point and Nave Island 6 GND were on the water, while up on the shore on Ardnave Island 70 Grey Seals were parked up. Ardnave Loch held 6 Whoopers a few Tufties, lots of Teal and also 2 Goldeneye. The adjoining fields held a flock of 75 Lapwing. On his way home, Peter had trip down to the old hide at Gruinart where he had 4 Whoopers, lots of Teal,8 Pintail, 16 Shoveler and a ringtail Hen Harrier.

Monday 13th January

A better day over here, no rain to speak of, altough not the warmest of days...still it is January!!! Yesterday Peter saw a Razorbill and also a juv. Kittiwake, both off the pier at Bruichladdich. Today Peter reported through that the Iceland Gull was still along close to Uiskentuie, but no reports of our ever faithful Iceland Gull over at Bunnahabhain so far. Over at Port Ellen today, Bob had 4 female Goldeneye in the bay, down on the Oa, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers were seen with a male along the low road and another male close to his house up behind Port Charlotte, late afternoon.

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.

Monday 18th March

Carl yesterday had seen 5 male and 3 female Tufted Duck down on the "duck pond" in the dunes behind Machir Bay. Bob over the last couple of days had the impression that he was seeing more geese flying up Loch Indaal, it will interesting to hear the figures from the International Goose count being held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wally and Jude are back over for another "Islay fix". They had seen a couple of "Atlantic" Canada Geese, the large Canadas that we do not often see here. They were in a mixed flock of Barnies and Whitefronts, where I can't remember! Yesterday between Kilchiaran and Cultoon they had 2 male Hen harriers. Loch Skerrols was quiet today, but there were 3 Mute Swan and a pr of Goldeneye present. Over close to Bun an uillt on Loch Gruinart there were around 45- 50 Turnstone seen. Think they are up to 70 species already after arriving on Saturday afternoon....

Wednesday 9th January

Another great day here with another day forecast for tomorrow, at least I hope that is what we are going to get, I do not mind if the temperature drops, it is after all Winter time and the month of January. Bob had seen a Golden Eagle today up at Sanaigmore, down at Ballinaby he had a small flock of 20 Twite, while checking Loch Gorm for geese Bob saw 2 male Goldeneye and finally close to Sunderland he had a female Sparrowhawk.

Monday 17th December

Yesterday, Malcolm had been out round at Ballinaby, on the lookout for the Whitefronts that were caught and rung last week. Malcolm managed to see 30 out of the 31 geese that were rung, the exception being 2HX. By the sound of things, they were all together in the same stubble turnip field as last week! Peter and Pia had gone out yesterday afternoon on the hunt of the elusive Red breasted Goose up in the Gruinart area, but no joy...but did have good numbers of  Barwits, Wigeon, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Redshank, and some Curlews. At Craigens, they had 2 Whitefronts with neck collars on, not from last week, but rung in West Greenland back in 1997! They were regularly seen on the Mull of Kintyre up to 2007/ '08 and since then winter visitors to Islay, not so far to fly! Up on Ardnave Loch itself, they had 15 Whoopers and 12 Goldeneye and counted around 54 Chough close by. Back down at Gortan, there was a total of 17 Pale bellied Brent feeding there. Today down in the woods at Bridgend, they had Siskin on the feeders at The Woolen Mill and also several Goldcrest in the trees. Back at Bruichladdich this afternoon, Peter and Pia had Eiders catching Crabs, the Eiders themselves in turn were being pirated by gulls! Also present were some Mergansers and Shags with 2- 3 GND further out on Loch Indaal.