Thursday 6th March

Thanks to James who has compiled the entries to the blog while I was away over on the mainland. Some sightings through from last week. Somehow I managed to omit Paul's birds from last Wednesday, he had walked from Ballygrant through to Port Askaig. In the trees around Loch Ballygrant, he had a Treecreeper and several Goldcrest. Further on Paul had a Great spotted Woodpecker and on the Lily Loch a Dabchick was present. Later on over at Craigens, there was a small flock of 10 Twite and on the reserve at Gruinart, 7 adult Whooper Swans 2 ringtail Hen Harrier and around 300 Golden Plover. Yesterday, Ken and the Burbage birders had seen the Canada Goose hutchinsii down beside Loch Indaal. Beside the Gaelic College, 147 Barwits and 1 Knot were seen. Smelly corner held 40 Shelduck, with 19 Black Guillemots counted in the Sound of Islay at Coal Ila. A Dipper was seen at the Woolen Mill and finally up behind Port Charlotte a flock of 137 Barnies along with a solitary Pinkie!

Tuesday 24th September

On Friday, over on Jura a Great spotted Woodpecker was seen at Tarbert and Gordon Muir, Louise's other half had 3 Snow Buntings on the West coast of Jura. Yesterday, James had a White tailed Sea Eagle flying over at Keills.Also yesterday, late afternoon, Frank Warren had a Kingfisher on the River Laagan up at the bridge overthe "High road". Today, on the overhead wires up beside his house James had a mixed flock of 115 Linnet and Twite. At the birds nerds tonight, we had 13 folk along a mix of visitors and locals, the craic was good, good to catch up with each other.... birds not so good but a Ruff was seen amongst the waders. A Hen Harrier spoofed the ducks as well, and a Peregrine was on the straining post in the fence line, just watching all around...Carl was in contact today saying that there had been a large number of Swallows around Port Charlotte yesterday and there appeared to be none today, and James was saying that at Gruinart yesterday a good number were present but very few today, so perhaps they have headed South, certainly none here at home today either...

Sunday 7th July

Peter yesterday had seen 3 Great spotted Woodpeckers flying together over the back of Ballygrant, one was definitely a female, so could this possibly have been another first for Islay, a breeding pr of Woodpeckers?? Coming home Peter counted 50 Barwits at Blackrock. Bob had counted 104 Curlew, mostly juv birds and also 4 Common Sandpipers at Carnain the other morning. He has also had a brood of Willow Warblers in his garden, over at Loch Gorm Bob saw 2 Herons. Here at home there has been a Collared Dove hanging around the last couple of days. No more news of the Frigatebird, sorry folks!

Thursday 16th May

Another glorious sunny day here again, just wish the sun would give us heat as well as light, no pleasing some folks......On Monday this week, Natalie from RSPB had carried a count out on Loch Gruinart, with the following birds seen, 1 GND, 208 Shelduck, 16 Eider, 4 R B Merganser, 182 Oystercatcher, 1879 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1279 Dunlin, 21 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 26 Turnstone, 6 Whimbrel, 11 Common Gull, 17 Herring Gull, 4 GBB Gull and 1 Greylag. On Ardnave Loch, birds were 33 Whimbrel, 2 Barwits, 2 Mute Swan, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Heron. Today Natalie saw 2 adult White tailed Sea Eagles hunting over the flats at Gruinart. Michal over the last couple of days has been down on the Oa, his birds included, 1 Golden Eagle, pr of Hen Harrier, 8 Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 1 singing Goldcrest and a Dipper carrying food. In the bay down at Port Ellen, Michal counted 21 Whimbrel. Yesterday Bob had a ringtail Hen Harrier close by his house, the first he has seen for a few weeks. Down off  Port Mor at Port Charlotte, Bob had 8 GND  and 7 Arctic Terns inshore with a feeding frenzy a lot  further out on the Loch consisting of over 40 Terns, Gannets, Kittiwakes and other gulls. He also had 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Razorbill, 12 Whimbrel and 220 Common Scoter. This morning Peter was over at Dunlossit and had a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. He also had Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers all singing away. Also heard were Cuckoo, Long tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Treecreeper and Goldcrest were all heard as were Little Grebes calling away on Loch Allan. To finish off with Peter had an adult White tailed Sea Eagle fly past, great! Andrew and Jane today had been down in the woods towards Kildalton and had seen 3 Yellowhammers as well as numerous Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. Along at Claggain Bay and in that area they had 8 Artcic Tern, 1 GND, 1 RTD, 1 light phase Pomarine Skua, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 male Reed Buntings, more Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff,  4 Redpoll, and an elusive Cuckoo who never gave up. Returning home, at Blackrock 4 Whoopers were present and Kestrel was seen just before they got to Bruichladdich. Today down at Portnahaven, Alistair had heard the Corncrake calling and also a Cuckoo. At Port Bhan, a Black Guillemot and a GND were seen and 14 Whimbrel counted too. Dave down on the Oa today had a Swift, heard a Cuckoo and saw a Whinchat

Sunday 21st April

Today, Peter and Pia had been over at Loch Allan and had seen an Osprey fishing there. There were also around 20 Swallows in flight there too. They also heard 5 Willow Warblers as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woods. Today James had 17 Barwits over at Loch Grinart with "lots of Swallows and Sand Martins" present there as well. Here at home, the Siskins were busy on the feeders again, with the Willow Warblers out in the back garden. Yesterday, Carl had a White Wagtail at Gortan and reported in to say that he had "lots of Willow Warblers in Bridgend woods and also more along at Springbank". On Thursday James had carried out a count on the floods at Gruinart with the tally as follows, 321 Teal, 4 Moorhen, 38 Mallard, 21 Wigeon, 7 Heron, 9 Pintail, 27 Redshank, 90 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 2 Whooper  Swan, 10 Mute Swan, 3 Red breasted Merganser and 7 Gadwall. 

Sunday 3rd February

A Great spotted Woodpecker has been seen on the feeders at the bird table down at Foreland House by Amgela MacLeod. This morning there were some Fulmars in along the front of the crags, something afoot me thinks!! James had been up at Ardnave yesterday. On Ardnave Loch he had 7 Whooper Swans. He also had a count of 34 Chough at Ardnave too, a small flock of 23 Twite was present as well. Down on the shore there was a dead Dogfish. James also saw a Grey Plover, the leucistic Barwit was noted and a 13 Cormorants seen in total. The weather closed in late afternoon, with the crag being lost in the mist and evening ferry being diverted to Port Askaig!!!