Sunday 9th February

Some sightings through from the Sevenoak birders who are over for a few days. Yesterday from the old hide at Gruinart they had a White tailed Sea Eagle, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Greenshank, 6 Whooper Swan, 5 Red breasted Merganser and a Roe deer. Along at the new hide, they saw some Barwits, Redshank, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Lapwing. Up at Ardnave Loch they saw 8 Goldeneye on the Loch itself with some Culew and Oystercatcher on the shore. Today down at Port Ellen, a Rock Pipit was added to their list. Later, better still, a Golden Eagle at Storakaig, a pr of Stonechats along with several Buzzards seen on their travels. Up at Bunnahabhain, they saw 3 GND, an Otter munching its way through a crab, with a Red breasted Merganser seen there too. At Gruinelbeg (just North of Loch Gorm) they had a mixed flock of 20 Redwing and Fielldfare. Round past Ballinaby, they had 20 Ringed Plover and over the crag at Kilchoman, a Peregrine zipped past. Finally down over Loch Gorm they saw a possible Marsh Harrier.

Saturday 9th November

Natalie had carried out the Webs count at Gruinart yesterday with the scores on the doors reading as follows, 2GND, 6 Cormorant, 4 Shag, 9 Heron, 69 Shelduck, 112 Wigeon, 56 Mallard, 2 Eider, 33 R B Merganser, 117 Oystercatcher, 38 Ringed Plover, 660 Golden Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 168 Lapwing, 56 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 139 Barwits, 110 Curlew, 71 Redshank, 41 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 11 Shoveler, 23 Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 30 BH Gull, 61 C. Gull, 47 H. Gull and 4 GBB Gull. Ian and Susan had seen a leveret while on the Moorland walk at Gruinart yesterday.  Thanks to Ian, Susan and Michael for their input over the last week, as ever greatwhen visitors feed their sightings to us to share with you all. Mark and Sally had been over the previous week and their visit had a sad sighting as they had seen a dead Water Rail on the road between Bridgend and Bowmore, with the poor bird struck by some vehicles.

Friday 18th October

Yesterday our Horwich birders had been out and about. On their way over to Gruinart they had at the former Kilchoman school, on the hawthorn berries 12 Redwing along with 12 Blackbirds (migrant type), all gorging themselves on the available food.  Up at Bun an Uillt, they saw 2 Greenshank, from the new hide at Gruinart, a female Sparrowhawk, and from the old hide a ringtail Hen Harrier. Also seen from there were 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, and many Teal, Wigeon and Lapwing. From the viewing platform a Swallow was hawking  along the trees.  Later on, off Ardnave Point, a GND was spotted and several groups of Gannets were seen flying past.  6 Turnstone were seen on the rocks, and they even were fortunate to watch an Otter loafing about for the best part of an hour...Back down at the farm steading at Ardnave, a group of 40 Golden Plovers were present. Earlier on in the morning while it was still raining, they did some birding from the shelter of their cottage and saw at least 65 Reed Buntings coming in to shelter in the trees from the squally showers. Finally at Ballinaby they had a Whitefront with a collar on reading 3HX, possibly one that was "collared" there last winter. Dave down on the Oa, has seen some of the ones that were fitted with collars last Spring down there again. Finally Andrew and Jane had seen an immature White tailed Sea Eagle up behind Bridgend being mobbed by Gulls as it flew over...

Saturday 5th October

Yesterday Carl had lots of Swallows hawking for food out on Loch Indaal out from Port Charlotte. Also yesterday, Peter had the return of the 5 Black Guillemots to the pier at Bruichladdich, after a long absence, but now showing off their winter plumage... Further out were 17 Common Scoter and 3 RTD. Today Peter had been up at Killinallan and had seen a Greenshank amongst the waders present including Curlews and Barwits. He also had seen a Wheatear over there too.  Later on, over Loch Gorm, Peter had 14 Whitefronts flying. Around midday we had 120 Barnies on Loch Gorm itself along with several hundred Greylags on the water as well. Early this evening, there was no sign of the Barnies on Loch Gorm, although the Greylags were still there, and a quick spin over to Gruinart, but no Barnies noticed there either, sheltering up behind the sea wall out of our view no doubt!

Monday 16th September

In between the squally showers today, Bob managed to take a couple from Germany out for some birding. In the dunes behind Machir Bay, they had small flocks of Goldfinch, Linnet and Twite. Overhead were 7 Chough, 3 Curlew and 3 Blackwits flew past. Also overhead, a Peregrine came out of nowhere and zapped a Buzzard! From the new hide at Gruinart, 300 Teal, 50 Lapwing, 2 Greenshank and a female Peregrine were also seen. Coming along past the wood as they returned to their car, there was a mixed flock of House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows swooping low catching their food on the wing. Also on the reserve today, James had a Merlin.

Thursday 8th August

Today Dave had a Greenshank down on the reserve on the Oa. Yesterday Mary had noticed that the flock of Starlings round Portnahaven appears to be increasing in number...Walking along the road between Ballymeanach and Portnahaven, Mary had Willow Warblers calling, Sedge Warblers seen in the verges, Grasshopper Warblers singing away and also a perched Raven calling away as well!!! Later on along the strand towards Uiskentuie, 2 Chough were seen and also a Sparrowhawk close to the office at Gruinart. On the road itself, there were quite a lot of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Coming home the other evening, there were some frogs hopping about on the road itself...and a hedgehog on the verge after Sunderland, we have not seen one for a while....

Thursday 1st August

Yes, the rainfall certainly was dry for the month, a mere 2" in total, and according to the official weather forecast, high record temperatures for Islay for July. Today it has been different, another month you may well say, but almost 0.5" so far and the day is not through yet...Yesterday some sightings through from James and Mary from the reserve at Gruinart... A Water Rail was seen, later on a Corncrake as it crossed over the track leading down to the old hide. 2 Peregrines were spooking the waders, mainly Redshank and Lapwing but 2 Greenshank were spotted there too... James also had 2 Hen Harriers on the reserve . A Lizard was seen out on the footpath at Gruinart too, as had been an Adder earlier on!!! Mary also was saying that she has been seeing more Willow Warblers lately down at Portnahaven, plus the fact that they are more vocal of late!!

Tuesday 9th July

Last night, later on after I had to "press", Peter had seen 2 Greenshank off the Pier at Bruichladdich. Been another wee cracker of a day out here like everywhere else, so the plan for tomorrow is  get up early and finish clipping the sheep. For folk that did not see the series "Hebrides, Islands on the edge", the first time it was on the TV, well it is being screened again on BBC2 at 9pm on Thursday 11th July, on the whole network, not just BBC Scotland. Well worth watching, see if you can spot anyone on it....

Monday 25th March

Here on Islay, the electric board boys are winning the battle, with praise coming from all around. It is still rather cool, think the phone lines will take longer to restore as they do not appear to have the same number of back up crews...The Bolton birders had seen 24 Oystercatcher, 12 Twite and 6 Redwing in a field over at Ardtalla. In Ardtalla Bay, they had 8 Red breasted Merganser, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Eider, 4 Shelduck and 6 Turnstone. On Loch Indaal, just out of Bowmore, 8 Pale bellied Brent Geese and a female Goldeneye were present. Coming home, they counted 70 Teal at Carnain with 2 Mute Swan in the pools there. Along the flats at Gruinart, a male Stonechat was seen, and at Ballinaby the Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Lapwing were still there from yesterday, but today 6 Whoopers were also there along with 22 Curlew. Betweeen Saligo and Coull, a Barn Owl was out early at 6.15pm! Finally at Coull roadend, they counted 46 Curlew. Today Mick saw a Dipper at the mouth of Glen Logan on the Sound of Islay. Wally and Jude had a Greenshank and their first Barwit (this visit) over past Bun an Uillt. They also reported that another visitor saw a White tailed Sea Eagle over close to Port Ellen. James had a juv. WTSE over at Gruinart yesterday and later on a Peregrine Falcon over his house. Early this evening James counted 10 Whoopers over at the ponds on the flats at Gruinart. I saw 2 Whoopers fly in from the sea heading towards Rockside around midday.

Thursday 14th March

Some sightings through from George. After very few ducks on his ponds so far this winter, he has 9 Wigeon and 2 Teal being seen regularly of late. Yesterday he had heard a frog croaking away but could not locate it! A Buzzard was seen as were 4 Snipe which is fewer than normal. George had 2 Mistle Thrushes and like me feels that he has seen more Blackbirds and Song Thrushes recently. Also in his fields there were 13 Greenland Whitefronts. Back on Tuesday, Mary had been helping out with the Deer count over at Dunlossit. On her stretch, going North by Storakaig, Mary had 2 Red Grouse, a Golden Eagle with a Golden Plover heard overhead. 2 Lizards were seen trying to bask... On Wednesday down on the Oa, she had 7 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 1 male Hen Harrier, 1 Golden Eagle and 2 pairs of Ravens. Today, Mary had done a count on Loch Gruinart, the tally being as follows,  2 GND, 290 Shelduck, 198 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 44 Mallard, 4 Eider, 14 Red breasted Merganser, 180 Oystercatcher, 9 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Lapwing, 242 Dunlin, 73 Barwits, 12 Blackwits, 147 Curlew, 61 Redshank, 16 Turnstone, 5 Greenshank, 25 Black headed Gulls, 99 Common Gulls, 36 Lesser bb Gulls, 78 Herring Gulls and 6 Gbb Gulls. Ardnave Loch held 7 Oystercatcher, 6 Goldeneye, 1 Redshank, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Greylag, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Whooper Swan, 4 Wigeon, 17 Teal, 18 Mallard and 8 Tufted Duck.

Saturday 2nd March

Phil and Kath headed home today, but before leaving had 2 Hen Harriers up behind Port Charlotte, they also saw some frog spawn close to The Gearach while on the former Distillery pond at Port Charlotte itself, they had 2 Moorhen. Thanks folks for your sightings. Peter today had been up towards Bunnahabhain and had seen the White tailed Sea Eagle, the Iceland Gull was present as was a Goldcrest. He also saw a Peregrine being mobbed by 3 Ravens. Down on Loch Skerrols, 6 Goldeneye were present. David Jardine who is over birding had a good day starting off with a Grey Wagtail at Bridgend. Other highlights included a Knot amongst some Curlew down at Machir Bay, 2 Sanderling were also there. A Greenshank was seen at Gruinart, with Shoveler and Gadwall seen along with the ducks there. Up towards Garra Eallabus, 2 Brambling were spotted in the "game crop" while off Arnave, David had 3 Gannets. Purple Sandpiper were  at Bruichladdich, while over off Bowmore there was a possible Black necked Grebe amongst some Slavonian Grebe

Thursday 7th February

Yesterday, Michal, one of the "vols" at RSPB, had seen 2 Greenshank out in front of the hide at Gruinart. Michal is over on Islay for 3 weeks and comes from Poland. This morning, we headed up towards Ardnave. Just after Mill cottage in one of the fields, there was a large mixed flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing, over 300 birds at least. Further on, close to Garra Eollabus, the flock of Brambling and Reed Bunting were still present in the "game crop". Ardnave Loch held 2 Mute Swan, 3 Whooper Swan, 1 Little Grebe, an Oystercatcher as well as Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. Coming home we had single Hooded Crows at various points and also a few Stonechats. A Peregrine was seen below Carnduncan as well. George today had 70 Curlews in his fields along with over 1,000 Barnacle Geese, the largest number he can recall there. On his ponds, he had a Wigeon this morning, the first for some time. Outside Bowmore George had 7 Pale bellied Brent Geese.