Monday 3rd March

A clear and sunny day today- the Lapwing calling and the Skaylarks singing, plus 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls at Gruinart. I usually see some in Feb, but they are late this year. Other records from Gruinart include a Bullfinch, Treecreeper and 2 Goldcrests all on the woodland trail - seen by Mary. Lots of records for yesterday: From the BurbageBirders, Off the ferry- 2 Black Throated Divers, 4 Red Throated Divers, 7 Great Norther Divers, 17 Razorbills, 13 Guillemots, 40+ Black Guillemot and a White Tailed Eagle. At their accomodation An-Innes they had 6 Woodcock. Records from the 1st March: 1st winter Iceland Gull nr. Kilmeny, male Hen Harrier at Erasaid, Slavonian Grebe just off Bowmore and 4 White Tailed Eagle in the Sound of Islay. It has also been noticed that the Gannets are back cruising the coast.

Monday 24th February

A better day out here today with the weather, although there is rain forecast for tonight, oops!!! Paul B had sent some sightings through. The small flock of Scaup were still present today, along with a cracking male Long tailed Duck on Loch Indaal out from the generator station outside Bowmore. Further out on Loch Indaal, 4 Slavonian Grebes and 30 Common scoters were present. Over at Bruichladdich, Paul had a small gropup of 4 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Further on down the Rhinns, a Golden Eagle was seen and at Kilchiaran Bay, Gannets, Fulmars and Kittiwakes were added to Paul's list. Back here at home, the Fulmars were back this morning on the crag, a sign of some stormy weather to come again??? The Iceland Gull was still present over at Duich Farm.

Sunday 23rd February

Forgot to mention last night that we had seen the adult Iceland gull over at Duich in a rather badly poached grass field. Bob was telling me today that some Greenfinches have returned to his feeders, 5 male and a female were there today. Ed had seen a Snow Bunting and also a Merlin. Later on, South of Bowmore, Ed saw 2 Peregrines. Around midday, Malcolm had an imm White tailed Sea Eagle up behind Bridgend and then later on an adult bird over towards Port Askaig. Returning visiting birder Paul from Notts had seen an imm White tailed Sea Eagle at the reserve at Gruinart this morning, also there were over 100 Pintail, 1 Whoopers, and over 80 Dunlin. Up towards there were 30 Chough in a grass field along with the grazing sheep. Paul also commented on the numbers of Skylarks and Reed Buntings around. Over at Loch Ballygrant, he had a ringtail Hen Harrier with 24 Tufties on the Loch itself. Close to Bowmore, on Loch Indaal, Paul had 2 GND and also a Red throated Diver. Below the generating station there were 8 Scaup, 3 males and 5 females. Back here at home, a new garden bird on the ground today, a Raven, been seeing some of them carrying nesting materials back to their nests of late!! For those of you on Islay this coming week, the bird nerds are meeting in the Lochside Hotel at 7.30pm for a blether and a pint, soi if you are around, see you there!

Tuesday 18th February

Peter and Pia had been over on Jura on Sunday and Monday. After crossing over on the ferry to Jura, between Feolin and Craighouse they spotted 7 Buzzards and also a cracking female Hen Harrier. Later on, they saw a pr of White tailed Sea Eagles and up behind Craighouse at Keills they had 8 Long tailed Tits and also 3 Coal Tits. The Rochdale birders yesterday had braved the elements down close to the Airport and saw an adult Iceland Gull there. They also saw 30 Redwing, some Chaffinches and a flock of 20 Skylarks. Today, over at Ardnahoe they had an adult Sparrowhawk, and later on down close to Ballygrant, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on the wing, Spring not far away??? Yes, a better day with the weather here today folks!

Friday 14th February

Yesterday morning as headed down to the Coastguard cotttages from here, there was a flock of around 100 Twite down at the "double gates". Earlier in the week, on Tuesday just before the snow showers, Ed had a pr of Golden Eagles over above Ballinaby, today he had another Golden Eagle down on the Rhinns with an adult Iceland Gull seen at Kilchiaran. The Hampshire birders today had 4 species of geese around where they are staying down close to "smelly corner" with Barnies, Whitefronts, Pale bellied Brent anf Greylags all being seen. Also seen close to their cottage were Oystercatcher, Curlew, Wigeon, Staling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Robin, Mute Swan and Shelduck. Up towrds Loch Gorm, they had a Stonechat, Lapwing, Buzzard and several groups of Barnies.

Sunday 26th January

Not been a great day for folk attempting to do the big garden birdwatch with squally showers coming out of nowhere. So, we did try our bit for the cause this morning when it was slightly better with our scores on the doors coming through out at 16 Pheasants, 2 Goldfinch, 26 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 5 Blackbirds, 1 Robin and 3 House Sparrows. Mary had been out and about today and reported through to say there was a large flock of Gulls down at Port a'rhedline (down between Portnahaven and Claddach) and amongst the gulls, an Iceland gull was present. Over at Uiskentuie Mary had a Cormorant and on the low road just out of Bowmore, a male Hen Harrier was seen. Peter had braved the elements too today and had counted 120 Oystercatchers and 35 Curlew. He was also saying that there was no sign of the Iceland Gull there or the Glaucous at Bruichladdich. Wonder how many folk noticed the Blackie ewe along the strand with her newly born lamb? By the way the wind gusted a mere 51mph just after 2pm today on Mike's weather station and yes the rain guage here at home is alreafy over 7.5" for the month, yep, it's going to wetter than last month....

Tuesday 31st December

Another year almost in, so a great deal of thanks is due to all the various folk who have kindly shared their sightings throughout the year, it's thanks to you all out there that give me the info to help put together the entry each night!!! Today at lunchtime, Carol Andrew had a Jay down at Bridgend, the first sighting of one here on Islay since 1998! Yesterday, we had a male Hen Harrier on the wing down close to Gartmain, and another between Foreland and Rock Mountain. On the reserve at Gruinart, James had a flock of 26 Golden Plover and 6 Gadwall out from the new hide with 3 Greenshank out in front the old hide. Marc yesterday had the same birds at Gruinart as well, the Glaucous Gull was still at Bruichladdich, on the pond up behind Port Charlotte, a Wigeon and also a Moorhen. Below Rockside, a Merlin was chasing a flock of 32 Reed Bunting with no joy! Round at Coull, he had a hybrid Barnie X Canada amongst the Barnies there, also present was a large flock of Gulls and also 100 Lapwing and 130 Curlew present. Another visitor told Marc of seeing an Iceland gull at Uiskentuie, late afternoon yesterday. Today James had a male Hen Harrier on the reserve at Gruinart.

Friday 26th April

Been a busy day yesterday, I wrote yesterday's entry early and when I came home there were several more sightings that had come through while I was out! The Rochdale birders had seen 3 Redwing at Coullabus, 3 large Canada Geese on Ardnave Loch, ringtail Hen Harrier, a Kestrel, a Cuckoo being chased by 3 Meadow Pipits, all at Storakaig. An Otter was seen in the Sound of Islay and at Bunnahabhain, the Iceland Gull was still present. A further 2 Redwing were noted at Keills and a male Redpoll was on a feeder at Keills too. At Bruichladdich, 3 Sandwich Terns were seen (the Sandwich Tern in Thursday's entry managed to outwit the Black headed Gull!) Today they had a male Hen Harrier on the reserve at Gruinart and another over towards Bunnahabhain, with 15 Black Guillemots counted on the Sound of Islay. Yesterday evening, Liz Hathaway heard a Corncrake down at Portnahaven and this morning Liz had a House Martin at Nerabus. Last night coming home, we had a Tawny Owl just after Foreland and then a Barn Owl closer to Rockside road end. This morning, we had 2 small group of Pale bellied Brents, 22 just after Gortan and a further 5 close to Blackrock. Finally David and Jane Griffiths had a male Hen Harrier down at Whinpark and also a Wheatear there too. 

Before I forget, on Monday evening on BBC1 Scotland at 9pm there is the showing of "Hebrides" with the first program featuring Islay, Jura and Colonsay, should be worth watching... On Tuesday, it's that time again for the Bird nerds meeting, we will be in the "old hide" at Gruinart from 7pm, so if any of you are over, feel free to come along and put a face to a name as well as looking for some birds from the hide too, perhaps hear a Corncrake...

Friday 12th April

Yesterday Bob had seen 2 Short eared Owl out while was down the Rhinns. Later on, he had a male Hen Harrier. Another male Hen Harrier was also seen yesterday over at Gearach on the Rhinns too by John & Anne from  Galashiels. This morning, from his house, Bob had seen an adult White tailed Sea Eagle. It came from behind Bob's house, down to Port Charlotte and then followed the coastline up towards Bruichladdich. Wonder if it was the same bird that Jeff had at Foreland earlier this week??? Yesterday, Peter had gone over to Bunnahabhain and the Iceland Gull was still present there. On Wednesday on Colonsay, Peter heard the Starlings were mimicking Snipe calling and also Corncrakes too!!! Today Peter had 2 Sandwich Terns down on Loch Indaal at Bruichladdich. Here this morning, the Fulmars were back in for a short time soaring along the front of the crags....

Tuesday 26th March

Late entry folks as just back in from the bird nerds, the date may be should have read the 27th but not quite but almost. Short entry, here goes.... The Bolton Birders had been over towards Bunnahabhain today. Highlight definitely was seeing 2 prs of Golden Eagles probably both at the edge of their territories. Out on the Sound of Islay, 5 GND were noted as were Black Guillemot, Shags, and Red breasted Merganser as well as an Otter! The Iceland Gull was present down off Bunnahabhain itself. Finlaggan held 2 Mistle Thrushes along with Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and some Robins. They counted 18 Pale belied Brent Geese down at Gortan on their way home. They also had a White tailed Sea Eagle over towards Port Askaig. They had also seen 6 Redwing and 6 Fieldfare in the field alongside their cottage. Buzzards were seen through their whole day!

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!

Tuesday 22nd January

A better day out here folks, could the mercury have gone up a little as well? Joking apart, yesterday when I was down in Bowmore I saw one of the Council lorries with a snow plough on, it looked rather rusty with lack of use!!! Some sightings through from Malcolm. Last week while out counting on the Goose Counts on the Loch Gorm run , Malcolm saw 260 Golden Plover at Ballinaby on the 16th, the previous day there had been none there! This morning at Bruichladdich, Malcolm counted 23 Pale bellied Brent Geese, an Otter was there too! Bob this afternoon had a count of 122 Scaup at Blackrock. Over at Bunnahabhain, Bob saw the Iceland Gull, 15 Twite, 1 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, 2 Golden Eagle and a White tailed Sea Eagle. This morning, here at home we had a female Brambling on the bird table, it came back a little later for seconds. Hope it is still here for the Big garden Birdwatch this coming weekend!

Sunday 13th January

Anna today had seen a Dog Otter and also a GND in Loch Indaal from her doorstep in Port Charlotte, it's okay for some... Yesterday, Tom and Jo had gone up to Bunnahabhain and were succesful in spotting the Iceland Gull before it flew off with the other gulls. There was also a Lesser Black backed Gull present  there too.  After that Tom and Jo headed over to Jura. At Feolin, they had a GND, Whitefarland Bay 5 Turnstone were present. Along at Cnocbreac a male Hen Harrier was seen, 2 Mistle Thrush and a count of 55 Whitefronts. At Rubha Aoineadh another male Hen Harrier was seen.

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!!!

Tuesday 1st January

A quiet time here last night, well behaved folk out living on the sticks....Pete Clement had gone over to Bunnahabhain this morning and had seen the adult Iceland Gull, if it is the same bird, it's been a regular there for a good number of years now. Out on the Sound of Islay, Pete had 4 GND, a Black throated Diver and a Black Guillemot in winter plumage. Inland, he had a male Hen Harrier out quartering its patch of ground. Down at Nerabus, Pete had a Pink footed Goose amongst the Barnies present. Back here at home in amongst the birds at the feeders, the other day was a Chaffinch with a BTO ring on its' leg, wonder if it was one of the birds that Euan caught and rung back in July?

Wednesday 14th November

Another day of goose counting for me. As part of the International count (I was counting the Gruinart area again). It was a better day, cloudy but clear and calm. We had a total of 18,989 barnacle geese, 818 white fronted geese (all in the Gruinart area), 2 lesser Canada geese hutchinsii on the reserve and best of all, I finally got to see the red breasted goose at Ardnave.
The birds of prey were evident all day, drying their wings from the over night rain. A young white tailed eagle over Corsapol, a merlin further along the road, a hen harrier at the RSPB hide, a kestrel and peregrine at Ardnave and a golden eagle at Killinallen.
Another report from Ken and friends : Yesterday they had - 3 red throated divers, 42 common scoter, 13 long tailed duck and 7 Slavonian grebes on Loch Indaal. A big count of 117 curlew at Port Charlotte, 1 golden eagle, 21 fieldfares and 7 redwing at Finnlaggen. The Iceland gull was at Bunnahabhain again. On the Gruinart Flats 85 meadow pipits and 1 sparrowhawk and finally an otter and 5 purple sandpipers at Bruichladdich.

Tuesday 13th November

Hello, Ian is away so it is the assistant blog master for a few days. I have been out counting geese all day in the Gruinart area as part of the international goose count. A long day and a lot of geese: 18,638 barnacle geese, 967 White fronted geese, 122 greylags and 1 lesser Canada goose hutchinsii. I also saw 655 lapwing and 25 golden plover on the reserve and 34 turnstone, 1 purple sandpiper and a chiffchaff (tristis) at Ardnave.
At Ardnave I met Mike Reid and Friend who had seen the adult Iceland gull at Bunnahabain (back again for another winter).
I have some records in from Ken Reeves and colleagues (thanks again) :
On the 11th on their way over to Islay they had: 31 great northern divers, 5 red throated divers, 1 black throated diver, 50 red breasted mergansers, a golden eagle and white tailed eagle. when they arrived on Islay at An Innis, they managed to see 2 brambling and a short eared owl. On the 12th they had a good day with 6 whooper swans and 17 twite at Ardnave, 11 pintail, 1 greenshank, a hen harrier and whimbrel on Loch Gruinart. A golden eagle at Saligo and a yellowhammer on the Kilchoman road.