Tuesday 25th June

Rather a late entry, in a wee while it could have been an entry for tomorrow, so better press on or it will be...

Tonight was our monthly meeting of the bird nerds here on Islay, we met down close to the airport and then headed down to the Strand and Loch Indaal. We walked along the shore and came across the remains of the Sperm whale close to Knockangle Point. This evening it was up on the beach, when it was first seen it had been on the rocks but with the recent high tides it had shifted. A good selection of birds was seen while we were out. Out on Loch Indaal, GND, Gannets diving, 2 rafts of Eiders in moult around 60 in all, 2 groups of R. B. Merganser, 16 and 26, several Shag. Along the shoreline, there was the Tern colony, with 12 Little Tern and 36 Arctic Terns on nests.Also on the shore were Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and a Dunlin on a rock. 6 Curlew flew overhead. In the back of the shoreline Skylarks were singing away, a distant Wheatear on a fence post, Lapwing on the ground and in flight and some more Oystercatcher seen. Finally there was a Buzzard out as we got  back up to closer to Glenegedale. We had 14 folk out, a good night enjoyed by all. Coming home there were 2 Herons at Gartmain. 

Thursday 2nd May

James sent through last night this image taken earlier on of the Long billed Dowitcher up at Ardnave. It flew off early afternoon yesterday, and as far as I know has not been seen again. The same story for the Little ringed Plover and the Yellow Wagtail, they could still be out there somewhere! New birders, over on their honeymoon, Colin and Mandy had 31 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Port Ellen when they arrived yesterday, today they had a good day on the Oa with their top birds including Hen Harrier, Buzzard, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away, Whinchat, Stonechat and Raven. The Argyll birder had been over early am at Gruinart and was rewarded with a White tailed Sea Eagle. In one of the fields he had 14 White Wagtails. There, this afternoon he had a Golden Eagle on a carcase with another  Goldie nearby. He has not seen so many Blackwits today, 28 at Gruinart and just 14 at Ardnave. Whimbrels not so numerous either, 41 at Craigfad and 56 at Nerabus, could that be the flock of 98 seen at Nerabus yesterday, split into 2 groups today? At Ballinaby there were 235 Golden Plover and along at Coull, a Peregrine was seen. At Bruichladdich, 38 Pale bellied Brent Geese were counted while over at Gartbreck a single Little Tern was seen. Back on Monday, Bob and Lorna Young had a couple of Little Terns at Ardnave, heard a Cuckoo, seen a Sedge Warbler and witnessed a male Hen Harrier being mobbed by 2 Hooded Crows and they noticed more Swallows and Martins arriving. Another frequent Islay visitor, Ron had heard a Cuckoo at Glenegedale and seen a male Hen Harrier down that way too yesterday . Up at Ardnave today, Mary heard a Corncrake. Dave down on the Oa had 2 Goldcrest and 2 White Wagtails and also a Whimbrel, yesterday he had 3 Whinchat, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo all on the reserve, possibly some of the same birds that Colin and Mandy had today! On her way home last night Louise had seen 3 Owls between the 3 arch bridge and Gatehouse, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl and also a Short eared Owl.  Here at home, on the feeders apart from the many finches present, the Siskins are still present, as is the Redpoll.

Sunday 14th April

The rain has kept away, although there has been the odd spot off and on, nothing much really. The wind has caused the ferries to divert to Port Askaig all day, so at least we have not been disrupted that much. Yesterday, Bob had carried out the count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck, with the scores on the doors being as follows, 2 GND, 7 juv Shag, 15 Greylag, 10 Greenland Whitefront, 8 Mute, 12 Shelduck, 20 male Mallards, 18 Teal (all pairs), 54 Eider (mainly males in breeding plumage), 14 Red breasted Merganser, 58 Oystercatcher (mainly paired up), 12 Curlew, 63 Barwits, 1 Dunlin, 15 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 4 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 37 Ringed Plover (mainly paired up), 1 Grey Plover, 2 GBB Gull, 3 LBB Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 32 Common Gull, 6pr Black headed Gull and 1 Sandwich Tern. On his way down to the shore, Bob had a Sedge Warbler as well. Also yesterday, Jack Fleming had a Swallow at Gruinart. Today, Peter had a Little Tern fly past his house down at Bruichladdich. Also today was the first day of walkislay for this year, with over 50 folk on the walk from Bunnahabhain. After seeing them on their way, on our way home we had an Osprey with a fish in its talons just as we came away, earlier on we had seen  2 Golden Eagles out on the wing further up from Bunnahabhain itself. Before we came to Ardnahoe, a male Hen Harrier flew low across the road in front of us. On Ardnahoe Loch, a Heron was seen  and also a male Goldeneye. Further down the road after Keills, there was a small group of 15 Fieldfare in the fields there.