Tuesday 10th September

Paul & Kathleen yesterday had seen an Osprey on Loch Gruinart, later on they counted 8 Pale bellied Brents at Blackrock. Earlier on, Paul had done some sea watching at Frenchman's Rocks with his tally as follows, 600 Manx Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 RTD, 400 Gannets, over 200 Fulmars, 8 Guillemot, 1 Wigeon and 1 Sparrowhawk, but no Kittiwakes! Today, they had 3 Golden Eagles up the North west coast of Islay, a Merlin at Ardnave Loch and also a Hen Harrier round Loch Gorm. Thanks Paul

Monday 2nd September

I know that yesterday was the first day of  the Autumn, think we now realise what that means as the temperature has dropped quite a bit and today the weather has been rather miserable, certainly no sun shining here for sure... Fortunately I saved some birds that James had at Gruinart yesterday. The Osprey was seen again, a Bonxie or Great Skua seen, 20 Blackwits counted, Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk seen as well. I had a Sparrowhawk out over the wood here at home this morning as I went up to the shed. Not really a day for doing much outside work with  the mist rolling in and out shrouding the crags quite often!  Not often you get me complaining about the weather....

Sunday 25th August

Today Martin had been down on the Oa,  and taken in a walk down to Port an Eas, several White Wagtails seen along with Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, but his top bird was a Wryneck, the last was seen over at Kildalton in 1927!!! Visiting birder Rob had an Osprey over Loch Indaal, a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Loch Gorm, an Otter up at Sanaigmore, Chough up behind Machir Bay, a great start to their week. Tom and Jo today had seen a Grey Plover at Neriby fly down toward Loch Indaal. At Mulindry, they had 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff and 5 Lapwing, down at Bridgend they had 2 Spotted Flycatcher and 7 Wigeon. Along out on a far tide from "smelly corner", 28 Red breasted Merganser, 48 Teal, 1 RTD, 10 Heron, 157 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, 127 Curlew, 24 Barwits, 1 Blackwit and 12 Redshank. At Bowmore, they had a count of 51 Eider. Also today, Peter had an Osprey over at Gruinart and later on possibly the same bird as Rob had at Loch Indaal. From the visitor centre at Gruinart, 2 Whoopers  were seen, with another pair at the top of Loch Indaal as well as a solitary Barnacle Goose there too. At Ardnave, 36 Chough were seen, and also a count of 20 Hooded Crows on the reserve at Gruinart. 

Friday 23rd August

Good friend Charles, looked in earlier this evening before heading South tomorrow after his holidays, one day last week he saw an Osprey carrying a fish over Loch Indaal...Bet he was envious as he loves fishing when he is here!!! Yesterday, Natalie had done a count on Loch Indaal, her tally was as follows, 3 Shag, 11 Heron, 11 Eider, 22 Greylag, 263 Oystercatcher, 87 Ringed Plover, 20 Sanderling, 235 Dunlin, 55 Barwits, 326 Curlew, 87 Redshank, 142 BH Gulls, 116 Common Gull, 417 Herring Gull, 8 GBB Gull, 1 Osprey, 2 Hen Harrier all on Loch Gruinart. On Ardnave Loch there were 7 Tufted Duck and 5 Mute Swans.

Thursday 18th July

Sorry folks, rather a late entry tonight but have been out with friends and the craic (blether if you did not know!) just kept going. George this afternoon had seen 2 Ospreys fly from Sanaig over in the direction of Loch Gruinart. This morning the mist was down for most of the time until it burned off and tonight the mist is in the hollows already, would have made a great image for somebody!

Monday 15th July

A visitor had been telling George that on Saturday he had seen an Osprey on Loch Gorm, and on Sunday he saw an Osprey fishing on Loch Cor and then flying back in the direction of Loch Gorm. Yesterday on the silage aftermaths next to George's there were 70 Curlew, 35 Oystercatcher and 100 Rooks. The Moorhen on George's ponds is still sitting tight on her clutch of eggs, can't be long before they hatch!!  Also yesterday George had a male Hen Harrier at the head of Loch Gorm and later on another up past Culbuie. This morning the Arctic Terns below George's house were agitated whatever the reason. Tom and his family from Edinburgh had walked out to Proaig today where they were rewarded with an Otter in the bay, better still a big helping of ice cream each at Ardbeg on the way home!!! 

Saturday 6th July

Bob sent this image of a juv. Wheatear which he had taken yesterday while he was out over below Gartbreck. He had walked along towards Laggan Point and had seen 22 juv Wheatears as he went along. Other birds of interest included 30 Fulmar on nest sites, around 100 Rock Pipits, 2 Redshank, 4 pr of Ringed Plover, a few Curlew including some juv birds, some Ravens. Out on Loch Indaal, a GND and 14 Red breasted Merganser. Mary forgot to mention to me yesterday that while she was out looking for that Frigatebird, that an Osprey flew overhead, wonder how she forgot to tell me that one! Peter yesterday saw a brood of Willow Warblers out in the Catoneaster hedge in front of his house and wondered if they had just taken up residence there? Jim Dickson had been over on the twitch today, but like everyone else, no joy, but had 5 Swifts down at Portnahaven. Later on he had a distant sighting of an Osprey.

By the way, the Frigatebird increased the  number of hits on the blog yesterday with almost 10 times our normal, and even today so far 4 times greater than an average day! Heard that around 30 folk came over on the ferry hoping to see the bird but had no luck, may be made the most of our famed hospitality.

Thursday 4th July

Yesterday evening, Malcolm had seen an Osprey take a fish out of Loch Gorm, which was more than could be said for the anglers who were also intent in catching a fish too! Today, I have been over on the mainland, no birding done but I did see a couple of molehills in a field, a sight we do not get here on Islay as we have no moles! On our return home this evening, the Swallows in the shed have fledged 3 youngsters. As well as that, numerous e mails waiting in the in box with over 90% getting deleted without ever being opened....

Tuesday 2nd July

I knew I should not have talked about "lack" of rain in last night's entry as it has been a steady rain for most of the day once it started.... Having said that it has not put some of our birders off.... Martin had seen an Osprey come off Loch Indaal at Blackrock and flying on in the direction of Loch Gruinart. Bob, at one point in between showers, saw a Sparrowhawk trying to dry itself off.... He also had a Hen Harrier close to home. Mary had some Mistle Thrushes close to Coullabus . Over on the reserve, below the Visitor centre, there was a black backed Gull out searching the fields for food. Then, along came a Common Gull which was greeted by half a dozen angry Lapwings and a Redshank . Further out a Raven sitting down on the ground and finally close to the RSPB office at Bushmills, on the roadside, 4 Greenfinches were feeding away. Going home, Mary had seen a male Hen Harrier down close to Blackpark.

Monday 3rd June

Martin who  is over here on holiday this week, has given us some sightings that he has had in and around Carraig Fhada/ Kilnaughton Bay. 10 Razorbill, 5 Guillemot, 10 Eider, 10 Arctic Tern, 5 LBB Gull, 10 Siskin, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Rock Pipit, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Heron, 3 RB Merganser and 5 Cormorant. Thanks Martin. George was saying that the Oystercatcher the nest on the shoreline had failed, but he has found one up towards his ponds with 3 eggs in it. Paul Graham had a Corncrake calling down the back of Bruichladdich and through the day, Skylarks singing away! James had an Osprey yesterday over Loch Gruinart, with 2 GND in summer plumage on the water itself. Today in front of the Visitor Centre at Gruinart, James had 2 Corncrake and along the woodland trail, he heard a Blackcap.  

Today Michal flew over to Iceland where he will be doing voluntary work for the next 3 months, living in a tent. Hope he knows about the big black mozzies  that are there! All the best to Michal.

Sunday 1st June

After the showers this morning it turned out to be a not bad day with the sun shining, not that warm though...

Martin had been out on the hills today down the bottom end (South) of Islay and thought he had a possible sighting of Dotterels, could they be nesting out there? Back on Thursday, Louise had an Osprey over Loch Gorm. Today James had a Whitethroat singing away in his garden at Mill cottage. 

The rainfall here for May tallied out at 4.25" which is wetter than last year but not far of a "normal May".....

Friday 31st May

A great image of an Arctic Tern taken earlier on by Danny. His friend Geoff had seen an Osprey fly over Loch Skerrols at lunchtime today. Today has been a day for spotting young out of the nest being fed by their respctive parents. Danny had a Redpoll feeding its' young down perched on some gorse bushes, Bob had 2 broods of Whinchat out and about, as well as young House Sparrows out on his drive. Some visiting birders also commented on the poor number of Blue Tits around, or rather the lack of them. As you can see from Danny's image, another great day here although it did not start too good, it certainly turned up trumps after midday!

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 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.

Tuesday 9th April

Yesterday, Carl saw a Sandwich Tern in the bay down at Port Charlotte. Bob had 34 Ringed Plover in the field up behind the dunes at Machir Bay. Yesterday and today there have been some Redwings and Fieldfares being seen. Today Johnathan & Keith had counted 50 Skylark, 2 Twite, and 70 Chaffinch in a field on their way up to Sanaigmore. On the River Sorn, they had seen 2 Grey Wagtail and heard 3 Treecreepers in the trees. Over the market at Bridgend, a Peregrine was seen. Over the crags behind Kilchoman they had 2 different Golden Eagles come out, one of which was being mobbed by Buzzards. Later on they saw a Yellowhammer fly past. Another visitor, Richard had an Osprey with a fish in its' talons at the top of Loch Gorm with a Short eared Owl nearby. George has been seeing a pair of Mute Swans on his ponds over the last few days and wonders whether they could thinking of nesting there. Bob has a pair of Blackbirds  building a nest in a crate in his garden. Emily who is over taking the walks with RSPB this summer had a Red Kite close to Coillabus on the Oa. It had red wing tags which Emily says are from Central Scotland, probably a 2012 bird. On the guided walk on the Oa, today a Wheatear was seen, a brief sighting of a Golden Eagle and close to the American monument, 2 Peregrine were spotted. Down close to the airport on the "low road" between Port Ellen and Bowmore, Emily had a great sighting of a male Hen Harrier. Late this afternoon, I was watching a Pipestrelle Bat flying back and forward along in front of the trees and around the cottages for the best part of 5 minutes.