Saturday 1st March

Yesterday was Paul Beresford's last day on Islay. Over at Bruichladdich, Paul counted 21 Pale bellied Brent Geese and a Guillemot on Loch Indaal, while he was there a male Hen Harrier flew over. Just South of Port Charlotte, Paul had 2 Black throated Divers and a Black Guillemot close to the shore. While walking over on the track between Octofad and Ballimony he flushed a Woodcock. Finally, back in Bowmore, on the pavement, an obliging Rock Pipit was seen. Paul's tally for the week was 93 species seen. Thanks Paul for sharing your sightings while you were here. As it is now March, "officially" the first day of Spring, well the rainfall for for February was 7.2" for the month here at home.... The rain guage is getting refilled already as it is wet outside as I write the entry tonight....

Saturday 1st February

Yes, that's January past, thank goodness with the rainguage filling up at a mere 9.2", certainly as wet a January that I can recall, straight behind a wet December as well, more rain in those two months than what we night expect to get in a 3 or 4 month spell... Global warming I ask you??? James had a male Hen Harrier on the reserve at Gruinart this morning. Down at Gortan, there were around 30 Pale bellied Brent bobbing about on Loch Indaal with a few Greylags on the shore. Up at Foreland there were several fields with Barnies and Whitefronts to be seen and at Rockside another 3 fields of Barnies with the odd Whitefront among them. I think that between Rockside and Sunderland today, the largest total of geese so far round here this Autumn/ Winter.

Saturday 11th January

Another great day out here on the Western extremities, no real complants on the weather front, more of the same please... Yesterday Bob had done a count along the top end of Loch Indaal with his tallies coming through at 86 Barwits, 300 Curlew, 48 Lapwing, 180 Oystercatcher, 42 Shelduck, 202 Mallard, 187 Teal, 293 Wigeon and 3 Buzzard. Between Blackrock ang Gortan, Bob had 2 groups of Pale bellied Brent with a total of 82 Geese noted.

Friday 10th January

Some sightings through from yesterday, Mary had a Snow Bunting up at Ardnave and 4 GND off Ardnave Point. Carol Andrews saw a family group of Whoopers at Bruichladdich, there was an adult and 2 youngsters. Peter reports that the Glaucous Gull is still at Bruichladdich and the Iceland Gull along at Uiskentuie. Between Bruichladdich and Uiskentuie, Peter had count of 56 Pale bellied Brents. Today George had seen the Whooper family up on his ponds, also there were a Snipe and also a Heron. George counted 17 Brents along at Bruichladdich and saw more round at Uiskentuie but could not get a count as he was driving at the time.

Wednesday 11th December

Another good day over here again for the time of year, with the temperature in double figures... This afternoon, Mary had been up at Ardnave where she saw a Merlin out over the dunes, also there were 7 Ravens, a Buzzard and 2 Hooded Crows. Back down on Ardnave Loch, Mary counted 65 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 10 Wigeon, 9 Goldeneye, 1 Heron, 1 Pochard, 39 Whoopers including 3 juveniles and a family group of 2 Mute with 2 youngsters. There were also a further 2 Hooded Crows present there as well. Over the reserve at Gruinart James saw a Golden Eagle, while down at Blackrock he counted a group of 53 Pale bellied Brents.

Friday 6th Decmber

Better get a move on and write this entry as the power is liable to go off at any point, don't fancy the lot of a linesman with the power companies over the past few days....Bob had been out today, up at Ardnave Point a male Hen harrier seen, on Ardnave Loch 47 Whoopers were present, coming back towards Gruinart along the road, a Sparrowhawk while on the reserve 300 Golden Plover were present, back down at Bowmore there were 42 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Amy today on the reserve had counted 40 Pintail and also 100 Shelduck. Peter was down on Machir Bay, and counted 35 Ringed Plover, on the tideline there were over 50 Rooks, 6 Chough and 12 Hooded Crows. Along on Loch Gorm there were 45 Curlew and also a pr of Goldeneye. Paul G. was on the phone to say that over the past few days that there have been more Goldfinches on the bird table over at Scannasdale outside Ballygrant. Paul has been seeing Hen Harriers regularly out behind Ballygrant of late as well. This morning, here at home on the grass in the garden there appeared to be more Blackbirds around, rather than just the odd one. The Goose count yesterday was cancelled because of the weather out and about....

Sunday 8th September

A different day again, no rain to speak off and better still I managed to get some grass cut... Yesterday, Carl had 5 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Blackrock on Loch Indaal. Today, Bob had "lots" of Skylarks flying high on migration above his house. Across the road at the waterworks, in the willow bushes, there were Willow Warblers and also juv Great Tits. A regular visitor to his garden, on almost a daily basis is a female Sparrowhawk. Up on Bolsay moor, Bob saw 2 young Sparrowhawks having a bit of a tussle at each other, no doubt a family dispute...

Tuesday 3rd September

A bit of a late entry tonight, but it been a busy day today and then had a meeting to attend this evening.... Peter today had seen 4 Pale bellied Brent Geese on Loch Indaal , close to Bruichladdich Distillery. Think these could be the first here this Autumn..... I forgot to mention a few days back that the young Swallows were gathering up in numbers, and now I think they appear to have flown away. There are still some youngsters in some of the nests yet, plenty of time for them to head South.

Saturday 25th May

Another glorious day here.... Back on Thursday Mary had a Merlin up at Ardnave, and also saw a Pale bellied Brent Goose down beside the new hide at Gruinart. Yesterday over the moor at Gruinart, she saw a Golden Eagle and also heard 2 Cuckoos calling away. On the woodland trail she saw a fledgling Song Thrush out. Down outside Portnahaven, a pr of Stonechats and also a Whitethroat were calling away. Last night as it was calmer, Michal had carried out his Corncrake survey from Sanaigmore round along the North side of Loch Gorm. He had in total, 8 Corncrakes, 13 Sedge Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers calling away, and he also saw 2 Barn Owls and a Snipe. Today on the reserve at Gruinart, James had a Whimbrel, 5 Pale bellied Brents (4 on Loch Gruinart and 1 on the flats), 5 Blackwits, 3 Gadwall and 1,790 Dunlin.

Tuesday 7th May

A great day out here with the weather, the temperature got up to a heady 16degrees, mid afternoon. Only trouble is that the forecast is for some rain tomorrow...The Hammills returned to Glasgow but had a great weekend birding, highlights included seeing the large flock of Golden  Plover near to Rockside and also Whimbrels near to Port Charlotte and more at Bruichladdich before heading home. Bob yesterday had a Golden Eagle flying low behind Port Charlotte, could it have been hunting for hares? George yesterday counted 120 Pale bellied Brent flying South towards Port Charlotte. Today, he had a Wheatear at his pools, with 12 Swallows flying over the pools, his usual Swallows are back in residence in his garage. This evening 20 Whimbrel flew in to George's fields and on the shore George noticed an Oystercatcher sitting on a nest down on the shore. Today Bob had a single Fieldfare fly over his house around midday. James when he was out doing his surveys this morning at 6am had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the head of Loch Gruinart. On the floods, James had 11 Gadwall, he had a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Whinchat singing and also a Lizard out basking in the sun! Andrew and Jane had a Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit , Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Wren all in the woods around Kildalton. Claggain Bay and the surrounding trees held the following, Tree Pipit, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush & Cuckoo. The Bay had 1 GND, 2 Black throated Diver, 2 Red throated Diver, Black Guilliemot, a nesting Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher also sitting on a nest, Wheatear and 2 pr of Common Sandpiper. Back at Octomore they was a flock of Golden Plover and a Sparrowhawk nobbled a Starling. This afternoon, here at home we heard our first Cuckoo of the year, and on the bird table we counted 8 Redpolls.