Wednesday 12th February

Back to normal, thanks to James for writing last night's entry. It was rather miserable outside for some time last night, and I believe today that the gritters / snow ploughs were out over the other side of Islay. Yesterday, before the weather broke the Hampshire birders had been out from Scarrabus up to Loch Cam. They had a Peregrine, several Reed Buntings with a Golden Eagle up at Loch Cam itself. A few moments later they had a White tailed Sea Eagle there on. On the Loch itself, 50 Teal were present. Today, the Rochdale birders had counted 17 Pale bellied Brent down close to Gortan, on the shoreline there they had 1 Dunlin along with 8 Turnstoe. Over at Corsapol at Gruinart, they had a mixed finch flock of around 300 birds consisting of Twite, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Skylarks. Peter had 36 Pale bellied Brent towards Uiskentuie today.

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 7th December

Rather a dreich sort of a day out here, but for sure the wind has dropped, the ferries are sailing and the plane came in this morning, what else can you ask for??? On a different tack, not birds either, down at Bowmore there was a large mobile generator delivered in, possibly in readiness for a switch in the power supplies to Rockside as it is soon to get 3 phase electricity, we will just have to wait and see...Right back to the bird blog now, at Bowmore on Loch Indaal at Bunanuisg (where Islay Farmers used to trade from) there were over 40 Pale bellied Brent, hard to get an exact count as they bobbed about in the water, 10 Whoopers including 2 cygnets, a pr of Goldeneye, 7 Red breasted Merganser, several Wigeon. On the shoreline 11 Greylags rummaging around on the tideline, 3 Turnstone and a few Oystercatcher at the water's edge. Further along there were a few Mallards and the odd Redshank. Coming home down at the Coastguard cottages, a Peregrine screamed past putting everything up in panic! Nina had 4 Whitefronts with collars on, 2 HX, 3 HX, 5 HX and 3 HU, and I have passed these on to Ed who will update Nina with their history. I think that these are some of the geese that were caught and rung last Winter over at Ballinaby, but Ed can keep us right.

Tuesday 26th November

Today the WWT guys, whilst carrying out research on Greenland White-fronted Geese, had seen 2 Golden Eagles and a Peregrine at Coille, Merlin at Kilchoman and Tawny Owl at Gruinart. On Sunday they also had a young Golden Eagle, a White-tailed Sea Eagle at Gruinart.
Back to today, James had 2 Goldcrest and 2 Hen Harriers also at Gruinart. Whilst RSPB volunteers, John and Amy, had 14 Yellowhammer, 12 Curlew and a Chough all at Kintra.

Tuesday 12th November

John  W had 13 Ravens together up at Ardnave yesterday and thought that he saw from a distance the Snow Buntings that are up there at present. I was sent a tremendous image of one taken the other week by Gordon Yates, but you will have to wait as the old computer is holding together with a wing and prayer, just waiting on a new one coming through and then you can see it, promise... it will be worth the wait!!! John W also commenting on the lack of ducks on the floods at Gruinart and wondered if the Hen Harriers and the other raptors were causing the ducks to be away somewhere safer! Ed had been down on the Oa yesterday and had seen 2 Peregrines there, one of which was spooking the Mallards on Loch Kinnabus big style!! Sally Henderson had a Merlin sitting atop a fence post at Ardnave. Today Sally was watching an Otter in the bay past Ardtalla when a WTSE came into view, both less than 50 metres away....The WTSE then flew on inland. This afternoon we had a Peregrine fly across the road close to McNicholl' croft. Later on a couple of Buzzards were standing alongside a dead goose down at Whinpark, with  a Black back just waiting for its' share if any pickings were left!!!

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!!

Wednesday 3rd July

Here at home this morning there was a "train" or a "clattering" of around 50 Jackdaws round the base of the bird table! Bob had been driving along the "flats" at Gruinart today, a Peregrine took off from the road carrying a Jackdaw in its' talons, only to land in one of the trees at the farm steading and continue to devour the said Jackdaw. Carl had a Kestrel out towards Craigfad today, he was also saying that the GND which has been hanging around in the bay at Port Charlotte has moved on. Along at Carnain, there was a single Dunlin and at Uiskentuie a family on 4 Chough were present. This evening, as I put the wheely bins up to the top of the hill, our local Chough family of only 3  flew in, noisy and nosey as ever, great to see all the same! 

Friday 1st March

That's another month in, a dry month thank goodness with  a mere 2.6" in total here, almost half of what we had last February, better not shout about it too much.... Den Mather and his 2 Czech birders had a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp amongst the Barnacle geese at the top of Loch Indaal. Up towards Sanaigmore they saw some Choughs on the road and finally at Laggan road end they had a ringtail Hen Harrier, their fourth in 2 days. Thanks folks for your birds. Today, out in the field in front of his house Bob watched a nesting Lapwing protect its its' territory against a Peregrine. The Peregrine swooped over a few times and the Lapwing had enough and took flight to chase the Peregrine, but the Peregrine forced the Lapwing back down on the ground and then the female Peregrine came out of nowhere and zapped the Lapwing and carried it off as if it was a smaller bird. On a happier note Michal around midday saw a Pipestrelle Bat out flying in the garden at Mill cottage on Gruinart

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.

Friday 18th January 2013

It is very cold and wee snow flurries are trying to fall. I say fall but the east wind is so strong, they flit past like stinging arrows as they hit your face. I have been having internet problems so Michal kindly gave a report for yesterday. I do have some late reports from earlier in the week - by way of an update.
On Tuesday at Loch Kinabus Michal had 250 whitefronts, 38 greylags, 220 starlings, 40 twite and a male hen harrier. Also on Tuesday Mary had a golden eagle at Ardnave, a peregrine at Corsapol and 27 pale bellied brents at Blackrock. On Wednesday 10 whoopers and 2 little grebes on Ardnave Loch and on Loch Gruinart 335 shelduck, 83 wigeon, 61 pintail, 21 shoveler, a white tailed eagle, a peregrine and a merlin.

Monday 7th January

Same old tune, more rain. But it did dry up mid afternoon, so I ventured up to the top of the drive to bring the empty wheelie bin back home. Another first for the year, a Peregrine out on the wing, infact the first I have seen here for the best part of a month. The other day, there was a Raven flying over the crag carrying twigs in its' beak, surely not thinking of nesting building already, but then again they are early nesters, in February for sure. Yesterday down the road towards Loch Gorm, a Kestrel was hunkered up the top of one of the telegragh poles at the roadside. Today on the bird feeders was  a Blue Tit with a ring on, another of Euan's birds? It can be hard to spot that they have rings on when they are so mobile, especially the finches etc on the ground with their legs in the grass and not easily seen at the best of times.