Friday 19th April

Carl sent this image of a Little Egret which he took earlier today while he was out past Ardbeg. Later on he had a Swallow back home in Port Charlotte. Margaret had another one at Lagavullin Distillery and Mary saw 3 down at Portnahaven. Wheatears have fairly in come in over the past few days, we had seen some  at Claggain Bay, and at other points on our way over there, and Mary had seen them at Claddach down at Portnahaven. Michal had a pr of Red Grouse on the reserve at Gruinart today, and yesterday James had a leucistic Barwit on Loch Gruinart. A visitor reported in to RSPB saying that they had seen the Red breasted Goose amongst the Barnies that were resting up at the head of Loch Indaal today. Bob had seen a Whimbrel today, up behind Port Charlotte. Yesterday Bob had seen a Wheatear, 6 Sand Martins, a Common Sandpiper and 3 male Reed Bunting carrying nesting material all over at Kilchiaran

Friday 15th March

Mary and Nat had carried out a count on the floods at Gruinart today. The scores on the doors were as follows, 5 Snipe, 42 Mallard, 6 Wigeon, 12 Curlew, 7 Whoopers, 445 Teal, 4 Mute Swans, 3 Red breasted Merganser, 6 Pintail, 3 Heron, 20 Lapwing, 18 Greylag and 7 Shoveler. Marc Eden was in touch with some of his sightings from through his stay. Marc had the Red breasted Goose amongst the Barnies over at Gartbreck. Also at Gartbreck, Marc had an adult Glaucous Gull. Back on Tuesday, up at Ardnave he had a Wheatear, the first sighting of this year as far as I know here on Islay. Thanks Marc.

Thursday 17th January

Quite breezy day today with stronger winds forecasted for tomorrow. Bob has been out birding around Bowmore and Neriby. He saw a flock of 35 meadow pipits, brent goose in the flock of barnacle geese, flock of 120 golden plover and 3 long-tailed tits. At Sunderland he saw the red-breasted goose. Past Kilchoman he had a good view of a golden eagle flying low. Mary saw 8 wood pigeons on the reserve at Gruinart. Family group of eight whitefronts with red collars has been seen moving between Saligo and Ballinaby fields.

Monday 31st December or "Auld years' night"

What a difference a day makes, the weather remained dry for most of the time and here we go for a bumper final entry for 2012. Yesterday, James had a Golden Eagle from his kitchen window at Grainel, and in one of the fields along from his house, he had a Canada Goose, hutchinsii sp. There were 14 Red legged Partridges at his road end the other day too.  The Barn Owl was present in his shed last night, becoming quite a regular! Paul Graham yesterday thought he saw the elusive Red breasted Goose over at Eorrabus in the fields opposite Esknish Farm. Paul also had a couple of Barn Owls out hunting, one at the Ballymartin roadend and the other along at Red Lodge the other night. This morning, from the new hide at Gruinart, Bob had a count of 670 Golden Plover and 800 Lapwing. At the top of Loch Indaal, he had 150 Wigeon and a count of 54 Pale bellied Brent Geese. This afternoon up at Loch Gearach, Bob had 2 Whoopers, 220 Teal, 167 Wigeon, 12 Mallard, 1 Kestrel and on his journey there and back he also had 6 Buzzard, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat and 14 Pheasants! Carl today had a small flock of Redwing up towards Cultoon. Pete Clement who is over staying with Peter and Pia had a Golden Eagle at Kilchiaran, on Loch Indaal between Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich, a count of 9 GND and further round Loch Indaal, off Uiskentuie, Pete had a Long tailed Duck. 

At this point, I would like to thank all the folk that have sent in their sightings throughout the year, it just great to get an email through or a message left on the phone, makes it all worth while. I think the highlight for me was at the Bird Fair when the Islay stand won the 3rd in the "Tourism sector". I thought it was a wind up, not often that I am stuck for words. Better still we were all like Cheshire cats! And yes, Islay will be returning again to Rutland for their 25th Bird Fair in August. All the best for 2013 to you all, and hopefully see some of you around Islay or at Rutland for some of our hospitality!!!! 

Thursday 29th November

Another great day out here, it may be a bit cool, but I really should not complain as long as it stays dry. Come to think of it more dry days already back on Islay than I had in total in my stay away.... James yesterday had 2 Yellowhammers on the reserve at Gruinart and a count of 515 Lapwings. He also carried a goose count for the reserve with scores on the doors tallying at 13,825 Barnies, 377 Whitefronts, 27 Greylags and the Red breasted goose was present too. The figures from the goose count earlier this month were the 3rd highest Barnacle Goose count since 2000, but again the Whitefronts appear to be low, but early days yet as I believe they can peak a little later in some years. Coming back home last night, there was a Barn Owl out hunting in around the same place as the other evening, along this side of Sunderland Farm. Today, over at Gruinart, we had a Sparrowhawk fly off with its prey in its' talons, a lbj, sorry folks to end on a sad note to tonight's entry.

Saturday 24th November

A good day on Islay, plenty of sun and good light as well as a fantastic sun set. Paul Beresford was out and about around the Island and got some good records. First on Loch Indaal - 42 pale bellied brent geese, 107 scaup, 13 long tailed ducks, 17 Slavonian grebes and 5 common scoter. Then at Gartbreck, 1 hen harrier and 11 twite. A hen harrier over Loch Gorm and finishing with the red breasted goose outside the new hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart and a waxwing on the woodland trail.

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 6th November

A much quieter day on the bird front today, but possibly the weather has not helped out! Yesterday the Red breasted Goose was seen over on the flats at Gruinart, as was a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp. This morning Carl had 5 Waxwings in his garden in Port Charlotte, down on fallen apples on the ground. Robin from Settle on his last day, had a Sparrowhawk in the trees up near to Ballygrant along with some Chaffinches and Blue Tits seen there too, but no Brambling present! Later on, flying over the market at Bridgend was a White tailed Sea Eagle.

Saturday 3rd November

A miserable sort of a day out here today, with squally showers coming out of nowhere and also the temperature not that great either, it's that time of year I should remember....On to more positive thoughts! Yesterday, the Red breasted Goose was seen up towards Ardnave, proving quite a bit of a challenge to be seen! The Waxwings were still present at Port Askaig . David and Jenny round at Coille had the large "finch flock" consisting of mainly Chaffinch with some Twite and a Linnet too, but the 2 Bramblings were seen there too! Further on they saw 2 Golden Eagles up towards Sanaigmore. At Ballinaby, a flock of 30 Golden Plover were present. Over at Gruinart, they had both a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine, 2 Greenshank and 6 Gadwall.  Michal had Snow Bunting on the track at Saligo.  George had an Otter down at Bruichladdich. Today at Machir Bay, David and Jenny birds included 2 Gannets, a Long tailed Duck, an immature Kittiwake, an imm. Glaucous Gull and a ringtail Hen Harrier. Pia had 6 Waxwings in her garden in Bruichladdich, offshore on Loch Indaal a flock of over 60 Common Scoter were present, and an Otter was seen eating a large crab, not bad going from the house!!

Tuesday 30th October

Bob sent though this image of a Waxwing which he took in his garden at lunchtime today, perched on topof the Raspberry bushes, note the Dahlias out in bloom too.... Earlier on Bob had been down at Frenchman's Rocks and seen several groups of Common Scoter flying South and also a Glaucous Gull. On his way there he had 2 Stonechats as well. Jim Dickson had been over from Lochgilphead for the day. At Sunderland Farm Jim had the Red brested Goose as well as a Golden Eagle there too. Along at Coille, he had 8 Brambling. On Loch Indaal, Jim had a total count of 86 Pale bellied Brent Geese, with 2 White tailed Sea Eagles at the head of the loch, and finally up at Cruach behind Bowmore there was a single Pink footed Goose present. David and Jenny, regular visitors from Staffs yesterday had the following birds, Golden Eagle up towards Sanaigmore, White tailed Sea Eagle flew from Ballinaby towards Gruinart, male Hen Harrier at Ballinaby, a total of 9 Stonechats around Loch Gorm, 180 Greylags on Loch Gorm, 4 different Kestrels round Loch Gorm, 100 Scaup on Loch Indaal, 2 Long tailed Ducks on Loch Indaal, 3 RTD & 8 GND there too

Friday 26thOctober

Clive Mycroft who lives down on the Oa had seen a Ring Ouzel earlier this week close to where he lives. The Bolton Birders yesterday counted a flock of 60 Twite down towards the Coastguard Cottages. Further on at Saligo Bay they had a Snow Bunting, a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen on their way up to Sanaigmore as was a Golden Eagle. 15 Whoopers were seen flying from Sanaigmore back down towards Loch Gorm. They also had a large flock of Starlings feeding in the barley stubbles at Ballinaby along with Skylarks, House Sparrows and some Reed Buntings. 12 Golden Plover were also close by. Finally at Coull road  end there were 30 Lapwing present along with more Starlings! On Loch Indaal yesterday, we had a count of 12 Herons. The Leigh birders had spent their day down on the Oa yesterday. Their highlights included 3 different  ringtail Hen Harriers, Golden Eagle, Peregrines, Chough, another great day! Lynne and Chris had a charm of 5 Goldfinches up the East side of Loch Gruinart, on the loch itself  2 Barwits were seen and up at Ardnave Loch, 8 Whooper Swans were present. This morning John Johnson who has been over for the week had seen a Yellow browed Warbler in some bushes up behind Port Charlotte. Bob had a juv Golden Eagle down in a field of rape over at Coull. From the new hide at Gruinart today, Mike and Elspeth had seen a Hen Harrier spoof 5 Red legged Partridges, then soon after a White tailed Sea Eagle was seen taking a Hare, but then to cap it all the Red breasted Goose was seen amongst the Barnies there. At lunchtime today, Pete Thorp had counted 72 Golden Plover at Ballinaby. Bob had another juv Golden Eagle from the old hide this afternoon.

Sunday 21st October

An early entry for a change.... The big bit of news is that this morning there was a Red breasted Goose down at Sunderland Farm along with the Barnacle Geese there too. Fortunately a visiting birder showed me where the said goose was amongst the others, easy really when it's like that. I went down early afternoon, but there were not so many many Barnies around nor was the Red breasted Goose either, the Whooper Swans had moved off too, some down on Loch Gorm. On Friday, Andy Greenwood had at least 25 Slavonian Grebe on Loch Indaal, from Blackrock. Yesterday on his way back on the ferry, he had a Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Kestrel, 1 Black throated Diver and also 10 Fieldfare. David Hardacre from Seahouses, another visitor who went home yesterday had seen 83 species during his trip and was well pleased with his first visit to Islay. Another first timer, Gavin left yesterday too, equally impressed, "seeing Eagles" from the kitchen window, just great!!! On Friday, over at Claggain Bay, he had 8 GND and a Razorbill and yesterday morning down at Machir bay, he counted 39 Golden Plover, 26 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, a Merlin and also a Snow Bunting. Off the ferry going out in the afternoon, he had the pod of  Bottle nosed Dolphin  round about the MacArthur's head  area. Off Gigha, 5 GND and a RTD were seen as well as an Otter. Many thanks to the above for their sightings through the week. Yesterday the Leigh Birders started their day off with a Stoat running past the patio doors where they are staying on the Oa, every morning they have 3 Hooded Crows coming in to be fed. On the road up to Bowmore, on the "Low road" they had 7 Long tailed Tits, briefly sitting on the bridge before flying off! From the power station, on Loch Indaal, numerous Barnacle geese, 11 Pale bellied Brent Geese, a handful of Barwits, Mergansers, Starlings, House Sparrows, Eider, Dunnock, Goldfinch, 6 Turnstone, 3 Wigeon, Curlew, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black headed Gulls. Gruinart also had 2 Greater black backed gulls, a female Peregrine sitting on the sandbars looking replete and resting up!!!Also seen were 4 Turnstone and a good number of Barwits, up the Ardnave side of Gruinart there was a Wren and also Stonechats seen. Going round Loch Gorm, a male Hen Harrier put a Snipe up, and several Buzzards were seen as well as more Stonechats. Down at Sunderland they had the Whooper Swans and also the Barnacle Geese, Greylags some Whitefronts and a few Mallard. Danny counted 99 Whoopers late afternoon at Sunderland, and had a Pink footed Goose amongst the other geese present