Thursday 22nd August

Martin from Skye yesterday had seen a male Hen Harrier out quartering over the North side of Loch Gorm, 3 Whimbrel in the fields at Gruinart and heard a further 2 calling while up at Ardnave. Round at Ballinaby, we had 20 Barwits this morning. Today Bob and his brother in law Pat had been over to Jura.  A great day was had, seeing a Short eared Owl, ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 White tailed Sea Eagle,  2 Golden Eagles and a total of 20 Buzzards.

Monday 10th June

Bob, Martin and the 2 Daves have returned from helping Crystal carry out a Sea bird survey on Ailsa Craig. The weather had been kind to them and a good time enjoyed by all, apart from the first night over on the mainland proved to be a bit of a tester with plenty of midges around, did anyone count them? Off Gigha they had a Minke whale and also 3 Puffins were seen. Apart from the usual sea birds on Ailsa Craig, they also had a Black Redstart, Willow Warbler and Bob heard a Wren singing away...Yesterday evening back home on the Rhinns of Islay, Bob saw a Short eared Owl, his first for some time and he counted 6 diiferent Whitethroats while he was out. This afternoon, we had a male Hen Harrier out quartering his patch over at Glenegedale.

Monday 20th May

Yesterday Martin had been out around his patch over at Glenegedale. His highlight was watching a Short eared Owl out hunting  for around 40 minutes. He also had lots of Willow Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Snipe, 1 Stonechat, 3 Redpoll, 4 Siskin and 3 Song Thrush. James yesterday had lots of Turnstone in summer plumage on Loch Gruinart. Margaret last night heard 2 different calling Corncrakes from here at the house, wonder what we will get later on this week when all going well, the first survey is carried out for the year. Today, on reserve, Michal had a Sparrowhawk, and in 1 field alone he counted 7 pr of Lapwing with 18 young. This year there appear to be more Lapwing around...

Friday 12th April

Yesterday Bob had seen 2 Short eared Owl out while was down the Rhinns. Later on, he had a male Hen Harrier. Another male Hen Harrier was also seen yesterday over at Gearach on the Rhinns too by John & Anne from  Galashiels. This morning, from his house, Bob had seen an adult White tailed Sea Eagle. It came from behind Bob's house, down to Port Charlotte and then followed the coastline up towards Bruichladdich. Wonder if it was the same bird that Jeff had at Foreland earlier this week??? Yesterday, Peter had gone over to Bunnahabhain and the Iceland Gull was still present there. On Wednesday on Colonsay, Peter heard the Starlings were mimicking Snipe calling and also Corncrakes too!!! Today Peter had 2 Sandwich Terns down on Loch Indaal at Bruichladdich. Here this morning, the Fulmars were back in for a short time soaring along the front of the crags....

Tuesday 19th February

A shortened edition tonight folks as for some reason my previous, longer edition did not wish to be published, see theses gremlins... Bob yesterday had a Sparrowhawk in his garden, a Kestrel later on just outside his garden,several Buzzards seen out on the wing. Out on the Rhinns, Bob had both male and female Hen Harrier and a Short eared Owl. The Hampshire birders had Pied Wagtail at Port Ellen and later on down on the Oa had seen 25 Fieldfare, 30 Twite and a ringtail Hen Harrier. Today down at Bruichladdich, they had 2 Ringed Plover, another Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipits all along the shore with a pr of Red breasted Merganser offshore. At the flats at Gruinart they had a possible Marsh Harrier and finally a Merlin over on the Glen road out of Ballygrant. Birders from Cambridge had seen 2 Golden Eagles, one coming out over the hill behind Sunderland with the other over towards Sanaigmore. Also close to Sanaigmore they had 40 Ravens while near to Garra Eollabus 30 Chough were seen.

Sunday 10th February

Another miserable sort of a day with the weather... James had seen a Short eared Owl on the flats on the reserve at Gruinart. In amongst the flock of geese close to James's house at Grainel, a Canada Goose hutchinsii sp was present today. Here at home, we have seen a cheeky Starling that manages to get into the "caged" bird feeder.... it has figured out to get in... just get below the flap, force your head up to cause the flap to open slightly, then straighten your neck up a bit and then hey presto wriggle your way in and get some of  the "better" food on offer. We have watched it several times over the past few days... hope it does not pass on the method of entry to its' mates!!! The bird feeders have been really busy today, at one time this afternoon,  it was literally "standing room" only!!