Wednesday 24th July

A late entry tonight folks, but been out this evening and did not write the entry for today until now, after 11pm.... James has returned from his hols... Yesterday, he had seen 4 Spotted Flycatchers on the reserve at Gruinart. Just after the heavy rain yesterday, here at home out on the grass out the back, there were 7 Song Thrushes, possibly a family? Today James had seen 2 juv Hen Harriers out on the wing at Gruinart. He also counted 17 Blackwits and 1 Greenshank. Today I have been getting my brain back into gear again thinking about the Bird Fair at Rutland Water next month and what we all need to take, so I will have a quick speak with James and the others for their thoughts over the next few days, not long now, 3 weeks away and we will be on the road heading down...

Wednesday 19th June

Peter had been over on Jura today, his main birds were as follows. 5 different singing male Whinchat, 1 south of Feolin with the others all beyond Lagg. 2 Short eared Owls were seen, one  below Feolin and the other past Lagg. Hen Harriers, both females/ young males seen below the ferry and also past Lagg.  A dark phase Arctic Skua seen flying over the hills past Inverlussa, raising the question could they still be breeding on Jura? Finally at Lussa itself a Spotted Flycatcher was seen. Back on Islay Peter saw a Dipper on the River Sorn close to the Woolen Mill. Mid afternoon, we had a ringtail Hen Harrier out at Mulindry.

Sunday 2nd June

Danny kindly gave me this image of a Spotted Flycatcher which he took earlier in the week. Martin was in touch to correct my statement from last night, it was Golden Plover not Dotterel that he had seen, sorry Martin! He also had 2 pr of Whinchat and about 10 Stonechats on his walk as well as a Common Sandpiper on Loch Uigeadail which is up in the hills above Ardbeg. Today, Danny had a Dipper on the River Sorn and another visiting birder saw Sanderling down on Machir Bay. Other visitors from Oxfordshire had seen a Golden Eagle down on the Oa , seen a ringtail Hen Harrier, a GND just off the Singing Sands all today and had heard a Corncrake calling up behind Machir Bay yesterday evening, so they are well pleased. This evening round at Ballinaby, there were several small family groups of Lapwings along with young, just hope they don't get predated on. 

Monday 27th May

After last night's dollop of rain, it turned out to be not that bad a day... Yesterday Geoff had a male Hen Harrier out on the Rhinns, today he saw 3  Golden Eagles down on the Oa. Later on he met in with Dave and Danny and in the wood here they had a Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin and Redpoll with a Chough flying overhead! Danny had seen a Razorbill on Loch Indaal, just out from Bruichladdich. and this year Danny commented on seeing more Linnets around and hearing more Sedge Warblers as well. Out below the Gaelic Centre at Bowmore, Danny had 6 Whimbrel with some Curlews also present. Yesterday, the Blackbirds fledged at Bob's, with 4 reared. Bob was also saying that at the open day at Bruichladdich Distillery yesterday, a Peregrine flew over, wonder how many of the folk present saw it!

Friday 17th May

Another sunny day, not that I am complaining.... David and Jane yesterday had seen a Cuckoo over at Cluanach and heard several Grasshopper Warblers, in their garden they saw a Whitethroat. Down on the Oa today, Dave had a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Blackcap and also 2 Sparrowhawk. Bob had been down at the new hide this afternoon, and had seen a Wood Sandpiper close to the hide. He also saw 6 Blackwits, a female Shoveler with ducklings, 12 drake Shoveler, 6 drake Wigeon and a pr of Pintail. I was speaking to some visiting birders from Worcester who have been having a great time, with watching our Choughs amongst their highlights. Another 2 from Dartmoor were telling me their highlight was seeing a Golden Eagle down on the Oa and also seeing Hen Harriers at different places around Islay.