Wednesday 10th July

Not so warm today, but a haar rolled in from the sea late yesterday and did not lift until late this morning, it also put the Jura ferry off at 18.30 with some folk stranded on Jura! I forgot to mention that we saw around 50 Sand Martins hawking over on of the barley fields at Rockside yesterday mid afternoon. Mark Shields, Dave's new assistant down on the Oa sent some sightings through. Last Friday, Mark saw a Puffin on the bay below Dun Athad. On Sunday he watched a Golden Eagle being mobbed by 5 Peregrines. Yesterday there were 30 Swifts over the Oa, other groups seen earlier this year have all been small groups. Mark had counted 160 Guillemots including 4 Bridled Guillemots. Peter had heard a Grasshopper Warbler while going down to the Lily Loch the other day. With the haar being in through the night, the sheep were damp first thing, but were dry later on, so finished giving them their annual haircut,  job done!!!!

Thursday 20th June

Yesterday, James had been up at Ardnave and had seen 4 Eiders with creches of young ducklings, 2 had only 3 but there were another 2 females, each with 11!!! Also at Ardnave, he had counted 6 Common Terns, 22 Arctic Terns and 4 Little Terns. Offshore he saw 4 Manx Shearwater, passing Gannets and also a Tystie. Back down on the reserve at Gruinart, James had seen 2 young Red Deer calves, the first of the year. Armin yesterday afternoon had a Snipe on top of the post out in front of the old hide at Gruinart. This morning Peter had been up at Sanaigmore and counted around 40 - 50 Guillemots on the ledges, and noted plenty of Fulmars as well as a few Razorbills present there too. This afternoon at Craigens, Peter saw a Peregrine stoop and kill a Rook which was on the ground which he had not witnessed before! From the old hide, good numbers of young Lapwing, Redshank and ducks were seen, including a Shoveler with 8 young, and also 3 drake and a female Wigeon. Finally a Swift flew over the visitor centre at Gruinart shortly after 7pm.

Wednesday 12th June

After that welcome rain (almost .75" in total), we have had a great day over here again, but the weather forecast for Friday is for some more rain... Today James had a Swift over the reserve at Gruinart, on the ground or possibly on the water he saw a Shoveler with her brood of 14 young. Here at home this afternoon we had the Corncrake calling away with the other one calling up the top, will I get any sleep tonight, better mind to shut the bedroom window before hitting the pillow!!! The young Starlings are out and about, what a racket they make when they are all together...

Tuesday 28th May

A pr of distant Terns taken by Anna down at Port Charlotte this evening. Earlier on, this afternoon, Anna had been over at Gruinart and had Redshank, Lapwing & chicks, 2 Whooper Swan, Curlew and a Whimbrel. Down off Bruichladdich Pier there was a Tystie. Back at Port Charlotte this evening, plenty of Goldfinches around, Razorbill, GND still in winter plumage, and Cormorant all out on Loch Indaal. Visiting birder Steve, had a GND off Coal Ila today in summer plumage.Tonight was the monthly meeting of the bird nerds, hence the late entry! Dave led 12 of us out to the Bay field and along to the American Monument and back to the car park. A great evening, great views all around. Highlight was definitely the sighting of the 2 Golden Eagles out on the wing, at one time being mobbed. We  also had 3 Swifts, a new "Islay tick" for me! Other birds were Peregrine, Whinchat, Hooded Crow on a nest, LBB Gull, Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat, Skylark, Swallow, Kittiwake nesting, Fulmar nesting, a Gannet from the Monument, some Manx Shearwater flying there too. Today, Danny had the Pale bellied Brent Goose over at Gruinart., and on our way out to the Oa this evening there were around 50 Greylags  (no young) down at Rockside. Coming home, down at the reed bed at the Coastguards, there was a Corncrake calling, it was so close, we almost jumped out our skins when it started up, we were actually listening to one further away at the time!!!

Thursday 16th May

Another glorious sunny day here again, just wish the sun would give us heat as well as light, no pleasing some folks......On Monday this week, Natalie from RSPB had carried a count out on Loch Gruinart, with the following birds seen, 1 GND, 208 Shelduck, 16 Eider, 4 R B Merganser, 182 Oystercatcher, 1879 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1279 Dunlin, 21 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 26 Turnstone, 6 Whimbrel, 11 Common Gull, 17 Herring Gull, 4 GBB Gull and 1 Greylag. On Ardnave Loch, birds were 33 Whimbrel, 2 Barwits, 2 Mute Swan, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Heron. Today Natalie saw 2 adult White tailed Sea Eagles hunting over the flats at Gruinart. Michal over the last couple of days has been down on the Oa, his birds included, 1 Golden Eagle, pr of Hen Harrier, 8 Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 1 singing Goldcrest and a Dipper carrying food. In the bay down at Port Ellen, Michal counted 21 Whimbrel. Yesterday Bob had a ringtail Hen Harrier close by his house, the first he has seen for a few weeks. Down off  Port Mor at Port Charlotte, Bob had 8 GND  and 7 Arctic Terns inshore with a feeding frenzy a lot  further out on the Loch consisting of over 40 Terns, Gannets, Kittiwakes and other gulls. He also had 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Razorbill, 12 Whimbrel and 220 Common Scoter. This morning Peter was over at Dunlossit and had a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. He also had Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers all singing away. Also heard were Cuckoo, Long tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Treecreeper and Goldcrest were all heard as were Little Grebes calling away on Loch Allan. To finish off with Peter had an adult White tailed Sea Eagle fly past, great! Andrew and Jane today had been down in the woods towards Kildalton and had seen 3 Yellowhammers as well as numerous Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. Along at Claggain Bay and in that area they had 8 Artcic Tern, 1 GND, 1 RTD, 1 light phase Pomarine Skua, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 male Reed Buntings, more Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff,  4 Redpoll, and an elusive Cuckoo who never gave up. Returning home, at Blackrock 4 Whoopers were present and Kestrel was seen just before they got to Bruichladdich. Today down at Portnahaven, Alistair had heard the Corncrake calling and also a Cuckoo. At Port Bhan, a Black Guillemot and a GND were seen and 14 Whimbrel counted too. Dave down on the Oa today had a Swift, heard a Cuckoo and saw a Whinchat