Thursday 12th September

Yesterday, Paul and Kathleen had a Greenshank and 5 Blackwits over at Loch Gruinart. The other day, here at home we had 2 White wagtails out on the grass. Today, before the weather closed in, we had a count of 40 Golden Plover at Coull and earlier on a male Hen Harrier out on the wing round below Leek, over the far side of Loch Gorm. This afternoon the raft of Scaup were still at Gartmain, the exact number I am not sure of. There were also 4 Whoopers there too. James had 3 Greenland Wheatears at Gruinart as well as 3 Rock Pipits.

Thursday 2nd May

James sent through last night this image taken earlier on of the Long billed Dowitcher up at Ardnave. It flew off early afternoon yesterday, and as far as I know has not been seen again. The same story for the Little ringed Plover and the Yellow Wagtail, they could still be out there somewhere! New birders, over on their honeymoon, Colin and Mandy had 31 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Port Ellen when they arrived yesterday, today they had a good day on the Oa with their top birds including Hen Harrier, Buzzard, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away, Whinchat, Stonechat and Raven. The Argyll birder had been over early am at Gruinart and was rewarded with a White tailed Sea Eagle. In one of the fields he had 14 White Wagtails. There, this afternoon he had a Golden Eagle on a carcase with another  Goldie nearby. He has not seen so many Blackwits today, 28 at Gruinart and just 14 at Ardnave. Whimbrels not so numerous either, 41 at Craigfad and 56 at Nerabus, could that be the flock of 98 seen at Nerabus yesterday, split into 2 groups today? At Ballinaby there were 235 Golden Plover and along at Coull, a Peregrine was seen. At Bruichladdich, 38 Pale bellied Brent Geese were counted while over at Gartbreck a single Little Tern was seen. Back on Monday, Bob and Lorna Young had a couple of Little Terns at Ardnave, heard a Cuckoo, seen a Sedge Warbler and witnessed a male Hen Harrier being mobbed by 2 Hooded Crows and they noticed more Swallows and Martins arriving. Another frequent Islay visitor, Ron had heard a Cuckoo at Glenegedale and seen a male Hen Harrier down that way too yesterday . Up at Ardnave today, Mary heard a Corncrake. Dave down on the Oa had 2 Goldcrest and 2 White Wagtails and also a Whimbrel, yesterday he had 3 Whinchat, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo all on the reserve, possibly some of the same birds that Colin and Mandy had today! On her way home last night Louise had seen 3 Owls between the 3 arch bridge and Gatehouse, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl and also a Short eared Owl.  Here at home, on the feeders apart from the many finches present, the Siskins are still present, as is the Redpoll.

Monday 29th April

Just some of the Black tailed Godwits in flight taken over at Gruinart by the "Argyll birder"! James this morning had a count between the floods and the flats of 891 Blackwits and also 90 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Later on he carried out a Goose count with Emily and had 5205 Barnies, 6 Greenland Whitefronts, 10 Greylags and 75 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Today the "Argyll birder" had 3 Lapland Bunting down in a newly germinated barley field at Rockside. Round at Ballinaby, he had a count of 710 Golden Plover. At Toronmore, there was a flock of 25 Linnets present and also 16 Ringed Plover. A total of 14 White wagtails were round Loch Gorm. Later on at Bun an Uillt, 69 Pale bellied Brent were present and a Peregrine at the  reserve at Gruinart. A single Redwing was at Gruinart and another down at Portnahaven. Just to spoil Islay's figures, John Bowler on Tiree had 1520 Blackwits and 11,320 Golden Plover, so that has blown away the previous Argyll record for Blackwits! Just after lunchtime, we had a striking male Hen Harrier fly across the road in front of us down close to Foreland House and then another past Sunderland, but this one was further out over the moor.
Remember to come along to the Bird nerds get together at 7pm at the "old hide" at Gruinart on Tuesday, if you are around.

Sunday 21st April

Today, Peter and Pia had been over at Loch Allan and had seen an Osprey fishing there. There were also around 20 Swallows in flight there too. They also heard 5 Willow Warblers as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woods. Today James had 17 Barwits over at Loch Grinart with "lots of Swallows and Sand Martins" present there as well. Here at home, the Siskins were busy on the feeders again, with the Willow Warblers out in the back garden. Yesterday, Carl had a White Wagtail at Gortan and reported in to say that he had "lots of Willow Warblers in Bridgend woods and also more along at Springbank". On Thursday James had carried out a count on the floods at Gruinart with the tally as follows, 321 Teal, 4 Moorhen, 38 Mallard, 21 Wigeon, 7 Heron, 9 Pintail, 27 Redshank, 90 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 2 Whooper  Swan, 10 Mute Swan, 3 Red breasted Merganser and 7 Gadwall.