Thursday 8th August

Today Dave had a Greenshank down on the reserve on the Oa. Yesterday Mary had noticed that the flock of Starlings round Portnahaven appears to be increasing in number...Walking along the road between Ballymeanach and Portnahaven, Mary had Willow Warblers calling, Sedge Warblers seen in the verges, Grasshopper Warblers singing away and also a perched Raven calling away as well!!! Later on along the strand towards Uiskentuie, 2 Chough were seen and also a Sparrowhawk close to the office at Gruinart. On the road itself, there were quite a lot of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Coming home the other evening, there were some frogs hopping about on the road itself...and a hedgehog on the verge after Sunderland, we have not seen one for a while....

Wednesday 7th August

Bob was on the bus going over to Bowmore this morning and just before the Auction market at Bridgend, a Sparrowhawk flew in off the top of Loch Indaal and almost struck the bus.... Clark heard a late Corncrake calling down in the reedbed  towards Machir Bay this afternoon. Down on the reserve at the Oa today Dave had a Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine and Golden Eagle as well as 2 Chough and 3 Whinchat. Another glorious day with the weather here again after a doubtful start...

Tuesday 6th August

Another good day in out here, on the "Islands on the edge", the odd wee scuff of rain but not a lot... Mark down on the Oa had seen 2 Golden Plover on the silage aftermath at Upper Killeyan, there were also 25 Twite present too. On the guided walk there this morning, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Chough and a Golden Eagle were seen, all common to us to but many folk would give their back teeth to see them.....

Monday 5th August

Just spent a few moments having a look at other birding blogs round the country, and after doing that, a lack of  bird sightings seems to be a common theme... it is just that time of year..I had a ringtail Hen Harrier down close to Foreland this morning. Here at home this afternoon, 2 Chough flew overhead calling away as ever. I had not seen them lately, but good to see and hear them back!

Sunday 4th August

No entry last night I hear you all say, well yesterday was a long day, it started early and just kept going until it was all done and in between time managed to clean the cottages between guests and meet and greet them when they arrived, think I should bet paid by the hour, and is Saturday  overtime as well?? Today has been another busy day, today with the effort being, sitting on my beam end cutting the grass around the cottages. Net result, no birds tonight for the blog either apart seeing 28 Greylags on the silage aftermath at Ballinaby. In the adjacent field there is a scarecrow, or should it be called a scaregoose!!!Managed to get a few more wee jobs done for Rutland too, all falling in place, a bit like a jigsaw in some ways.

Friday 2nd August

Just at tea time, the skies blackened and then the thunderstorm came,  along with a good dollop of rain, the best part of half an inch in half an hour, glad I was inside.... Megan the old dog just slept through it all!!! Visitors ended up on a high earlier today, seeing a Golden Eagle, yesterday they had a ringtail Hen Harrier. Another visitor who is over doing a spot of fishing had seen a Seal down at Portnahaven earlier this week, with a 5- 6 lb fish in his mouth, bet Cliff was rather envious! The last day or two I have been kept out of mischief, getting my head round "things", getting the liquid supplies together from the Distilleries ready for our foray down to Rutland and the Bird Fair. Today I was over at Islay Studios picking up some images that Mark has been doing for us, all looking good. Some of the images are by folk who have kindly allowed them to be used to promote Islay, a special thanks to you all.

Thursday 1st August

Yes, the rainfall certainly was dry for the month, a mere 2" in total, and according to the official weather forecast, high record temperatures for Islay for July. Today it has been different, another month you may well say, but almost 0.5" so far and the day is not through yet...Yesterday some sightings through from James and Mary from the reserve at Gruinart... A Water Rail was seen, later on a Corncrake as it crossed over the track leading down to the old hide. 2 Peregrines were spooking the waders, mainly Redshank and Lapwing but 2 Greenshank were spotted there too... James also had 2 Hen Harriers on the reserve . A Lizard was seen out on the footpath at Gruinart too, as had been an Adder earlier on!!! Mary also was saying that she has been seeing more Willow Warblers lately down at Portnahaven, plus the fact that they are more vocal of late!!