Sunday 16th & Monday 17th March

 Two further fairly pleasant if cold days with plenty of sunshine on Sunday, a but less on Monday, but dry and quite calm.

Yesterday Ed B. had a flock of 33 Whooper Swans heading north through Cornabus and commented on the start of nesting for Redshank and Lapwing on his patch.

At Gruinart James H. had a further 43 Whoopers and noted the Barnacle Geese gathering more on the reserve - further suggestion that the winter birds are thinking of heading up to their arctic breeding grounds. James also saw the Red-breasted Goose, a flock of 100 Skylarks and 2 Black-tailed Godwits on the floods.

David D. found one of the Great Crested Grebes still at  Loch an t-Sailean, while George Jackson had a pair of Dippers upstream on the Sorn from the Woollen Mill. Steve & Lyn Rogers watched a pair of Golden Eagles over Beinn Mhor at The Oa where 22 Twite were on the feeders at the car park.

Today, apart from a Kingfisher seen by Gary T. on the Sorn at Bridgend, all the talk was of feral Canada Geese after Louise Muir reported a count of 69 in front of the Manse on Jura - a substantial flock. 

Saturday 15th March

Continuing lovely sunny weather today with clear skies and calm seas.

Reports of other wildlife include a Red Admiral seen yesterday afternoon by George Jackson, and fish jumping in Loch Indaal.

Steve & Lyn Rogers did a WeBS count at Loch an t-Sailean, near Ardbeg today, finding a good variety of the regular species with a high count of 160 Dunlin along with a report of 2 Great Crested Grebes - the latter quite rarity for Islay.

Jim Wells was over on a day trip by boat from N. Ireland with birding friends and managed to find the Red-breasted Goose up at Gruinart and had a high total count of 8 White-tailed Eagles.

Both he, and Nick Webb yesterday noted the absence of Hen Harriers on their visits - presumably a good number of our breeding birds head south in winter?

Over on Jura Louise Muir was pleased to find Yellowhammers back in her garden along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker as a first for her garden list in Craighouse.

Thursday 13th & Friday 14th March

Very little to report over the past two days other than the lovely weather - bright, cool, clear sunny and dry.

Nick Webb has kept us going with reports yesterday of a couple of Red-throated Divers (one in winter plumage, the other in breeding plumage) at Bowmore, followed by a Dipper on the River Corran on Jura.

Today Nick counted 70 Fieldfares near Loch Gorm.

There must be some summer migrants on their way soon....................?

Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 12th March

Two days of bright, sunny, mostly dry weather, but with a cold nip from the light to moderate northerly winds.

Nick Webb enjoyed a good day out yesterday in the decent weather up at Ardnave and Gruinart. He doubled the Wheatear tally from one on 10th March to two birds up around Craigens. At Ardnave were the usual Whooper Swans on the loch, a flock of 14 Choughs milling about and a group of 5 eagles that looked to be 3-4 White-tailed in aerial display joined/investigated by 1-2 Golden Eagles. Later he was delighted to watch a Kingfisher fishing in the shallows at Bowmore.

Dave & Jean Killick reported a flock of 100 Fieldfares at Ballinaby. Mary-Ann Featherstone noted "noisy" Canada Geese at Ardilistry and Ed B. had a small flock of Lesser Redpolls at Cornabus.

Today, Fiona McG. was up at Ardnave and saw 5 White-tailed Eagles towards the Point, and a Peregrine with prey at Bun-an-Uillt. 

Nick Webb had another White-tailed Eagle scattering the geese down at Nerabus and a flock of 30 Fieldfares at Cultoon, a further 20 near Gruinart and over 100 Skylarks in the fields around Kilnave chapel. David D. over on The Oa flushed a pair of Red Grouse and a Jack Snipe.

For the lepidopterists among us, Mary-Ann Featherstone confirms after consultation, that the Oak Beauty seen on 10th was indeed a first for Islay.

Monday 10th March

The day started out fine and sunny, but by the afternoon had clouded over and become a bit breezier and colder, with winds going round towards the north - but no rain at all.

The only bird news came from Nick Webb who was pleased to see plenty of Twite at the feeders in the RSPB The Oa car park, and from newly returning visitors Dave & Jean Killick who found the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens and our first summer migrant of 2025 - a Wheatear just a bit further north.

Clive McK. saw a group of 5 Whooper Swans heading resolutely north over Gruinart this evening

Sunday 9th March

A fine, warm and sunny day with very light winds. It certainly feels more like spring with lots of birds singing, but no summer migrants yet.

Despite the fine weather, there were no birds reported on the WhatsApp today, though visitor Nick Webb was out enjoying the day and seeing some of the more regular species including an adult White-tailed Eagle up at Gruinart. Mary-Ann Featherstone did use the WhatsApp to show us a fine looking moth that she'd found last night -an Oak Beauty, which may be a first for Islay.

Saturday 8th March

The weather didn't seem quite as good as forecast, but it was mainly dry, with only a light wind. Cloudy to start, with brighter spells during the day.

Not many birds being reported today: Malcolm O. reports a probable first for his garden feeders with a Redpoll showing up along with a Siskin again. Ed Burrell heard three, possibly four,  male Tawny Owls calling in woodland around Cornabus, plus his first drumming Snipe of the spring.