Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th July

A cooler, windier and rainy day on Wednesday, slightly brighter on Thursday, with very few bird notes coming in.

Yesterday Jamie Johnson noted Whitethroat at Loch Conailbhe and Clive Mc, watched a Peregrine terrorising small passerines in the evening at Bun an Uillt. 

Today Clive had 5 Gannets, 3 of which were sub-adult flying up Loch Gruinart at high tide, then turning back once they'd realised it was a dead-end. Jamie had seen Hen ?Harriers on 3 occasions between the high road and the low road plus 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and an Otter at Claggain Bay this evening.

Tuesday 23rd July

A pleasant, warm, sunny and fairly calm summer's day.

A late report in for yesterday from Clive Mc. who had seen 4 Little and 3 Arctic Terns at Loch Gruinart in the evening along with 45 Dunlin, 15 Knot and a Whimbrel.

Today Clive had caught the morning high tide at Gruinart below Creag Mhor and counted 121 Curlew, 325 Bar-tailed Godwit, presumed to be summering non-breeders and including 5 in good summer plumage. At 12.30 he found 17 Black-tailed Godwits and c.330 Greylags at Gruinart near Gareallabus.

Elsewhere, Jamie Johnson reported c.25 Black Guillemots up at Bunnahabhain, 23 Choughs and a ring-tail type Hen Harrier at Ardnave and a Short-eared Owl at Finlaggan. Linden was up overlooking Nave island where he saw a pair of Great skua in the same spot he'd noted them last Saturday - perhaps a breeding pair?

Over on Jura Gary T. had singing Yellowhammer along the road south of the ferry.

Sunday 21st & Monday 22nd July

 Firstly, a big "Thank You" to Linden for doing the blog in my absence.

The weather yesterday and today was a mix of light winds with sunny spells and showers - more sunshine today than yesterday.

Yeterday's news was of  an Osprey seen up at Killinallan and a good list from Clive McKay: a Barn Owl last night at Uiskentuie, a female Marsh Harrier in heavy moult at Gruinart where, on the evening high tide he counted 386 Bar-tailed Godwits, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 88 Curlew and 55 Oystercatchers and 5 Sandwich Terns flying high over Gruinart towards Loch Indaal.

Today, Gary T. saw 2 Ospreys around Finlaggan along with a Short-eared Owl and a variety of other "stuff" - Crossbills, Siskins, Redpolls, Sedge Warbler, Moorhen, 7 Tufted Ducks - and an Otter! Later, he counted 21 Black Guillemots at Caol Ila.

Jamie Johnson saw the female Marsh Harrier again today at Gruinart, while David D. had a pair of White-tailed Eagles on The Oa.

Saturday 20th July

 Two Spotted Flycatchers reported by David this morning at Kinnabus. Gary had a mega report from Bunnahabhain of 34 Black Guillemot, 2 Great Black Backed Gulls, 5 Shag, 11 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, Siskin, Bullfinch, 3 Spotted Flycatcher families and a Golden Eagle!

Friday 19th July

 A very quiet couple of days in the bird chat with the only report being my sighting of a Little Egret at Gruinart - potentially the same one seen down at the Oa earlier in the week. 

Only notes from today were few Harriers around Gruinart and a visitor report of a White Tailed Eagle flying very low over them as they drove up to the reserve.

Wednesday 17th July

 At Loch Gorm this morning Lauren had a fishing Osprey, Gary had a lone Whimbrel north of Bruichladdich Pier. 

Chatting to David at the Oa yesterday we were wondering how long the Little Egret would hang around Kinnabus and it seems today was the day it decided to move on. It didn't go far though it seems with Ed reporting one down at Cornabus this afternoon.

Tuesday 16th July

 This morning Sam had a White-Tailed Eagle flying over Kilmeny Church towards Keppols, and slightly later a great report of 5 Red-Throated Divers, 10 Common Tern, 20+ Shag, 7 Black Guillemots and 9 Red-Breasted Merganser with 3 young. 

My day at the Oa started with Little Egret still hanging around. On the guided walk we had the golden Eagle pair seen perched from the trail and 4 Hen Harrier - 1 female and 3 young. 2 Whinchat in the afternoon as well as a handful of Dark Green Fritillary butterflies on the wing.