Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th April 2025

Friday was damp all day, Saturday was rather better though with some rain, and Sunday cleared up after a damp start.

Not a lot happening on the birding front, but the Magpie was still in Port Ellen on Friday, although, on Sunday evening, Mandy said there had been a report of one at Carnduncan, which might or might not mean there are two on the island. Swallows were reported in three different places on Friday, two at the High School, one at Nerabus and 10 feeding in the lee of the Gruinart plantation, seen by Mary-Ann, myself and Clive, respectively.

On Saturday, David D headed to the mainland and saw 15 Great-northern Divers at sea and a tight raft of 12 Black-throated Divers and 4 Common Scoters in West Loch Tarbert, Here on Islay, Gary found a nice summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit in the creek pools east of Bridgend and watched a Peregrine having a go at some small waders. 

On Sunday, Clive saw 17 Whimbrel in Loch Gruinart, while Ed saw his first Greenland-type Wheatear of the spring at Cornabus. Clive also posted details from a website which records UK weather, which reported that, on Saturday, Islay was the wettest place in the UK, with no less than 5.6 mm of rain during the 24 hours. That's about a quarter of an inch for those who prefer imperial units to metric. Not really very much in whichever units.

Billy Stitchell is clearly still feeding the birds in his garden at Caol Ila as he sent in this photo of two male Siskins and two Goldfinches queuing up to feed at his bird table. Thanks again, Billy.