Thursday 7th & Friday 8th May

Winds still mostly light, but swinging round in all directions, but with continuing mostly bright and sunny weather throughout.

Yesterday Janice and Tim Scott  were at Saligo and Smaull where they counted 18 Whimbrels, had singing Whitethroat and Willow Warblers and heard 2 Corncrakes. David Shallcross found a Grey Wagtail at Bridgend and Kate Butterworth had a Grasshopper Warbler singing near Port Charlotte and a Golden Eagle on The Oa. I did a quick count of birds up on Loch Indaal finding 125 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gartnatra and a concentrated feeding group of 60 Red-breasted Mergansers just off Bowmore harbour.

Today, George Pike and David Shallcross noted sngle Whinchat, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle on The Oa, while Clive McK. had 35 Whimbrel up towards Ardnave. James How gets the prize for "Bird of the Day" with a sighting of a Wood Sandpiper from the North Hide at RSPB Gruinart - a species far from an annual occurrence on Islay.

Wednesday 6th May

 Light SE winds and sunshine for much of the day.

David Shallcross counted c.100 Bar-tailed Godwits on Loch Indaal near to Bowmore this morning where there were 23 Knot, some in red breeding plumage. Later, up at Bunnhabhain,  he counted 3 Whinchats. Up at Gruinart Clive McK. was watching a Common Gull flying by when it glanced upwards. Clive did the same and found it was looking at an adult White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by an Osprey! Jack Mitchell saw probably/possibly the same Osprey at Loch Skerrols later in the day. Kath Butterworth heard a Corn Crake at Conisby and down at Bruichladdich had a Dunlin with a pink ring on the left leg and a yellow ring on the right with numbering 9U2. We'll try and find out where that bird originates from and let you know.

Tuesday 5th May

Light winds from the north kept the day cool, but it was bright, dry and sunny throughout.

At Laphroaig Mary Ann F. found a Treecreeper and at the opposite end of Islay, Mary R. recorded 30 Whimbrel at Claddach. Kate Butterworth was up at Ardnave and had an adult and two immature White-tailed Eagles, 30 Ringed Plover and 2 Little Terns with a male Hen Harrier at Kilchiaran. At Cattadale there was a Golden Eagle watched closely by David Shallcross, with another seen by Neville Hargreaves at Machir Bay. James How counted the Dunlin in Loch Gruinart, amassing an impressive tally of c.2000 along with 30 Whimbrel and 3 Little Terns.

Monday 4th May

Another pleasant, dry day with lots of sunshine and light winds, though clouding up a little towards evening.

There was a lot of chat on the WhatsApp group about sightings of all sorts of lepidoptera today, but I'll stick with the bird sightings.

Jack Mitchell started things off with a Whinchat seen on The Oa, followed by Kath Butterworth noting a cuckoo at Port Mor campsite. David D. saw a White-tailed Eagle carrying a Fulmar off inland on The Oa - they have to be careful in taking Fulmars, in order to avoid being covered in regurgitated oil that fouls their feathers. Nick Bone had Chiffchaffs singing at Gruinart, plus 42 Whimbrel and 27 Ringed Plover. David Shallcross was down at Bruichladdich watching the Black Guillemots (8 of them) around their nest sites on the pier. While at Bruichladdich he also found a Garden Warbler - far from a regular species on Islay with only 11 records in this century. Later, David Shallcross found a Kestrel at Portnahaven. Late still he found another scarce species for Islay - an adult Little Gull at Bowmore along with 2 Sandwich Terns. Steve & Lyn Rogers noted 5 Whimbrel over Kilnaughton and Clive McK. had a Great Skua heading north up Loch Indaal at Gartbreck. Down at Cladville Mary R. had an adult White-tailed Eagle. Janice & Tim Scott took a hike out to Traigh Bhan and found 4 or 5 singing Whitethroats, a male Whinchat, 2 Golden Eagles, 10 whimbrel and noted a Sand Martin colony in the dunes. 

Sunday 3rd May

A greyer, cooler but dry day with light winds from a more northerly direction.

Late news from yesterday came from Clive McK. who revised his Whimbrel total down to 114 from from 122 and added a sighting of a pale phase Arctic Skua at Loch Gruinart that flushed 162 Bar-tailed Godwits and where there were 300 Dunlin and a Brent Goose.

Today Clive had a much higher count of Dunlin on Loch Gruinart - 900 in total along with 78 Shelduck, 60 Ringed Plover, 10 Whimbrel, and a Curlew Sandpiper (the latter not at all common as a spring migrant on Islay). There were 3 Little Terns doing courtship feeding at Gruinart in a site where they do try to breed but which is prone to flooding at high tides. 

Also birding at Gruinart was Kath Butterworth who noted 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Whimbrel and later at Ard Chruaidh (Gartnatra) on Loch Indaal found a further 85 Whimbrel, 8 Knot and 140 Bar-tailed Godwits.

I took a look at Gruinart from the two hides this morning and noted a Whooper Swan that seemed to be lacking any primary feathers, but which was trying to pair up with a Mute Swan. I also counted 11 Great Northrn Divers, a Red-throated Diver and 16 Red-breasted Mergansers off Blackrock in Loch Indaal. Visitors David Shallcross and George Pike took a look at Blackrock later in the day finding a passing White-tailed Eagle and a flock of 17 Eiders. Up at Gruinart David found 42 Whimbrel and a Little Egret and Martin Hughes was at Ardnave Farm and heard a Corn Crake calling in adjacent rushy fields

Away from the Rhinns, David D. had a male Bullfinch and 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Cairnmore Woods on the edge of Kilnaughton Bay and a Corn Crake at Upper Killeyan.

Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd May

The weather slightly on the turn with light to moderate SE winds and more cloud cover on Friday, turning to fairly overcast conditions on Saturday with a hint of rain, especially by the evening, and winds dropping but turning to the west.

The expected passage of Whimbrel through Islay was evident on Friday with Clive McK. counting 35 at Creag Mhor, Gruinart, Ed B. with 32 at Cornabus, Mary R. with 11 at Claddach, Ian Littlewood finding 55 near Ardnave Loch and 15 here at Bruichladdich. Assuming they were all different, that is a tally of 148 birds minimum.

Clive also saw 2 summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits at Creag Mhor, Ed added a couple of Whooper Swans at Cornabus and Ian found a Great Skua near Ardnave Point.

Today witnessed further large numbers of Whimbrel on Islay, stopping off to feed on their way north. Clive McK. counted 122 feeding on leatherjackets on the fields around Creag Mhor (accompanied by a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit). Ed B. commented that the 60+ Whimbrels feeding around him at Cornabus were being pestered by Common Gulls stealing their food.

Other birds of interest today have been a Peregrine hunting over Cornabus, a substantial tally of 50 Swallows at Claddach from Mary R. along with 2 Cuckoos at Port Wemyss plus two others - at Ballymeanach and Portnahaven. Fiona McG. notes 3 Sedge Warblers on the coastal trail at Port Wemyss to Portnahaven with Arctic Terns arriving on Orsay island. Paul Miles scores the first Spotted Flycatchers of the year on Islay - two at Lily Loch along with singing Chiffchaff.

"Bird of the Day" goes to James How who saw a Tree Sparrow in his garden at Gruinart - a scarce and irregular species on Islay.

Thursday 30th April

Another fine, dry and sunny day with slightly breezier conditions from the SE.

David Dinsley noted our first Swift of the year coming in high off the sea over Ben Mhor, The Oa.

Ian Littlewood counted 50+ Whimbrel heading north on Loch Indaal and Ella Simpson had a Corn Crake up at Conisby.

Wednesday 29th April

Another fairly warm, very sunny, dry and pleasant day.

Mary R. saw a male Hen Harrier this morning at Claddach along with a regular pair of Canada Geese flying between Claddach Loch and McKenzie Island. Nick Bone was watching a female Hen Harrier at Lossit at the same time, flying towards Claddach.

This afternoon Martin A. found an Osprey eating its catch of fish  on a fence post near Gartnatra and Clive McK. had a couple of Great Skuas up at Ardnave along with a Kestrel and a decent count of 70+ Whimbrel between Garra Eallabus and Ardnave. On Ardnave Loch he noted the 4 Scaup still present along with 6 Tufted Ducks.

Janice & Tim Scott are visiting and were pleased to actually see a Corn Crake at Portnahaven where they also heard a Grasshopper Warbler.

Visiting birder Ian Littlewood sent in records of birds seen this week including White-tailed Eagle and Hen Harrier at Bunnahabhain on 24th; Golden Eagle at Loch Ballygrant and Merlin near Loch Bharradail on 25th; White-tailed Eagle at Cnoc Cro a Mhail on 26th; 3 Corn Crakes at Portnahaven on 27th and "numerous flocks of Whimbrel ranging from 10-20 birds around the Rhinns with 52 at Kilchiaran Bay" plus Golden Eagle at Gearach  and Whinchat at Kilchoman today.

Tuesday 28th April

Another basically dry and sunny day, though cloudy at times with a cool, light easterly breeze.

Nick Bone reports a Corncrake at Lossit and Clive McK. saw 47 Whimbrel at Gareallabus, a White-tailed Eagle mobbed by Greylags and, most unusual, 2 pairs of Scaup on Ardnave Loch.

James H. heard a Water Rail and saw a late Jack Snipe at Gruinart in the morning, and took a look over Gruinart Flats later in the day, reporting a/the pair of Garganey still present along with a Ruff, 16 Whimbrel, a pair of Gadwall and 9 Black-tailed Godwits.

I noted a flock of 15 Whimbrel at Bruichladdich, then did a walk in the  Lily Loch area noting a pair of White-tailed Eagles flying about and 2 Great Northern Divers on the Sound of Islay. Billy Stitchell was also at Lily Loch during the day and sent in a couple of photos - one of possibly the same eagle and another typifying a pleasant spring day with plenty of bird song from summer migrants.

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th April

Two further days of pleasant, sunny and mild weather.

Thanks to Malcolm Ogilvie for doing the blog in my 3 weeks absence - and to Mary Redman for taking over from Malcolm when he was unavailable.

While I've been away there has been a major change in the island's birdlife as the wintering geese all got away to Greenland and a flurry of the summer visitors arrived. Reporting has quietened down a little since and there have been few posts over the last two days:

Yesterday Ed B. reported Arctic and Sandwich Terns at Kilnaughton and Louise M. had a Whimbrel in front of the Jura Hotel.

So far, there are no sightings posted today.

Saturday 25th April

The fine weather continues, though with some patches of cloud keeping the nights a little warmer.

The only reports come from James H at the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve where the first Lapwing chicks have appeared, while, on the floods, the pair of Garganey was still present, as was a single Ruff.

Here's another Billy Stitchell photograph, of a Mistle Thrush surveying his territory.

 

Friday 24th April

A repeat of yesterday's weather, dry, sunny and getting warmer.

Peter Gill's dawn chorus on a stroll below Lyrabus consisted of 3 Cuckoos, 5 Grasshopper Warblers, 4 Sedge Warblers and 2 Common Whitethroats. A little later, he saw 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Bruichladdich. James How added to the songsters with a Grasshopper Warbler and no less than 3 Water Rails calling at Gruinart.

Peter Gill later had the delightful experience of the Little and Large of the raptor world when watching a Merlin on a roadside fence near Ardnave as a White-tailed Eagle flew past. 

Louise M reported at least 30 Great Northern Divers in the Sound of Jura, on the east side of the island, and, later in the afternoon, Ed B saw a Moorhen and 3 Whimbrel at Cornabus. Moorhen is an elusive bird on Islay, with comparatively few breeding pairs, perhaps no more than 20. Cornabus would be a new site if Ed's bird can find a mate.

Billy Stitchell has been out with his camera again and contributed this fine one of a Pied Wagtail. I particularly like the lighting on it.

 

Thursday 23rd April 

The nice big anticyclone persists, giving us blue skies and a southerly breeze, and very slowly getting warmer during the day.

Paul Miller saw what could well turn out to be the bird of the year, a Black Kite, floating in the wind above Sanaig, and heading up the coast towards Ardnave. This record has, naturally, to be scrutinised by the relevant rare bird committee, but, if accepted, will be the first for Islay and just the 5th or 6th for Argyll, as there's a pending record from last year seen on Kintyre, the full details of which are still awaited.

Paul also saw a Common Whitethroat at Sanaig, the first for the year duly clocking in, while Peter Gill had a Whinchat at Lyrabus. In the afternoon, James H. spotted 4 Ruffs from the Loch Gruinart south hide, Fiona McG found a brood of 8 Mallard ducklings at Shorefield, just outside Bruichladdich, while I watched 2 Sandwich Terns flying in front of the village. Grasshopper Warblers were vocal in the evening, with 3+ below Lyrabus heard by Peter Gill and 2 in Glen Astle, together with 3 Cuckoos, reported by David D. Mary McR also had a Cuckoo near Gearach earlier in the day.

Butterflies on the wing included a Red Admiral at Shorefield (Fiona McG) and Green Hairstreaks on The Oa (David D). 

Wednesday 22nd April 

Dry and sunny, though the persistent easterly breeze kept it cool.

The birds of the day were undoubtedly the pair of Garganey seen and photographed by Mark Livingston from the RSPB Loch Gruinart south hide. One or two, occasionally more, of this lovely small migrant duck turn up here most springs, with breeding proved in 1997 and suspected in five years since, the last time in 2014.

David Jardine, on the ferry to Colonsay, saw a single Puffin flying north off SE Jura and then c.15 Manx Shearwaters north of Rubha Mhail lighthouse. David Wood reported the first Whinchat of the year from Kinnabus, while, also on The Oa, David D spotted a White-tailed Eagle, in his words "performing pest control on a Greylag Goose nest." Over at Kildalton, Mary-Ann F saw a Redpoll, and also a Speckled Wood butterfly on the wing. 

In the late afternoon, Mark Livingston found 3 immature White-tailed Eagles at Ardnave, while Ed B had a high count of 38 Wood Pigeons at Cornabus. 

David Wood reported that an adult male Linnet killed by a cat in Port Ellen yesterday was wearing a ring put on 49 days ago in Wiltshire, so not a very nice Islay welcome for it. 

And here are Mark's photos. 

 

Tuesday 21st April    

A dry and sunny day with a blue sky, but also white horses on the blue sea because of a strong easterly wind.     

Only a few records today, of single Whimbrel at Saligo from Louise M and at Cornabus from Ed B, and of 3 singing Sedge Warblers near the south hide at Gruinart from James H.

Gordon Langsbury took this cracking photograph of a Sedge Warbler.

 

 

Monday 20th April

Sunny with blue skies, and white fluffy clouds gradually giving way to overcast and even a few spots of rain in the evening, with light variable winds.

Last night on the Gurinart Floods, Clive McK watched 70 Redshanks behaving like migrants, with 35 flying off to the NW in a tight flock, followed by 57 Golden Plover on the same track. There were a further 100 which stayed on the Flats, together with 7 Whimbrel, 28+ Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Greenland Whitefronts and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Records from different parts of the island included the first Sedge Warbler of the summer at Loch Gruinart (Paul Miller),  a Cuckoo and Common Sandpipers at Kinnabus (David W), a single Golden Plover at Frenchman's Rocks (Mary McR), a Grasshopper Warbler at Lyrabus (Peter Gill), and a White Wagtail and a Whimbrel at Machir Bay (Clive McK).

To end the day, Mary McW reported a Corncrake calling away at Portnahaven. Around this time of year, one has to decide whether it was calling or singing!

 

 

Sunday 19th April 2026

I don't know whether to whisper it or shout it from the rooftops, but the sun shone all day, the skies were their bluest of blues, and the wind was a light breeze. What's more, these conditions look like continuing for the week, gradually warming.

This lovely weather brought with it the summer's first Corncrake, at Portnahaven, reported with delight by Louise M. Cuckoos were reported from Jura (2 on stereo at Ballard, according to Louise) and Ardillistry (Mary-Ann F).

Steve Rogers sent in his WeBS count from Loch an t-Sailein, finding: Oystercatcher 18, Greylag 25, Herring Gull 8, Heron 2, Curlew 2, Canada Goose 4, Shag 3, GBB Gull 2, Shelduck 2, RB Merganser 9, GN Diver 2, Dunlin 98, Sandwich Tern 2, and Common Gull 2, also seeing 2 Otters and 15+ Common Seals, while a Willow Warbler was singing close by. Steve also had his first-ever Twite in the mixed finch flock in his garden at Emerivale on The Oa side of Port Ellen. Thanks, Steve.

At lunchtime, Ed B reported his first Orange Tip butterfly of the summer at Cornabus and the 'ping' of his WhatsApp message disturbed me as I was watching my first one at Bruichladdich. 

 

 

 

Saturday 18th April 

High pressure moving in, at last, with the wind dropping and the sun coming out, though still not warm.

New migrants arriving by the day, with Ed B kicking off with a Grasshopper Warbler singing at Cornabus, and Clive McK seeing a Little Tern at Killinallan, as well as a Whimbrel there, with a single Curlew.

Peter Gill saw a Cuckoo fly over Lyrabus in the morning, while Ed B had a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming for the first time at Cornabus where he has seen them but not heard them before.

Here's a Gordon Langsbury photo of a Little Tern.

 

 

Friday 17th April 2026

Nothing new about the weather with strong mainly southerly winds carrying squalls.

Clive McK reported that "their" Cuckoo was back on the powerlines behind their garden at Gruinart for its brief summer sojourn on Islay. Peter Gill found both Blackcap and Chiffchaff at Lily Loch/Loch Allan in the morning and heard a Tawny Owl calling around midday from the woodland above the Port Askaig Hotel. Ed B. flushed a Jack Snipe at Cornabus in the afternoon,  while James H. had another at Gruinart as well as a White Wagtail, 2 Cuckoos and still 19 Whooper Swans, 8 Barnacle and 6 White-fronted Geese, together with 58 Black-tailed Godwits. Towards the end of the day, Mary McR saw a Common Sandpiper at Claddach, while Clive McK watched an Osprey fly south over Loch Gruinart, while 8 Gannets flew up the loch and then back out again.

One of our local photographers, David Livingstone, sent in a photo of a female Hen Harrier hunting close to the Singing Sands, respectively. Thank you, David, for enlivening this blog.

 

Thursday 16th April

The same strong SE wind continued with showers, sometimes wandering around to SW.

Hirundines were mainly in evidence, with a House Martin at Cornabus seen by Ed B, another prospecting at Clive McK's house at Creag Mhor, David W saw 4 at Kinnabus, and Peter Gill saw "some" at the Woollen Mill. Later in the day, James H reported over 100 Sand Martins feeding over the Loch Gruinart floods, which also held 7 Gadwalls. Nick Bone had a Cuckoo at Gruinart in the morning, while Steve R watched a White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by gulls as it flew from Port Ellen towards Kilnaughton.

Clive McK filmed Linnet courtship in his garden, commenting that the male still had some "reddening up" to do.

 

Wednesday 15th April

The weather was on repeat, plus a bit of thunder in some of the afternoon squalls.

Only a few observations were sent in today, Peter Gill finding 3 Brent Geese at Blackrock in the morning and, later, 2 Sandwich Terns below the Gaelic College. Mary McR. had 2 Swallows at Claddach, while Nick Bone heard a Cuckoo at Gruinart.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Morven Laurie (NatureScot) reminds anyone finding dead birds on the shore to not handle them but to notify this link

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds

Finally, this fine photograph of a White-tailed Eagle carrying a rabbit was sent in on Sunday by David Livingstone. Sorry it got overlooked, David, but many thanks for it. 

 

Tuesday 14th April

The strong south-easterlies continued all day with some rain, mostly in the afternoon.

If you're a Greenland White-fronted Goose on Islay in spring looking to head to Iceland on your way to where you breed in west Greenland, then a south-easterly wind is what you want. So, when Ed B. reported first thing that the last of the geese tagged during the winter at Cornabus was heading north, this was certainly to be expected, as was its arrival in Iceland later in the day. The details are wonderfully revealing. It left Glenastle on The Oa at about 4 am and arrived in south-east Iceland, a distance of c. 800 miles/1300 km, at about 5 pm. This suggests an average speed of 100 kph, or 62 mph. The south-east wind probably provided a boost of about 50%. Well done, that bird, and the rest of the flock it will have been in.

David W. reported 400+ Golden Plovers and a Swallow at Kinnabus in the morning, while Peter Gill had a Great Spotted Woodpecker by the carpark entrance to Loch Ballygrant and a Common Sandpiper beside the loch. Pat Jackson found the first Cuckoo of the year, also at Loch Ballygrant, where there were also "lots" of singing Willow Warblers. Billy Stitchell's garden was invaded by 10-15 Swallows around 6 pm in the evening. 

Finally, one of Ed B's neighbours at Cornabus think they saw a Red Kite, so something to keep an eye open for.

 

Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th & Monday 13th April

First, my thanks to Mary Redman for stepping in at very short notice and doing the blog when I was flown off the island to hospital for a small emergency operation. During six boring days on the top floor of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow the undoubted highlight was an adult female Peregrine flying past my window!

Quite strong SE winds persisted through the three days, with occasional squally showers.  

No bird records were received on Saturday, but Sunday was busier with Karim Labib counting 18 Brent Geese on the shore at Loch Gorm House, Bruichladdich, and about 500 Golden Plover on the Gruinart Flats, while Ed B. had 2 Sandwich Terns past the Gaelic College and an Osprey fishing at the mouth of the River Sorn.

On Monday, Martin Reid saw a male Hen Harrier near the Kildalton Cross, 2 probable Sandwich Terns and 2 Great Northern Divers in a bay near Ardbeg and 4 Gannets at Claggain Bay. In the morning, Clive McK watched 400+ Barnacle and 40+ Greenland White-fronted Geese head off NW, followed not long after by another 160 Barnacles and 15 Whitefronts. Peter Gill reported a single Redwing in the field beside the RSPB Gruinart reserve carpark, a single Pinkfooted Goose with Barnacles at Gruinart and then this spring's first Common Sandpiper close to the pier at Bruichladdich.

Other arriving summer visitors were 3 Swallows seen by Mary McR overhead at Claddach and a House Martin at Creag Mhor, Gruinart, seen by Clive McK, both in the morning.

Ed B. had 8 new Pinkfeet at Cornabus joining the family that's been there all winter, while, towards evening, soon after a male Merlin had "whizzed up" the side Loch Gruinart flushing everything, Clive watched 25 "very excitable" Redshanks getting up from the Gruinart floods and heading north. 7 Common Snipe looked as if they would follow but eventually turned back and landed. A single Greenland Whitefront was present, then 27 came into the Flats from on high, presumably staging from somewhere to the south.

Finally, during the afternoon, a Willow Warbler with white outer tail feathers was in Clive's garden, very likely the same bird as he saw there last July.  Here's his video of it.

 

 

 

Friday 10 April

Good evening from a wild and windy south-west coast of Islay! This morning wasn't too bad, bright sunny spells but strong winds all day, building to this evenings blast.  On my morning rounds of the lambing field it was unusually quiet, just 2 snipe leaping up from puddles as I approached.  It seems there wasn't much going on with Islay's bird watchers today, just David on the Oa reported 4 pink-foot geese at Kinnabus. Lets see what tomorrow brings!

Thursday 9 April

 Back to the routine of strong winds, cold chills and showers. April at its finest.  I'm glad of the shelter my hill ground affords the lambs on the ground in weather like this.

Mary-Ann reported a male hen harrier at Seal bay, and I had a large ring-tail hen harrier at Claddach Loch earlier. Every morning on my lambing rounds I spook a pair of teal from the pools near Frenchman's as well as numerous meadow and rock pipits, skylark, oystercatcher pairs, snipe, redshank and wheatear. Hooded crows are never far away, and the ravens often take a tour round the croft midday. 

Steve reported a magpie at Emerivale:  an Islay twitch! Billy at Ballygrant also had a visiting magpie to the garden on Tuesday. His normally tolerant ring-necked doves have apparently taken a real dislike of the bird and actively chase it! 

Clive had found a dead guillemot at Kintra on Saturday, from its BTO ring he discovered the bird had been rung on the Treshnish isles as an adult in 2016.  Clive is concerned with the number of dead birds he and others have discovered on islays shores recently - a result of bad weather? Bird flu? 

Thanks to all for your sightings. Apologies again for the lack of photos, my computer just doesn't want to!

Weds 8 April

 Good evening all from Claddach! I've been roped in to help for a few days. I'll do my best - today has been a 'spring event' with swallows, willow warblers, chiffchaff seen and/or heard across Islay and Jura. Though not a competition, Louise at Craighouse on Jura, heard them yesterday. So there.

 Perhaps the best highlight was the common crane that was reported at Gruinart today.  I'm sure the nearby cafes were delighted with the extra footfall! I'm afraid my computer won't let me upload photos for whatever reason, however if you head to the WhatsApp group the evidence is there.

Also on the group, Ed shared a data tracking map of a Greenland White-fronted goose satellite tag, showing its 15 hour journey from Islay to Greenland on Monday. Clive noted flocks of geese departing from Loch Gruinart, the next day there were swallows, sand martins and wheatear!

The wind returns tomorrow after a glorious day today then, just as the water levels in the fields were beginning to cheer up, a little rain is expected to top up the mud.

Saturday 4th April

A damp and increasingly windy day, a few of the early squalls being mostly hail. However, the worst of Storm Dave passed to the south, so the night wasn't perhaps as noisy as had been threatened.

David Hicklin spotted a/the Cackling Canada Goose on the Gruinart Flats in the morning (see photo), while Clive McK. noticed that the Barnacle Geese had been putting on weight prior to their migration (see photo). The geese are monitored for NatureScot each late winter/spring, using the shape of their back end between the legs and tail, known as their abdominal profile, which is where they store some of the fat which they will use up as they fly north. This gives an indication of how well they've managed to feed up prior to leaving. Fiona McG who carries out the monitoring rated this one as a 3-3.5, so getting close to the maximum. A bird without any fat shows an almost straight line between the legs and the base of the tail.

Later in the day, Clive was at Kintra on the Big Strand and noted 8 freshly dead Guillemots and one dead Manx Shearwater. One of the Guillemots had a British ring on its leg and we look forward to learning where it was ringed. It has already been identified as having been ringed as an adult in 2016.

 

Friday 3rd April

 Yet another day with very changeable weather - everything from overcast and rainy to bright and sunny with light winds to breezy conditions.

Billy Stitchell reporting from Caol Ila reckons birds at his feeders are down in numbers, but still recorded 8 Siskins,  2Great, 3 Blue and  4 Coal Tits, a few sparrows, 2 Starlings and Chaffinch with a flock of 20 Goldfinches last night  accompanied by a few Chaffinch and a single Yellowhammer. He also noted this evening a Magpie that popped in briefly.

This morning Tom Skinner reported an Osprey - first of the year - perched atop a telegraph pole near Loch Gorm enjoying a large trout. James H. saw the wintering Green-winged Teal plus White-tailed and Golden Eagles over the flats at Gruinart, while visitor Brock Lueck saw a Wheatear up at Ardnave.

Following on from Nick Bone's excellent talk last night at the INHT centre about Terns on Islay, Val Peacock saw our first two terns of summer off Port Charlotte today, but too far to identify specifically.

Mary Ann F. sent in the two gruesome photos of a raptor found between Port Askaig and MacArthur's Head - anyone want to suggest what it is?

For any keen birders just arrived on Islay - or residents who are still thinking about it, the new book on the birds of Islay and Jura is very much available and waiting for your purchase!

Thursday 2nd April

Another day with quickly changing weather - sunny and dry to start with increasing winds from the south with rain and cloud later in the day.

Clive McK. noted Barnacle Geese heading off north and west towards Iceland this  morning, plus a Merlin up at Gruinart, with another Merlin seen by David D. at Stremnish on The Oa. Other than that Lauren Stewart saw the resident, feral Chinese Goose hanging out with a few Greylags in its usual area between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

Wednesday 1st April

Moderate  SW winds with overcast rainy conditions in the morning giving way to a dry sunnier afternoon.

Ed B. noticed the partially leucistic Barnacle Goose on his patch at Cornabus again this morning.

It was Mel Chown's last day on Islay today finding 150 Knot in Loch Indaal from the Gaelic College, plus 10 Common Scoter, a male Goldeneye and a lovely breeding plumaged Slavonian Grebe. Later at the Woollen Mill there were 3 Grey Wagtails and a Dipper. The day finished up at Ardnave with a White-tailed Eagle, 3 ring-tail Hen Harriers and this fine shot of a dapper male Wheatear.

Other records were all about a spring influx of Gannets, with several up and down Loch Indaal during the day and Mary-Ann F. counting at least 70 off Kildalton.

Tuesday 31st March

A grey, mostly cloudy and mildish, but not too awful day - lightish westerly winds, little if any rain.

Bird news today again comes from Mel Chowns who spent the morning on The Oa, where there are still 20 Twite at the RSPB Feeders in the car park. Later at Claggain Bay there were 8 Great Northern Divers, 5 Razorbills, 2 Black Guillemots and a lone Cormorant.

Malcolm O. was at Laphroaig and didn't like what he saw - 31 Canada Geese and 10 Greylags - some of the Canadas in pairs, but he hopes it is just a non-breeding flock rather than an increase in the feral breeding population.

Monday 30th March

No rain, but westerly winds still strong overnight, gradually dropping a little during the day, which became increasingly cloudy. 

Today's records all come from Mel Chowns who kicked off with 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Loch Gorm, White-tailed Eagle, Black Guillemot, Common Guillemot and Carrion Crow at Ardnave Point. However, the top sighting was finally finding the wintering Red-breasted Goose after days of searching. Well done for perseverance Mel - and thanks for the photo!

Sunday 29th March

A very blustery day of strong westerlies with sometimes heavy rain showers between sunnier spells.

Mary-Ann F. noted 6 Gannets off Ardillistry this afternoon and Emily McGarva had a Hen Harrier at Ballymeanach. Mel Chowns also saw Gannets off Frenchman's Rocks followed by a good look at a White-tailed Eagle at Cladville. Later, at Gruinart 100 Golden Plovers were counted along with a single Black-tailed Godwit and a very smart Russian (European) White-fronted Goose - photo below. There has been quite an influx of these into the UK this winter with some reaching the west. Jim Dickson notes that the peak counts for Argyll have been 6 on mainland Argyll and up to 3 here on Islay.

Saturday 28th March

Strong winds from the NW, but mainly sunny and cold with occasional hail and rain showers.

Ed Burrell reports a Chiffchaff singing at Cornabus this morning, while Steve & Lyn Rogers had their first 2026 Gannet in Kilnaughton Bay.

Mel Chowns had a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the Woollen Mill in Bridgend Woods along with a Sparrowhawk. Later there was a Whooper Swan at Gruinart and Greenshank at Ardnave, plus male and female Hen Harrier vat Kilnave.

Here at Bruichladdich the feeders in my garden produced one of the higher counts of Goldfinches of the winter season - 35+ along with 6 Greenfinches and 3 Siskins.

Friday 27th March

Westerly breezes with intermittent icy showers between sunny spells - and the promise/threat of stronger winds to come in the next day or two. 

A late report yesterday - thanks to Theo de Clermont who picked up a record on eBird - of someone seeing a Cackling Goose at Neriby and the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens.

Today, the main sighting of interest was a Magpie at Cragabus courtesy of Ed B. and at least the male Ring-necked Duck still on loch Ballygrant c/o David Clugston, who also saw a summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe off Bowmore and a Sparrowhawk at Finlaggan. Mel Chowns was on Jura and saw a Bullfinch at Lealt.

Thursday 26th March

The day had deteriorated into overcast, cold, damp and drizzly by lunchtime with winds currently from the south, but not for long.

I went to the Kilchoman/Loch Gorm area in the morning to look for the Irish colour-marked White-fronted Geese, but didn't have any luck. There were 14 Tufted Ducks on Loch Gorm and 3 Whooper Swans flew over.

Mary Redman reports a White-tailed Eagle over Claddach loch in the morning, otherwise the only sightings reported so far are from Mel Chowns on a return visit: birds of interest include 9 Bar-tailed Godwits at Kilnave and 6 Goldeneye on Ardnave Loch. A trip over to Jura produced 2 Great Northern Divers at Craighouse and a Wheatear near Feolin.

A reminder for any birders - resident or visiting who haven't yet got a copy of the new "Birds of Islay and Jura" book, that copies are available!

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th March

A couple of blustery days with cold, sometimes quite strong northerly and westerly winds and icy showers between sunshine.

Ched & Nigel Barratt were out in all weathers on both days. On Tuesday they recorded:

Bowmore: 2 Red Throated Divers. Ardnave: 2-3 Hen Harriers, 2 White-tailed Eagles, 3 Choughs, Immature Golden Eagle, 2 Great Northern Divers. Loch Gorm: a single Wheatear. Kilchoman/Machir Beach: 2 Choughs another Golden Eagle and 160 White-fronted Geese. Port Charlotte: 28 Eiders. Black Rock: A Merlin, 27 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Brent Geese.

Today they spent a bit of time on Islay and on Jura:

Morning on Jura: Craighouse garden feeder with 6 Greenfinches, 2 White-tailed Eagles south of Craighouse, Hen Harrier by Jura House, another plus a Golden Eagle between Jura House and Feolin and 2 Great Northern Divers by  the ferry.

Later, back on Islay: Finlaggan: Pair of Goldeneye and 3 Sand Martins. Loch Ballygrant: 16 Tufted Ducks and a Hen Harrier. Barr Farm/Cattadale: A Golden Eagle. Loch Tallant: 70 Golden Plover.

David Clugston was another birder braving the vagaries of the weather today and sent in the following sightings: a Greenshank and 2 Grey Plover at the mouth of the River Sorn, an adult White-tailed Eagle and a Hen Harrier near Laggan bridge with Greenfinches and Siskins on feeders at Bridgend. 

The only other bird news is that a small group of colour-ringed/collared Greenland White-fronted Geese from County Mayo in Ireland are lurking in the Kilchoman area and Ed B. sent in a request for anyone interested to go and have a look to try and read the rings/collars.

I spent an hour or so trying playback at Kildalton Woods in the vain hope of confirming the sound record of a Nuthatch from a couple of days ago. No luck, but the weather wasn't great, so maybe worth another try as the habitat looks good.

Monday 23rd March

 Cool, breezy and mostly cloudy, but no rain to speak of.

Visitors Ched & Nigel Barratt sent in records from "the other side" of the island: The Oa - 30 Twite at Killeyan and 35 White-fronted Geese at Cornabus. Port Ellen - 8 Ringed Plover on the beach. Loch a Chnuic - a Great Northern Diver. Claggain Bay - a further 11 Great Northern Divers. Machrie - 2 Hen Harriers and 80 Golden Plover. Corrary - another male Hen Harrier.

Marcus Covell from the Islay Woollen Mill heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cluanach - always good to receive records of this species to be able to assess how the small population of breeding birds is doing since their colonisation of Islay in 2012.

Sunday 22nd March

The day started out overcast with threats of rain, became bright and sunny, then reverted to very light rain showers again by late afternoon. Wind light from the West.

Mary R. saw 4 Whooper Swans flying north off Claddach this morning. In the afternoon Steve & Lyn R. saw a couple of White-tailed Eagles over the Port Ellen skerries prior to doing their WeBS count at Loch an t-Sailein (Seal Bay).  Among various counts were 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Wigeon, 8 Curlew and 2 Canada Geese.

David & Pauline Clugston were back on Islay today and noted a male Crossbill with Redwings and Fieldfares in the pine copse at Sunderland. They had 3 Hen Harriers at Loch Gorm, a male Wheatear at Ardnave, Greenshank in Loch Gruinart with 4+ Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Gadwalls on the Gruinart floods. 

Saturday 21st March

 A slightly cooler and cloudier day, but dry.

Harry & Denise Failey left today, but counted 140 Dunlin and 114 Bar-tailed Godwits at the top of Loch Indaal on their way to the ferry. James how was up at Ardnave where there were 3 White-tailed and a Golden Eagle, Merlin and 3 Purple Sandpipers, with another Golden Eagle, Hen Harriers sky-dancing, 3 Gadwall, a Sand Martin and 9 Black-tailed Godwits (some in summery plumage) at Gruinart.

I went down to Port Wemyss and around the southern part of the Rhinns with the hope of coming across yesterday's probable Crane, but had no luck. A flock of 60 Chaffinches at Gearach was the best I could muster.

An interesting report came in from Mary-Ann F. over at Kildalton of a Nuthatch identified by call on the Merlin app on her walk through the area. This would be Islay's second record of the species. Although the bird wasn't seen and we all know Merlin isn't infallible, it fits rather nicely with the recent sighting of Jura's second Nuthatch a week or so ago and the general spread of the species south into Argyll. So if anybody is over that way listen and look out for it to get a 100% confirmation.

Friday 20th March

Another glorious warm and sunny day.

It was last day of the trip for Nick Goddard and among his sightings were 5 Little Egrets at Gruinart where he saw a Golden Eagle heading off with what was probably a Barnacle goose as prey. Steven Murray saw another Golden Eagle at Loch Gorm plus a couple of Sand Martins - the latter also being clocked by Nick Bone along with a Wheatear at Ardnave, where he found a Merlin and both Golden and White-tailed Eagles annoying the geese. Ed B. saw another Wheatear at Lenavore, while over at Claggain Bay Mary-Ann F, had 6 Great Northern Divers and paired up Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Pied Wagtail and Shelduck. She also reported a couple of Great spotted Woodpeckers at Kildalton.

Most intriguing today has been a late note from Mary R. of reports of a Crane down at Port Wemyss and McKenzie Island. We aren't sure who saw it, or how well it was seen, but given that one was seen well at Moine Mhor, Lochgilphead last night and this morning, it sounds a likely genuine sighting and something to search for tomorrow. There have only been four previous confirmed sightings of Crane on Islay.

Thursday 19th March

A glorious warm, calm and sunny day - summer is here at least for a day or two!

Nick Goddard was birding over on Jura today with the following results: 

Sound of Islay, from Feolin: 10 Common Eiders, 2 Shags, Cormorant 

A846 from Feolin to Lussa: Red Throated Diver, 2 Pink-footed Geese, c.85 Canada Geese at Craighouse, White-tailed Eagle (photo below) Achamore, 2 Grey Herons, 3 Buzzard, Raven & Stonechat.

On Islay there was a first small arrival of more summer migrants: a first Chiffchaff heard singing by Paul Miller at Aoradh, Gruinart, Wheatears at Kintra, Saligo and Claddach, with 3 Sand Martins at Kintra and 2 at Kinnabus seen by the David D & David W.

Morven Laurie from Nature Scot kindly forwarded the last of the winter's International Goose Count results for Islay carried out on 17th-18th March: 29,759 Barnacle Geese, 4,869 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 1,202 Greylag Geese.

Billy Stitchell has been out and about with his camera and sent in some photos very redolent of the change-over from winter to spring, with wintering Wigeon and Greenshank lingering along with paired-off Mallards and singing Robins.

Wednesday 18th March

At last - a lovely warm, sunny and spring-like day. Unsurprisingly, this produced the first of the summer migrants. Clive McK. had a Wheatear at Ardnave with Harry and Denise Failey finding another on The Oa, where they also noted 3 Golden Eagles (2 adults and an immature). Later, near the road down to The Machrie Hotel they found a/the Magpie. Down at Claddach, Mary R. found our first Sand Martin, plus a couple of White-tailed Eagles perched up at Claddach Loch plus 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. David D. had a White Wagtail at Kinnabus where he also noted the Long-tailed Duck still on loch Kinnabus and a lone Pink-footed Goose. Steven Murray was the only one reporting from Gruinart today where he saw a Golden Eagle from the South Hide. In the fine weather the Black Guillemots were much in evidence at their usual haunts of Port Askaig and Bruichladdich Pier.

I stopped off at Blackrock in the afternoon sunshine to look over the calm waters of Loch Indaal. Nicholas Watts had previously seen 6 Brent Geese here, and I added 83 Common Scoters, 41 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, 6 Slavonian Grebes, 14 Red-throated and 11 Great Northern Divers. (Coincidentally, David Jardine was counting just across the water at the Sound of Gigha and added a further 172 Common Scoters, 22 Long-tailed Ducks and 27 Slavonian Grebes, and suggested that the combined total probably represents a substantial proportion of the Argyll total for these species).

Clive McK. sent in a note about finding a total of 6 Great northern Divers washed up dead on the big Strand (Laggan Bay) earlier in the week. It is a v ery long beach, so may mean nothing, but  always sad to see and worrying that it might be a few of a much larger number  that have died due to bad weather, disease or who knows what?

Tuesday 17th March

Weather today was basically "more of the same" - mild, but breezy from the south with odd bits of sunshine between rain.

Nick Goddard was out and about reporting birds on wet fields between Ballinaby and Saligo: 2 Choughs (one colour-ringed on the left leg with Grey-blue above yellow) also 19 Ringed Plovers, c5 Turnstones and 5 Redshanks. In the afternoon he noted a male Hen Harrier on the moor by Octofad.

Harry and Denise Failey saw a couple of Grey Wagtails at the Woollen Mill then scored with the three Ring-necked Ducks (a male with 2 females) still loitering on Loch Ballygrant.

Here at Bruichladdich there were 2 Siskins on the feeders.

Sunday 15th & Monday 16th March

More rain with sunny spells between. Slightly milder on Monday as winds came more directly from the south.

Yesterday Nick Goddard had 100+ Golden Plovers, mixed with Lapwings in fields near the RSPB Visitor Centre at Loch Gruinart, where I counted 13 Whooper Swans and  had 4 Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of pairs of Gadwall viewable from the hides. Harry & Denise Failey saw a Black-throated Diver on Loch Indaal early in the day.

At Bruicladdich Nick noted a Cormorant fishing near the pier.

Today at the South Hide Nick counted  8 Curlew amidst Lapwings, Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler and Teal. He also provided this photo of a couple of displaying pairs of Red Breasted Mergansers. Steven Murray had a ring-tailed Hen Harrier near Crosshouses. Harry & Denise Failey noted 40 Twite near Kilchoman and saw the Bruichladdich Cormorant again.

Friday 13th & Saturday 14th March

A couple more days of turbulent and changeable weather - sunny at times in between cold squally showers.

Yesterday's main news was a sighting of a Nuthatch at Craighouse, found by Theo's Nature Scotland group and photographed by Tim Wilson. There has been just one previous record on Jura of a single bird logged during the BTO 2007-11 Winter Atlas, with a likely date of 10th December 2008. Similarly, there is only one Islay record of a bird at Bunnhabhain on 2nd June 2020. The species is spreading fast into Argyll, so it has long been anticipated that more records and possible future breeding will occur here and on Jura.

Another minor rarity yesterday was a Magpie at Laggan Bay Distillery near the airport, first seen by Clive McK, who also had a large count of 130 Wood Pigeons at Loch Tallant. 

Steve & Lyn Rogers noted a Cormorant off the Gaelic College and today watched two adult White-tailed Eagles perched up near their home at Emerivale.

Harry & Denise Failey returned for another week of birding today and sent a good count of 150 Skylarks along the Ardnave road. David Dinsley was delighted to be able to get a proper photo of a Red Grouse today on The Oa - they are usually flying away at speed seconds after being seen!

Thursday 12th March

A blustery, windy and cold day with sunshine and squally rain - more rain than sun!

The only bird news comes from Theo and his Nature Scotland group who found the Green-winged Teal from the South Hide at RSPB Gruinart.

Wednesday 11th March

Quite strong SW winds, cool, with intermittent squally rain between sunnier spells for much of the day.

David D. started the records off today with a count of 61 Golden Plovers feeding on in-bye land at Kinnabus, and Mary-Ann F. noting 30+ Lapwings and 200 Starlings north of Port Ellen this morning. Marcus Covell at the Woollen Mill saw the usual Grey Wagtail on the sorn and a Golden Eagle overhead.

Other records came from Theo with his Nature Scotland group, finding 7 Great Northern Divers, 24 Eider, 3 female Common Scoter, 4 Kittiwake, 6 Choughs and a Gannet at Sanaigmore. Later, the Red-breasted Goose showed up on the flats at Gruinart (photo below), along with an adult Russian White-fronted Goose and Brent Goose near Craigens. Up at Ardnave were 3 more Great Northern Divers and a Greenshank, with 2 more of the latter at Bridgend and a female Merlin at Uiskentuie. For "the goose fans" as Theo puts it, he sent in a photo of a strikingly pale White-fronted Goose (photo below) near Kilchoman Distillery.

Tuesday 10th March

The day slowly developed into an overcast, rainy and windy affair with winds strong enough to cancel the evening ferry.

Theo of Nature Scotland was out and about relocating two of the previously three Ring-necked Ducks (an adult male and adult female) on Loch Ballygrant where there were  also 31 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. Later, at Ballinaby he noted 2 Choughs plus 8 Fieldfare, then a Slavonian Grebe at Port Ellen, and a semi-leucistic Starling at Lagavulin. At each location he recorded a small number (2-5) of "normal" (aka feral) Canada Geese. Over on Jura, Louise Muir noted a count of 130 "normal" Canada Geese - one of the larger counts of late.

Steve  & Lyn Rogers counted 10 Eider at Port Ellen marina and David D. kindly sent in some excellent photos taken recently on Islay. I'll include a couple tonight to brighten up the blog!