Thursday 14th January

 A much better day with the weather again, with not a lot of rain falling compared to yesterday.. having said that it has just started to rain outside again, spoke too soon....

Some birds through from James, all from yesterday included the following.... 2 Goosanders seen down on the burn at Uiskentuie, 2 Merlins seen over the flats at Gruinart with the Little Egret and also a Greenshank present out on the estuary at Gruinart.

This afternoon, Margaret and myself went down on to Machir Bay for a constitutional walk as the weather was up for it.... the only bird spotted was a Hooded Crow

Monday 27th January

It was dry again today, but a bit on the cool side with the mercury never getting much of a shift in the thermometer...

Not much to report apart from the hooded crow out on the grass again today, later on there was a       buzzard down on the fence line watching what was going on... The pheasants which we have, have taken a great liking to eating into a small bucket of feed, which includes some aniseed...

Sunday 26th January

The weather has been a bit cooler today, in fact at one point this afternoon, we were glad to be inside, as there was a right dirty shower of hailstones, clattering against the windows, rather noisy, to put it politely..

On the bird front today, James had seen a couple of Bullfinches over at Bunnahabhain this morning. This afternoon, James was over for a cuppa and we were proud to show him some footage on our cameras of a pair of Barn Owls, and also some footage from a visiting Chough. I know it is early days but here is hoping that either bird would be looking for a prospective nest site... Earlier on, Margaret saw a couple of Hooded Crows out on the edge of the garden. 

Friday 8th November

MB had been out and about again yesterday, which in his own words, the weather was "dull, and at times gloomy sort of a day". First thing yesterday, he had seen 2 White tailed Eagles at Kilchoman, along at Coull, MB saw  a male Hen Harrier. Round at Sunderland Farm, a Golden Eagle was seen flying along towards Rockside Farm. Along at Uiskentuie/ Blackrock he had 11 Slavonian Grebes, 5 L t Ducks (4M + 1F), 33 Common Scoter and he counted 135 R b Merganser all together in one raft. In Bridgend Wood/ Claggain Strip, MB saw 4 Goldcrest and also 5 Treecreeper and along at Islay House, 35 Fieldfare were present while at Bridgend, 2 drake Goosanders, 5 Goldeneye and 2 Dippers were seen. Along at Mulreesh he had counted 51 Redwing. In at Finlaggan, he watched a W T Eagle flush 52 Mallard 103 Teal and 5 Tufted Duck out from their cover... coming back over the Glen road, in around Beinn Dubh/ Storakaig, MB had 2 Golden Eagles and also a Peregrine present, he also counted at least 90 Hooded Crows and also 18 Raven in the same area.

Sunday 2nd June

A not bad sort of a day, after quite a lot of rain that fell though the night... the wind has just started to pick up in its speed and noise as well!!

Yesterday, Lesley had carried out a recce down at Foreland where the Bird nerds are meeting up on   Tuesday at 6.30 pm. The birds seen by her included 2 Cuckoos, 2 Common Whitethroats, many Stonechats, Willow Warbler and also a Spotted Flycatcher. 

Up here at home this afternoon, we saw a Hooded Crow on top of the wall, with a Pheasant chick, we tried to get it to stop, but too late as the corvid flew off  with the chick in its' beak, so I suppose that's the way it goes sometimes...

Wednesday 3rd October

This morning, out on the Machir I counted 16 Hooded Crows hopping around on the ground, as large a group of them that I have seen together up here. Distillery Dave had seen 2 sets of Whoopers flying overhead as he was strimming the grass at Rockside, one lot consisted of 4 adults and also 3 youngsters, the other lot were just 6 adults, no young seen with them.

Looking down at the trees and the bushes that I have planted here over the past wee while, on a positive note, the vast majority have taken well and with the stormy weather of late, they certainly have shown a dislike to the salt laden winds, bit come next Spring, they should be fine and ready to put some fresh shoots out... fingers crossed!!!

Friday 30th June

Well, that is almost another month in and come to think of it half of 2017 is almost past. So come tomorrow evening, as ever I will be able to reveal as to how much rain we have had in June, wetter than last June, but by how much? As it has been dry outside today, I have been  out in the garden for most of the time. I did manage see some birds mind you... 2 Peregrine flew over the top of the crag, 2 Ravens came out and practised some acrobatic flying stunts, a nicely coloured Linnet on the garden wall, a male Redpoll was a pleasant sight along with the colourful Siskins quarrelling amongst themselves on the feeders. On the back doorstep, the "friendly" male Blackbird waited patiently for Margaret to come out with his food... and then there was the daily flypast by the neighbourly Choughs while out on the grass our 2 local Hooded crows brought their 2 youngsters to show them off to us.

Monday 18th May

A much better day over here today, with the sun streaming in through the windows as I write the blog, not like last night with the rain running down the windows... Before the rain came yesterday, the Bowland birders managed to get out a spot a few birds for us... Over at Finlaggan, they had a female Whinchat on the fence with Tufted Ducks out on the water on Loch Finlaggan itself. Up at Bunnahabhain, they had a Spotted Flycatcher with Common Sandpiper, GND and Tysties out on the Sound of Islay. Back inland at Cattadale, they saw a Cuckoo. This morning here at home in the garden, I saw a hen Pheasant sitting on her brood of youngsters, the first I had seen this year. Mid morning and Margaret saw a Hooded Crow nobble a young Lapwing chick, and then at lunchtime away at the other end of the garden, there was another hen Pheasant with a different set of chicks. This evening just after Auradh cottage, 2 Buzzards were sitting on the ground being mobbed by a couple of Hooded Crows. Many thanks to the RAFOS(RAF Ornithology Society) for sharing their sightings while they were over, wonder how many species they managed to spot in total?

Sunday 8th March

A great day out here today with the weather, but tomorrow is not looking too clever with the wind due to pick up again, so we may be lible for some ferry disruption. Today to cap the lack of communications through the land lines with BT/ Open Reach, I have just heard that the mobile signal with Vodaphone has gone awol, hope there are no emergencies... moan over, honest for today... Mary yesterday had counted a flock of 14 Skylarks fly over Portnahaven with a young Cormorant flying along the coastline! Later on, she heard the Skylarks singing away at Claddach. Along at Octofad, there were 12 Hoodies along with a Carrion Crow, while up at Bruichladdich, Mary counted 13 Pale bellied Brent Geese

Thursday 6th February

After a late entry last night, tonight you are getting an early edition, 'cos I am going out (not again, I can hear you all saying) and I have some sightings to share with you, so off we go... Last night, James had a Barn Owl as he came along the road towards "The Hedges" down below Rock Mountain. The Hampshire birders are back over for another stay... Yesterday at Carnain they had 2 Snipe, a White tailed Sea Eagle on the spit, a GND on Loch Indaal, and later on a ringtail Hen Harrier. In the trees, going into Loch Skerrols they saw 2 Long tailed Tits and a Treecreeper too. This morning round at Ballinaby, there were 11 Hooded Crows together, the fields over there are laden with all the rain that we have had of late. This afternoon, on our way home there was a Merlin flying along the roadside beside us just after Sunderland Farm.

Monday 13th June

This young Hooded Crow was caught on camera by Michal yesterday as it hopped along this moss covered dyke. Today, Michal and Mary had carried out a count on Loch Gruinart, scores on the doors were as follows, 25 Common Gulls, 48 Herring Gulls, 60 Shelduck at the head of the loch, creche of 13 Eider ducklings, 134 Oystercatcher, 16 Whimbrel, 7 Curlew, 13 Ringed Plover, 5 Heron, 3 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and a Black tailed Godwit. Carl saw a Great Northern Diver on Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte this morning. Here at home, around 3 am the Corncrake moved down the hill, and started to call, so that was the end of sleep last night, little wonder that some folks actually shot them to get some peace! Possibly I should have shut the window. Better still this afternoon, I actually saw the blighter on top of the wall, but no camera or gun to hand!!!

Sunday 20th March

After a misty morning, when we could not even see the crag, the mist burnt off and we had a beautiful afternoon, the temperature rising into double figures....

The other night Mary had a hedgehog out on the road down at Portnahaven. This afternoon, she had a Wheatear at her her granny's house at Claddich, and later on a female Hen Harrier hunting a Hare, not sure who won! Last night on our way home, we had a Barn Owl out just after McNichol's croft.

This afternoon, Malcolm had an adult Gannnet plunge diving into the water in Loch Indaal, the first he has seen there for a while. Yesterday Bob had 6 Linnets in his garden, and today on the roadside beside his house, he had a count of 20 Twite.

As the weather was being kind to us this afternoon, we took a run over to Avonvoggie where we saw the Crossbills on the pine cones. We carried on up the Glen road over to Ballygrant and up between Barr Farm and Storakaig there were quite a few Red Deer Stags close to the road, resplendent in their antlers. There were a pair of Great Tits seen, along with a Dunnock, a Reed Bunting, several Herons at different places, 2 pairs of Hen Harriers, again at different locations. We also saw a White tailed Sea Eagle on our travels. We also noted on the fact that there appears to be more Hooded Crows around this Spring

Fri 22nd Jan

Not the best, but for the distance it was taken from you will just have to believe me that this is the Gyr Falcon sitting along with 2 Hooded Crows. Earlier on, and further along the falcon was sitting by itself getting dive bombed by black backed Gulls, it took off, and it was followed by these 2 Hoodies. Initially they too mobbed it in flight, but when it landed, they landed alongside! Thanks to Peter Roberts for finding it again, and getting the word round Islay......

James today had to make do with the ever present Little Egret on the reserve at Gruinart, as well as a Merlin. Louise had also seen another Merlin on the North west of Islay as well as a Golden Eagle today. Later on last night, I heard that the Tree Sparrow had been seen down on the Oa yesterday. News from almost all 4 corners of Islay!

Wed 16th May 07

Some late news from yesterday, as today has been rather wet.
There was a sighting of a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard on the Rhinns, the pair of Garganey over at Gruinart were seen mating and a pair of Grey Wagtails were seen on the Sorn at Bridgend, one of Armin's birds from Walkislay in April! R.G.B & C.B.
Over on the Oa, a Carrion Crow was seen with a Hooded crow! M.S.
Peregrine Falcon mobbing a Buzzard over at Gruinart. J.R.H.
There was thought to have been a brief sighting of a Honey Buzzard on the Rhinns. R.R.
Also on the Rhinns, Whitethroat were heard singing, Fulmar were seen, along with Gannets moving south. Also noted were Curlew and Lapwing both with young. J.H.
Meadow Pipits were seen carrying food back to their nest. Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and Greenland Wheater were present around Loch Gorm. Yesterday's Stonechat image was taken then! I.K.B.