Thursday 30th June

Peter Donaldson reported hearing a corncrake at Portnahaven, later at Machair Bay he had couple ringed plovers and a common sandpiper. Gary had a loads of willow warblers in the wood at Lilly Loch, also wrens, treecreepers, robin, bullfinch and young heron.

Wednesday 29th June

Couple days ago Peter Donaldson saw about 20 Manx shearwaters during his ferry crossing to Islay. Yesterday he saw dozen choughs in Ardnave and a single golden plover near the loch. David Barr saw a white-tailed eagle at Keils. Down on the Oa Phill saw two pairs of hen harriers and a golden eagle. Kevin Hand from ACE Foundation sent us few birds that he and his group saw on Islay and Jura last week. These included a swift at Bridgend, white-tailed eagle at Kildalton and black-throated diver on Loch Indaal.

Tuesday 28th June

Today from the hide at Gruinart we had good views of snipe, redshank, lapwing and hen harrier. Swallows were out flying right in front of the hide. Female mallard brought out 4 of here grown ducklings, couple of mute swans were seen in the distance, and hen harrier and heron getting the waders excited.

Monday 27th June

Today we did the second nest check for hen harriers on the Loch Gruinart reserve and it looks like they had the best breeding season for years. In total we found 6 active nests on the reserve or just outside the reserve which had at least 15 fledged, or nearly fledged young. All of them on an area of less than 900ha. Six pairs at Gruinart is more than the entire hen harrier population in England. There is habitat for about 300 pairs of hen harriers in England but we all know what is happening to them...

Sunday 26th June

Yesterday Bob saw a merlin and a male hen harrier at the airport. James had a siskin on his feeder, together with two collared doves, two blackbirds, few goldfinches and a greenfinch. Sally saw a corncrake walking across the road near Lyrabus. Grasshopper warbler started singing again from his usual patch at Loch Gruinart reserve.

Saturday 25th June

Couple days ago Gary had a golden eagle and male hen harrier on the Oa. Yesterday he saw a white tailed eagle flying over woods in Ballygrant Valley. Today he saw adult grey wagtail with two young on river at Woolen Mill. Cuckoo was heard at Ardtala.

Also a quick note that the next meeting of our informal group of Islay birders ("Bird Nerds") will be in the visitor center at Loch Gruinart Reserve next Tuesday (28th June) at 6:30pm. Everybody is welcome to join us. We might go for a short walk down to one of the hides.

Friday 24th June

The Oa Dave had a swift at Lurabus yesterday and today he saw collared dove at Kinabus. Three corncrakes are frequently heard calling from Gruinart Flats. Also in the wood on the flats blackcap was heard yesterday.