Thursday 31st March

The weather remains dry, sunny, fairly calm, but cool - much better than "down south" as I'm told by friends it was snowing and windy in Kent today!

Derek Coleman sent regarding yesterday's mega-count of White-tailed Eagles, saying that he was watching another immature near Loch Cam yesterday morning at the same time, so there maybe potentially 15.young birds on the island.

Derek's sightings for today include more White-tailed Eagles - "only one immature seen at once but may be three present at Gruinart. Also there were one Black-tailed Godwit and a male Gadwall". He also saw a a large flock of 500 Golden Plover at Ardnave.

Callum McGregor of the BTO left Islay today after two weeks seeking out colour-marked Greenland White-fronted Geese. He managed to find 33 marked birds, but none of the BTO radio-tagged individuals. 

Over on The Oa, Ed Burrell watched 6 White-tailed and a Golden Eagle chasing geese over Cornabus this afternoon - there are still plenty of Barnacle Geese hanging on for them to hunt.

Wednesday 30th March

Another bright, sunny and dry day, but distinctly colder - just as the weathermen have warned us it will become over the next few days.

George Jackson sent in some records from yesterday: "From Gruinart S. Hide (midday) - 2 Little Egrets; all the usual ducks, including at least 40 Pintail; not many waders at all. In the garden at Coultorsay finches have built up steadily over the last week or so with 30+ Goldfinches and 20+ Chaffinches at any one time on the feeders: also now joined by up to 6 Siskins and, today, a brilliant coloured Redpoll. The 2 Tree Sparrows are still around - one was ‘singing’ on the roof ridge yesterday."

Mark Shields now holds the prize for “Most White-tailed Eagles Seen Together On Islay” with a staggering count of 12 young/sub-adult birds at the head of Loch Gruinart this morning. At the same time Dave Wood was watching 2 young birds on The Oa - so at least 14 non-breeding birds! Mark also reports a Canada Goose at Saligo. 

Visiting birder Derek Coleman gets the prize for today’s best bird, but he doesn’t sound too impressed: “All the way from London and what is the rarest bird I see, a Magpie! One in garden just outside Bridgend. Also 40 Golden Plover near Loch Tallant”.

Tuesday 29th March

The glorious weather continues unabated. Various reports come in of Chiffchaffs singing around the island, but Gary Turnbull seems to have been the only active birder today. He first reported a juvenile Iceland Gull near the power station at Bowmore. Back closer to home he noted 5 White-tailed Eagles high above Ballygrant being "escorted" by an Osprey. which eventually headed south over Dunlossit Estate.

Mary Redman sent in a lovely photo of a Wren making use of a stash of rope in one of her outbuildings to set up home for the season. I hope she wasn't planning to use the rope any time soon!

Monday 28th March

Bright, dry, calm and sunny but slightly cooler today. Despite the lovely weather there was little being reported on the bird front, though there were of course eagles and harriers flying about and the common species of ducks looking resplendent in the sunshine at Loch Gruinart. A flock of 18 Whooper Swans sat on the flats for much of the afternoon and a Gadwall and Little Egret were seen from the north hide where I was surrounded by large groups of Barnacle Geese still chomping at the grass to fatten up before their presumed imminent departure north.

Sunday 27th March

Yet more brilliant weather – warm, sunny, dry, calm on the day that the clocks went forward an hour into Summer Time.  

Late news from yesterday: Mary Redman saw a flock of 50 Golden Plover down near Cladville.  

Today Mary reports a Wheatear at Claddach and a Brindled Ochre moth on her shed wall this evening – an uncommon species apparently. (Photo below).

Callum McGregor was watching Barnies at the head of Loch Indaal and noted a couple of Pale-bellied Brents with them plus a trio of “odd” geese (photo below) – possibly the same odd hybrids that were perplexing people last month.

Visiting birder Derek Coleman sent in an email:  “I have been on the Island since Wednesday but today was the first that I had something that might be of interest. At least 26 Slavonian Grebes and 8 Great Northern Divers on Loch Indaal off Uisgeantsuidhe. Also Canada Goose and 120 Golden Plover at Ardnave Loch”. The high count of Slav. Grebes is certainly noteworthy and of interest – thanks Derek.

 

Saturday 26th March

 Another glorious, sunny, dry day - warm in the sunshine too.  However, very little coming in on the birding hotline. Best of the bunch was another sighting of Osprey which Mark Shields saw on the flats at Gruinart this late afternoon. He also had a couple of Chiffchaffs and two young White-tailed Eagles in the Gruinart area earlier on. A flock of about 40 Twite were nipping about where some of the cattle are being fed on the reserve behind Bushmills. Birding from the North Hide this evening was delightful - nothing rare, but the sunlight on the masses of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Pintail was splendid.

Friday 25th March

Another superb day's weather – sunny, fairly calm, quite warm and not a bit like a "normal" March. Summer birds continue to appear quite early. Gary Turnbull had our first Osprey of the year high over Ballygrant heading towards Jura and Ed Burrell was seeing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff on The Oa. The breeding season appears to be in full swing with Callum McGrgeor reporting a pair of sky-dancing Hen Harriers near Loch Tallant and Ed Burrell reporting Lapwings on eggs on The Oa. Ed also witnessed a White-tailed Eagle in a long aerial pursuit of a goose over his way, with 3 eagles ending up in the chase.