Thursday 28th & Friday 29th May

 A breezier day on Thursday with brisk SE winds, but remaining bright and sunny. Friday started as Thursday finished, with more cloud and overcast at times, still breezy, but clearing to a bright sunny evening.

Very little bird news to report. Clive McK. reported 3 Collared Doves up at Creag Mhor which sparked notes about movements and spring wanderings of the species far to the north and west. Ed B. noted a singing Blackcap at Cornabus where the Lapwing chicks were close to fledging. Today Mary Anne F. noted 2 pairs of Bullfinch at Kildalton and a total of 13-14 Teal ducklings at Ardtalla. Clive McK. suspected a couple of Cuckoos parasitising Sedge Warbler on his patch up at Gruinart.

A later post from Clive McK. noted birds seen on a sea-watch from Frenchman's Rocks for about two hours in the afternoon. Singles of Great Skua and Puffin were seen along with 676 Guillemots, 39 Razorbills, 264 Gannets, 13 Fulmars and 251 Kittiwakes.

Wednesday 27th May

 Sunny, warm and dry.

Clive McK. saw the Osprey again today up at Gruinart where I found the Spotted Redshank still in situ at the North Hide. I also noted a total of 220 Rock Doves on a bare field at Sunderland. Laura Bradley heard the Corn Crake calling near the entrance to the Woodland Trail at the Car Park.

Tuesday 26th May

 Warm, sunny and dry summer weather all day.

Bird action at Gruinart today comes from: James H. who saw a Great Skua over the Moorland Trail, a White-tailed Eagle over Loch Gruinart and ducklings and young of Shoveler, Teal and Moorhens on the reserve where the Spotted Redshank was still present and Clive McK. who saw an Osprey and 2 White-tailed Eagles, one being mobbed by a Hen Harrier.

Elsewhere, Laura Bradley saw a Hen Harrier and White-tailed Eagle over Laggan Bay.

Sunday 24th & Monday 25th May

Two warm and sunny days with light winds - not quite the heatwave being experienced in the south of the UK, but a lot more pleasant!

Despite the splendid weather, there have been very few bird records sent in. Yesterday Clive McK. noted the first of this year's fledged, juvenile Starlings on the wing. I took myself off to the Kildalton area to double-check that Islay hasn't been colonised by Nuthatches - no luck there, but some great views of White-tailed Eagles.

Today David W. reports Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap at Kinnabus, and another Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Siskins at Risabus. Clive McK. had a dark-phase Arctic Skua flying south down Loch Gruinart chasing the gulls. Fiona Morton had a Corn Crake near Port Mhor, and Mary R. reports a brood of Teal on Easter Ellister loch.

Saturday 23rd May

 Light winds, mild with sunny patches until drizzle again in late afternoon.

Two good bird sightings so far today:

James H. found a breeding plumaged Spotted  Redshank at Gruinart RSPB North Hide - photo below.

David W. found mating Tree Sparrows on The Oa at Risabus/Coullabus - perhaps the start of another random breeding of the species on Islay - the last was on The Oa in 2009.

Friday 22nd May

Wind from a southerly direction and quite mild with sunny spells, but clouding over again by evening with onset of drizzle.

Hannah Stanger reported a Spotted Flycatcher at Kinnabus this morning. Carl Walker noted up to 3 Cuckoos over at Carraig Fhada and Mary R. found a Kestrel down at Claddach.

Clive McK. reported on various prey items found on the hills behind Gareallabus over the past week - remains of Redshank, Oystercatcher, Redwing, Meadow Pipit and Pheasant possibly taken by Peregrine and White-tailed Eagle. Here are the photos of some of the feathers found: Redshank top, Meadow Pipit middle and White-tailed Eagle, Pheasant and Meadow Pipit bottom.

Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st May

The weather continues in much the same vein with light winds, occasional showers between bright periods.

On Wednesday there were 2 White-tailed Eagles over Claddach c/o Mary R., while Carl Walker found a female Hen Harrier at the Kilnaughton end of the Kintra road and a male west of Kilnaughton. David D. reports a Whooper Swan at Kinnabus.

The only news for today is from Carl Walker who was at Ardnave finding two Golden Eagles, a Corn Crake heard between the woodland walk hides and 2 White-tailed Eagles at Ardnahoe.