Saturday 29th March

Yesterday the Lincs birders had gone to Bunnahabhain where they saw several Buzzards, 4 GND, 2 pr of Eiders, 4 R B Merganser and a pr of Ringed Plover. At the other end of Islay, down at Portnahaven they saw a couple of Gannets off the wave generastor station where thay also flushed a Snipe. On their way back up, a male Stonechat was obligingly on top of a fence post when a male Hen Harrier glided past! They also saw a pr of Golden Eagles and 12 Whoopers at Ballinaby with a pr of distant Hen Harriers round Loch Gorm. The Bolton birders yestarday had seen 6 Wheatears while they were up at Ardnsave, they counted 12 GND, with 3 Barwits, 35 Oystercatcher and 4 Ringed Plover at Traigh Nostaig. Ardnave Loch held 3 Goldeneye, 4 Teal, 2 adult + 2 juv Mute Swan and 6 Tufted Duck. Out from the new hide at Gruinart, the Green winged Teal was present along with 2 Greenshank, also there were Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail, Mute Swan, Lapwing and Redshank. John & Kenny had small flock of Fieldfare between Laggan Bridge and Bowmore. Gartbreck held a Jack Snipe,Tysties were present on Loch Indaal and a Rock Pipit was on the harbour wall in Bowmore. A male Hen Harrier was seen on the Oa as was a male Stonechat too. Numerous Divers were seen noted on Loch Indaal and also a mixed raft of Common Scoter and Slav Grebe. Their tally for the week came to 99 species seen in all. Thanks to John and Kenny for their birds, to the Bolton Birders, Chris and Tony and also Oliver and Lynsey from Lincs for all thier sightings throughout their time spent here on Islay. Finally, David Livingstone had a Magpie in his garden this morning over close to Port Ellen!