Saturday 30th September

This morning Gary and myself had a quick look around the in bye fields at Rockside. Highlights included a fly past by a Merlin and then nearer the end of our walk a single Ruff flew past . There were 10 Greylags close to the roadside with 12 Golden Plover seen in one of the fields adjacent to the march with Sunderland Farm. We also saw a single Red legged Partridge as well. We reckoned that there were over 100 Skylarks and a similar number of Meadow Pipits in the air. Other birds seen included Jackdaws, Hooded Crows, Starlings, Reed Bunting, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, House Sparrows with several Wrens lurking around the undergrowth as we walked around. Sam, Gary's other half, had been down walking their dog on Machir Bay where 39 Golden Plover were present. James had a Peregrine fly over the flats at Gruinart this afternoon. Down at Gortan, towards the spit, we saw a young Gannet on the water, close to the shore.

Friday 29th September

Quite a lot of birds seen again today, so here we go...

Gary had been down on the Big strand, not much around apart from 2 Turnstone and a Common Tern. Later on, Gary had a male Hen Harrier close to Mulreesh with another close to Coal Ila. Up behind Bunnahabhain a White tailed Eagle and also a Golden Eagle were present. Bob Mc Millan had a count of 200 Brent Geese at Gruinart, while on the flats Bob saw a Curlew Sandpiper, 14 Blackwits and 11 Ruff. Mike had spent a couple of hours sea watching down at Frenchman' Rocks from 10 am to midday. Top birds seen on passage were 11 RTDs, 217 Brent flying past along with 2 Golden Plovers. On his way home, Mike had a Sparrowhawk in Portnahaven. Visiting birders from Jersey, Sam and Bryony Nolan had seen a Swallow over Bowmore, with a Red breasted Merganser out from the distillery as well. Up on the Grinart estuary mid afternoon, they saw an Osprey, a Peregrine taking a Dunlin, a Sparrowhawk from the old hide, 2  pair of Stonechat with 2 Wheatears seen up towards Bun an Uillt. Today was a Richard and Kate's final day of their visit... Up at Sanaigmore, they saw  a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Chough, a Brent goose, a Snipe, 2 Raven and also a Grey Wagtail, on one of the streams there. They also had a further 2 Chough between Port Charlotte and Kilchiaran. James had done count round Gruinart late afternoon, with his tally coming to 21 Barnies, 125 Brent Geese, 12 Blackwits, 14 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 295 Lapwing. Late afternoon, we saw  2Wheatear over at Borichill Mor, up from Lagstoban..

Thursday 28th September

The weather comes first, yet again... it rained last night, the story line does not finish there as the rain gauge is now recording this month as being the wettest month so far for this year, so I wonder what it will finish at, come the end of the month..

Bob McMillan had seen 2 juv Peregrines, 2 Whooper Swans, 15 Barnies, 20 Ruff, 6 Blackwits and 2 Wheatear at Gruinart this morning. Richard and Kate this morning  had been up at Ardnave where their top birds included 15 Chough and a Snipe. Back down the road and around the reserve  at Gruinart, they saw an Osprey on the ground, a Peregrine, a distant White tailed Eagle,  6 Pink footed Geese, 15 Barnies, 50+ Pale Bellied Brent and some Wigeon. Some Blackwits were seen, still in breeding plumage, along with 4 Knot, some Dunlin, Sanderling and also Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank present. Gary had a great day as well, while out with clients.. 2 Golden Eagles were seen out from Bunahabhain, an Otter there as well, a Grey Wagtail at Persabus, another Otter at Coal Ila, a Kestrel at Port Askaig, a White tailed Eagle out from Kilmeny, 4 Shelduck over at Gruinart and Gary late afternoon had counted 120 Brent in. This morning, we followed a Sparrowhawk as it flew along the road in front of us below Culbuie. Margaret late morning watched a Golden Eagle being mobbed by around 30 Chough out past the war graves.

For your information, it is raining AGAIN...

Wednesday 27th September

As ever the weather is equally important to us folks that live out here... The farmers worked on last night getting more of their harvest home which is just as well as hey pesto, at midday today, the weather has gone downhill rapidly, with rain and more rain, just as well that I emptied out the rain gauge the other day I know that Monday is a few days ahead but the forecast for then does not look too good..

Bob McMillan, who I believe hails from Skye is down here for a few days. Yesterday, he had seen a Whimbrel amongst some Curlew at Machir Bay with a juv. Whinchat seen nearby. Today over at Gruinart, Bob saw 6 Blackwits and also 3 Ruff . This morning, Richard and Kate had covered Loch Indaal from Bowmore and round to Bridgend. They saw in total, 6 RTD, a BTD, a Tystie, 4 Grey Plover, 12 Golden Plover, 12 Ringed Plover, at least 180 Wigeon, 130 Barwits along with flocks of Eider, Red breasted Merganser and Twite too.  Hope the weather picks up tomorrow for you folks!!!

Tuesday 26th September

Another good day again, another day for the farmers trying to get their harvest in...

Visitors Richard and Kate have been making the most of the better weather too... On the Oa, they had seen a Chough and a couple of flocks of Twite. On their way back from the Oa, they had great sighting of a close ringtail Hen Harrier. In the afternoon, they walked from Kintra along the "Big strand" up towards the Airport. Birds seen included 5 Red throated Diver, 3 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling and also a Little Stint. They had also seen 3 Wheatear. Here at home, in the early evening we saw the Chough fly home to their roost. The ferry is already cancelled to Colonsay for tomorrow as the wind is picking up...

Monday 25th of September

A better sort of a day, once the mist/ fog cleared up, in fact the farmers got their combines out again.

Gary first this morning had seen a White tailed Eagle on the top of Loch Indaal, on the sand out of Bridgend. Along at Gatmain, he saw 3 Barnies amongst the Greylags. Bob and Lesley had seen a Peregrine down at the coastguards. New visitors on their first trip to Islay, Richard and Kate Hoskin had walked between Ardlistry Bay and Clagain Bay. They saw a flock of around 50 Redpoll, 2 Ravens, 2 Peregrines, a Sparrowhawk, several Buzzard, with 5 seen overhead at one time, a Golden Eagle and also 3 Red throated Divers at Claggain Bay itself. James today had seen an adult White tailed Eagle on siting on the salt marsh at Gruinart, at the office at Bushmills, a Sparrowhawk flew over while on the flats, James saw 2 Wheatears.

Before I forget, this is no bird nerds meeting tomorrow evening

Sunday 24th Septembr

A better day with the weather again, but really dry enough to allow the farmers to get their combines kittled up again...

Mike had been down at Frenchman's Rocks for a spell of sea watching, his tally came to 139 Gannets, 27 large Auks, 2 Wigeon, a Common Scoter  and a RTD. On his way back home he saw 2 Wheatears and also a male Hen Harrier. Out on Loch Indaal from his house in Port Charlotte, he saw 36 Common Scoter, 3 RTD, a BTD with over 50 Swallows hawking over the water. Mike also saw a Harbour Porpoise there as well. Here at home, there was a Wheatear on the garden wall this morning.

The above is an image of the Starlings which I took yesterday, I think my "count"  was rather low as there are the best part of 650 in this image alone, not counting the birds on the overhead wires...

Saturday 23rd Sepember

Rather windy out here tonight, the evening ferries to and from Islay have been cancelled and the Colonsay ferry never sailed out of Port Askaig, it just returned back to Kennacraig...

This morning, Mike Peacock had seen a Sparrowhawk down at the fuel depot at Bruichladdich. Late afternoon, here at home there was a mumeration of over 500 Starlings. The "big squirrel buster" feeder was tested and  did its' job by shutting when 2 Starlings landed on it...

Friday 22nd of September

Today is the Autumn equinox, or to put it more simply, the length of daylight now is shorter than the darkness hours and will continue on that way until late December when the days will start to get longer again. Just hope the weather is not going downhill as well, as today it has been a pig of a day, although it was dry for a short time at first light this morning... Only bird sighting through is from James who saw a Peregrine fly over his house at Gruinart early this morning. On a positive note, I managed to put some bird sightings on the spreadsheet for JD and the Argyll Bird Club, mind you I do not want too many wet days...

Thursday 21st September

James and Mark yesterday had seen 25 Snipe as well as 2 Hen Harriers up on the moor on the reserve at Gruinart and this morning, James had counted 12 Snipe in the same location. This afternoon while out for a short run down the "Glen road", on the moorland at the entrance to Avonvogie, we saw several family groups of Stonechats out and about. Here at home just after lunch, there were a pair of Buzzards flying high up on thermals above the crag.

Wednesday 20th September

One thing for sure, today I very much doubt if any of the combines were cutting any crops, perhaps they moved the machines from one location to another. The rain gauge is now over 4 inches so far this month, at one time we always used to say that September a better month for getting some decent weather, not true in 2017...

This morning Nicholas Watts from Vine House Farm sent me through an image the Tree Sparrows eating the Red Millet on his feeders, I reckon that there are over 200 sparrows in and on the actual feeders. Nicholas too is having his hands full trying to finish off his harvest as well..

Mike Peacock had been down on Machir Bay today, seeing a mixed flock of Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin. Mike also saw a Curlew Sandpiper amongst them as well. Up on the dunes, beside the bay, a Sparrowhawk was present, spooking everything all around. Wonder if it was the same bird that was having a look see, up here late afternoon???

Tuesday 19th September

The farmers will be pleased, another dry day, and another day to get some more harvest cut, but the glass is dropping, so the rain is returning, with a wet day forecast for tomorrow..

Bob Swann was in touch regarding the Greylag goose with the orange neck collar on, seen on Sunday  evening over at Ballinaby. It was first fitted with the collar as a youngster, here on Islay at Gortachuirn which is up behind Bruichladdich  on the 30th of  January 2015. It was seen up on Colonsay in June the same year with a brood of goslings. It then returned to Islay and was seen 3 times on the Oa during the winter of 2015/16. In February 2017, it was noted on Rathlin and then a few days later on Fair Head, both in Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland and has now returned to Islay, at present... Many thanks to Bob for this data...

Gary today had seen a White tailed Eagle and also a ringtail Hen Harrier at Finlaggan, he also saw a Sparrowhawk over the moorland there as well. In the trees beside his house, a lot of wee birds have been present including Coal Tits, Blue Tits and also 7 Goldcrests. Down on the merse at Bridgend, Gary had seen a Peregrine playing havoc with the waders. There were several hundred Mallard and Teal also present, with Gary witnessing a White tailed Eagle taking one of them... Also down on the trees there, Gary saw an Osprey perched up.

Monday 18th Septembr

The farmers have been making use of the delayed spell of better, drier weather.. as well as their combine out, Rockside has been baling the straw and others are catching up with delayed silage making...better late than never!!!

Back to birds, Bob had been a walk out towards the old wreck that is visible at the head of Loch Indaal when the tide is out. He saw at least 50 Barwits and also a Peregrine. He was saying back at his home up behind Port Charlotte, he has been seeing more Skylarks around of late. This evening we counted over 38 Chough heading into the roost. The count for the Greylags came through at 2,178. Thanks to Andrew Kent and his team of counters.

Sunday 17th September

A great day  out here today and yes the farmers got their combines going and managed to get a start made to the harvest. Round at Rockside, Andrew Woods was driving the combine on behalf of Kilchoman Distillery, with the moisture being 18.5%, which all things being considered was not too bad...

The Distillery have got their combine customised to advertise their machine...

Back on the bird front, not a lot happening apart from 10 Pied Wagtails on the lawn  at breakfast time, the Peregrine was watching life go by, the Swallows that are still here were hawking after insects over the game crop as were several Stonechats as they flitted about, 4 Dunnocks were also noted and this evening amongst around 300 Greylags at Ballinaby, one had a orange neck collar on, so better get in touch Bob Swann to find out its' history.

Saturday 16th September

A not bad day with the weather. Not the warmest, but it is looking like another dry day tomorrow, as I write the blog, the sun is streaming in the big window with a beautiful sunset in store...

Distillery Dave and Ann, his wife, had been up at the old hide at Gruinart where they great views of a juv. White tailed Eagle for quite some time. They also saw a ringtail and also male Hen Harrier. Up at Ardnave, over close to Traigh Nostaig, they saw 2 Greenshank and as they returned to their car, they saw 40 Black tailed Godwit and 6 Golden Plover. Down at Bruichladdich, 5 Turnstone, many Dunlin, and some Ringed Plover were present. Off Uiskentuie, they saw 2 GND and a Red breasted Merganser. Earlier this evening we watched a ringtail Hen Harrier as it flew past close to us, a Buzzard flew over the old church, low down while up on the crag a Peregrine was just sitting, watching the world go round... 

Friday 15th September

Better keep quiet as today, it has been a lot better on the weather front, so with a bit of luck, it may stay with us and allow the ground to dry up a bit... Mind you I was kept out of mischief, planting a couple of wee bags of Daffodil bulbs, so finger crossed that they do not get twisted about by the wind like the ones that we planted last year... I also spent sometime moving some plants around outside too. Yesterday afternoon I saw a ringtail Hen Harrier out quartering its' patch down behind Machir Bay. Today, we saw a single Red legged Partridge on the road below Carrabus. Jim D saw the ever present Little Egret as the ferry approached Kennacraig today on his way home. Thanks for your birds Jim!

Thursday 14th September

It is meant to September, normally a month of better weather for the farmers to get their combines out and get their harvest cut and home, not so this year, so far this month we have had over 3 inches of rain, the fields are sodden, so it will be difficult to get machinery to move around without getting bogged down...

JD had done some birding on his last day for this visit. At Frenchman's Rocks, a lot quieter today, but a Great Skua was seen, on Loch Indaal, 6 Arctic Terns, a Greenshank, 31 Common Scoter, 52 Wigeon, a Slav Grebe, a Greater Scaup, a juv BTD. At Cgaigens, Jim saw a juv Whinchat and Gruinart, 2 Peregrine, an imm White tailed Eagle, 2 adult Whoopers and a Barnacle Goose were present.

Wednesday 13th September

Mary Redman yesterday had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Claddach Loch and also a Dabchick on the water itself. Today, JD has put in another days' birding...  At Frenchnan's Rocks, Jim did a sea watch for almost 1.5 hours seeing 930 Manx Shearwater, 127 Kittiwake, 11 Fulmar, 2,100 large Auk, and an Arctic Tern, he also saw 2 Ruff and 2 Golden Plover in off the sea. Later on, he had a Grey Wagtail at Kilchiaran with 6 Red Knot and a Wheatear at Carnain. Off Bruichladdich, 5 Arctic Tern and a Sandwich Tern present, with a female Greater Scaup noted at Blackrock. A Sand Martin was present at Gruinart with 7 Gadwall seen on Loch Gorm.

Here at home, many thanks to the Electricity Boys as we lost power through the night, the long and the short was that they laid a complete new cable to allow us power again, so once again thanks to Rop, Shimy, Ross and Ant..

Tuesday 12th September

Yesterday, Peter had seen a Wheatear when he was over at Glenegedale..

Today the weather improved quite a bit, no rain until after lunchtime and a few showers after that, and oh yes a power cut for almost 3 hours, power back on in time to make the tea, and better still, in time for me to write the blog, well done the local engineers who sorted the problem out..

JD has been out and about.. At Portnahaven,  he had seen 9 Turnstone, Bruichladdich held 94 Ringed Plover and a further 6 Turnstone. At Gortan, Jim had 2 Arctic Tern, 27 Common Scoter, 2 Slav. Grebes, 2 male Greater Scaup, and 4 RTDs. Along at Bridgend Merse, 2 Barnies along with the hybrid Canada Goose x white Greylag goose were present. Round at Gartnatra, 11 Blackwits were seen. At Gruinart, Jim saw 2 juv Ruff, 3 imm Pintail, 3 Wheatear and 2 Whooper Swan. Up at Coille, 2 Sparrowhawks were harassing a Buzzard and Jim saw another Sparrowhawk at Coultorsay.

Above are some of the flock of House Sparrows, Linnet and Twite that were on the game crop this afternoon, at one time I counted 131 lbjs in the air before they dropped in to the seed heads.. Earlier on, I had counted 36 Goldfinches up on the big niger feeder and around the other feeders. Oh yes, I managed to finish cutting the grass as well, another job done for the time being.

Monday 11th September

This poor spell of weather, not to beaten, I tried to cut the grass with varying amounts of success, got some cut, not a lot, but on the downside, the rain stopped play 3 times, mind you I did manage each time to stop before getting too wet!!!

JD thought otherwise and went out to carry out a spot of sea watching at first light, but the weather beat him there.... but he had seen other birds while out and about later on..  A Wheatear at Kilnave, 6 Golden Plovers at Gruinart, along at Coullabus over 50  Pied and White Wagtails were present. Down at Gortan, a Sparrowhawk was seen , off Carnain,  6 Knot with 2 Arctic Terns and a count of 22 Common Scoter between there and Bowmore. Tomorrow might be better, fingers crossed!!!

Sunday 10th September

An absolute pig of a day with heavy squally showers sweeping inform the sea, and not much improvement in the forecast for a few days ... Just as well we are not "trying" to grow barley for one of the Distilleries.

Yesterday, Mike Peacock had seen 2 Brent Geese off Port Charlotte, possibly the same birds that Carl had seen. Today Jim D's top birds were a female Sparrowhawk and a Wheatear between Claddach and Portnahaven. Here at home, we had seen a Greenfinch, the first one we have seen in almost 5 weeks. I wonder, with these high winds as to whether we may get some "different" birds dropping in, we can but hope!!!

Saturday 9th September

A drier day out here, but possibly not for long.. So some of us been making the most of it!!

Gary this morning had an Osprey out from Gartmain, Carl had seen a couple of Brent Geese down at Port Charlotte. This afternoon Jim Dickson had a couple of Brent Geese at Gruinart, but no sign of the possible Little Stints. Jim also had 2 Slavonian Grebes at Gortan, out from the coal yard on Loch Indaal. This morning, Distillery Dave and myself made use of Jim Dickson and so the 3 of us did the WeBS count in the absence of Bob and Lesley. It was raining at the start, but after a few minutes it dried up and off  we set towards Gartbreck... Our birds seen included 144 Greylags, a Red throated Diver, 2 Cormorant, 35 Shag, 22 Oystercatcher, 82 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Redshank, 19 Ringed Plover, 21 Lapwing, 37 Dunlin, 7 Barwits, 2 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 7 Heron, 10 Black headed Gulls, 322 Herring Gulls,12 CommonGulls, 2 Lbb Guls, 9 Gbb Gulls, 5 Kittiwake, 5 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 2 Red breasted Merganser, 7 Mallard, 1 Long tailed  Duck, 42 Eider. We also saw a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a ringtail Hen Harrier . We saw many Rock Pipits on the shore, as well as some small flocks of Goldfinches and a few Linnets enjoying the shoreline seed heads!!!

Friday 8th September

Another miserable sort of the weather, yet again...Mike got the stats back from BTO relating to the Manx Shearwater which he had found dead down on Machir Bay, on the 4th of Sept. It was rung as a first year bird at Bardsey Bird Observatory on the 5th of Sept 2004, a mere 4,747 days ago!!

Gary today had been down for a walk along the River Sorn from the Woollen Mill. On the River itself, he had seen a Dipper with Goldcrests and Long tailed Tits heard calling away in the trees. Mark and Phill had joined forces today and carried out the WeBS count on Loch Gruinart with their birds counted as follows: A Pale bellied Brent Goose, 2 Barnies, 234 Greylag, 380 Ringed Plover, 238 Dunlin, 16 Barwits, 2 Blackwits, 14 Knot, 121 Curlew, 29 Sanderling, 9 Turnstone and a Peregrine. They also reported through a possible sighting of 2 Little Stint up on the shore below Kilnave.

Jim Dickson arrived over for a week's birding, so here are some of Jim's birds seen today, 30 juv. Blackwits, an adult Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 House Martin, 1 Shelduck and 4 Knot all at Gruinart. 4 Greenfinch were at Kilnave with a Merlin at Ardnave also a male Hen Harrier at Coull. Finally Jim had a Willow Warbler along at Sunderland Farm. Here at home, I saw 3 families of Stonechats on the game crop this morning as well as one of the House Sparrows caught and rung by George E Jackson in the Spring. It was up close to the house and I managed take some images of the leg ring and matched the ring numbers.

Thursday 7th September

Another mixed day with the weather again, with more rain forecast for tomorrow...

Yesterday, James had been out to help with counting Greylags, and all going well I should get the tally through from SNH for tomorrow's entry. On his trip out, James had a Sparrowhawk, a Grey Wagtail and then an Osprey seen out on Loch Gruinart. Up at Ardnave, James counted 21 Chough and saw Grey Seals with pups over on Nave Island. Today, here at home, Margaret spotted a male Chaffinch with a BTO ring on its' leg, possibly one that was caught and rung by George E Jackson here previously.

Wednesday 6th September

A similar sort of a day today with the weather, but we will not be beat, got all my jobs done, just fine, a happy bunny again.. Forgot to mention on the blog last night that I had a Snipe down below the pond, in the rushy area.. Gary had seen an Otter up at Bunnahabhain, and reported that both Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes are starting to flock up over beside here he lives.

Today, Mike and Peter had carried out a sea watch at Frenchman's Rocks. I was also glad to hear that Bob had been out with them too, no excuse now Bob, another few weeks and you will be driving again. Their birds were as follows, 997 Manx Shearwater, 23 Fulmar, 4 Shag, 1 Cormorant, 29 Auk sp., 3 Tysties, 1 Arctic/ Common Tern, 10 Gbb Gull, 339 Gannets with another 150 feeding around the Rocks, 7 Great Skua, 12 Sanderling, a Whimbrel and a Storm Petrel. Today, Phill was leading the guided walk down on the Oa where he had a pair of Golden Eagle displaying well, 4 Chough close to the American monument and also a Kestrel nearby. Here at home, on the game crop the Linnets have been joined by some Twite, possibly the ones that Mike had down at the Machir Bay the other day...

Tuesday 5th September

Been a better sort of a day although there has been the odd shower thrown in for good measure... So in between the rain I have been out on the wee tractor topping some of the grass that has not been cut so far this year, and then after that I took the big strimmer and cut in places that the tractor would not go, and if the weather holds tomorrow, I should finish that job before lunchtime... After tea tonight, we took some time out and sat in the hut for the best part of an hour...2 top birds came by, a ringtail Hen Harrier flew over the game crop and landed down on the wall and remained there for the best part of 5 minutes.... Later on a Sparrowhawk flew past and carried on up the gully. The usual wee birds were around Linnets, Goldfinches, a Robin, a Dunnock, Great Tits, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Starlings, Jackdaws and some Pheasants as well. 3 Hooded Crows were out on the machir, and a few Greylags were flying back to their roost, with a Buzzard perched up on the crag. Earlier on a Wren was out beside the hut too with some Stonechats hopping along the wall.

Monday 4th September

Well, you will all be relieved to her that it has stopped raining, although a low swirling mist this morning caused the flight from Glasgow to Islay was delayed. This afternoon, the cloud broke and it has turned out to be a not bad day, with the sun streaming in through the window as I write this entry. Mike made the most of the afternoon, with a walk along Machir Bay producing 51 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin and a dead ringed Manx Shearwater... Mike also had a flock of 30 Twite and also saw 2 nearly fledged Sand Martins at their nest hole. . On the game crop, here at home, the Linnet numbers were up to over 60 today, and this afternoon, we had a Peregrine sitting on the march fence between Coull and Ballinaby. We also had 2 charms of Goldfinches below Coulererach, one of 40 birds, the other with at least 70 in number.

Sunday 3rd September

You might want to search somewhere else tonight if you want to read about Islay's birds as today has been a total washout with wall to wall rain, not a lot but enough to keep me inside all day... I have not crossed the doorstep today. One person who might be pleased is JD, as I completed off the data base records for Islay for August and e mailed them to him...

Our good friend Marsali sent through her rainfall figures at Mulindry for August. Her tally was higher than last year for August, coming to 149 mm, or  5.96 inches, if you still think of the rainfall in imperial measurement... Thanks again Marsali.   The forecast for the week does not bode well either, with more rain forecast, say no more. Might have some birds for you tomorrow, no promises!!!

Saturday 2nd September

Not a lot to report tonight.... This morning, Mike had a Common Sandpiper down at Port Charlotte. Here at home, the Redpolls and also the Siskins that have been "resident" since the Spring have not been seen since before the Birdfair, but on a positive note the Stonechats are still around!!! Tonight, the wind has picked up and I feel that could be a wee change working in the weather with possibly some rain coming in over the next few days... Just as well that we have spent most of the day outside, working in the garden... 

Friday 1st September

Well, that is August out of the way again, the tally here for the rain came to 4.4inches, almost 2 inches less than last year at the same time, time for that to change very quickly, let's hope the farmers get a chance to get their harvest in before it gets too wet...

Yesterday, Mike and Peter had a count at Bridgend Merse and the surrounding mud flats as the tide was outish... birds seen came to 2  Sanderling, 55 Ringed Plover, 178 Dunlin, 227 Oystercatcher, 251 Curlew, 3 Knot, 29 Wigeon and 29 Barwits. Today they had done an hour down at Frenchman's Rocks where their birds were as follows : 181 Manx Shearwater, 201 Gannet, 29 Fulmar, 7 Kittiwake, 38 Shag (all perched on Frenchman's rocks),  17 Razorbill, 15 Awk sp., 1 Tystie, 1 dark phase Arctic Skua, and a Sand Martin in off the sea!! David Formby had been up round Ardnave today noting the following, 24 Chough, 4 Curlew (inland), around 40 Linnet, a pair of Ringed Plover with a very young pulli, and 2 Dunlin. Coming back down from Ardnave, he followed a Sparrowhawk along the road for around 100 yards.. Here at home, Margaret had 3 Wrens and a young Robin at the back of the garage this morning, and late afternoon, directly over the house a couple of Buzzards were wheeling around in a thermal.