Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June

Dry throughout, with the clouds giving way to sunshine by mid-morning on Saturday, and persisting through Sunday, though it was quite breezy, so none of the soaring temperatures that the south of UK are experiencing.

No birding notes have been posted for either day, but I went over with Val P. to Jura yesterday to check out the report of breeding Black-throated Divers that came up last week. A long hike uphill into the wilder areas of the island got us to the loch in question where we did indeed find a very fine, breeding plumaged Black-throated Diver. But it was accompanied by a couple of Red-throated Divers, also in breeding plumage. We watched from a discreet distance for over an hour and concluded that all three were non-breeders: the Red-throats perhaps young from last year, not ready to breed yet? and the Black-throat: who knows? So sadly no breeding record, but a gorgeous sight nonetheless and a curious one too, with two species of divers happily associating with one another on quite a small lochan.

While over on Jura we also came across a Short-eared Owl just south of Craighouse.

Thursday 26th & Friday 27th June

The weather continues in an ever-changeable way - light winds with intervals of cloud, sunshine and rain.

Yesterday, Clive McK. commented on high tides at Gruinart washing out nests of 1-2 gulls and waders as well as counting 15 Dunlin, a Grey Plover (unusual in June), 75 Oystercatchers, 6 Kittiwakes and a Sandwich Tern there.

Today Clive witnessed some more of early-returning migrants in the shape of summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits arriving into Loch Gruinart - a total of 55 in two groups, with some stopping and others flying on.

Other news comes from Kinnabus, where David W. found 2 Stock Doves - another scarce bird for Islay.

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th June

Two further days of mixed sunshine and showers with light winds.

It is that quiet time of year between spring bird song and autumn migration - hence fairly few sightings to report. But lets not be too dismissive of the special resident birds that we may take for-granted, but most birders would travel miles to see: 

Yesterday Gary T. had a Golden Eagle, 7 Choughs and a calling Corn Crake at Sanaigmore and an Osprey being harried by a Hen Harrier at Loch Gorm. That was followed by 2 adult White-tailed Eagles at Loch Gruinart - a combination of  species that you'd struggle to find anywhere else in the UK?

Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd June

Two days of light to breezy winds mainly from the SDW, bringing rapidly changeable weather from bright sunshine to heavy showers.

No sightings sent in today, but yesterday, Clive McK's Curlew count rose to 115 on Gruinart, and as Jeff Duncan returned homewards he was pleased to reflect on a week on Islay where he had  no less than 15 Hen Harrier sightings (8 males and 7 females) - Islay must be one of the best places in the UK to see this species?

Saturday 21st June

Bright, sunny and warm with light southerly winds - befitting Midsummer's Day.

Gary T. was out and about with sightings of 30-40 eider along the Big Strand (Laggan Bay) where he also saw 3 Common-Arctic Terns fishing, a Red-throated Diver fly-over and 10 Gannets off Knockangle Point.

Up at Gruinart RSPB I found the odd mix of the regular Whooper Swan and Little Egret were in residence, but little else of note.

Friday 20th June

 The heatwave that has been affecting the south of UK reached us today with a fine, hot, sunny day with light southerly winds.

Tim Scott had as Barn Owel up at Saniagmore last night and noted fledged Swallows, Choughs, Linnets and Wrens there today along with another call from the Corn Crake.

Jeff Duncan was at Gruinart and saw the resident, summering Whooper Swan, plus a Little Egret and Sparrowhawk with a couple of Hen Harriers further up at Ardnave. Later, on the coastal path at Port Wemyss he saw a likely female Black Redstart - worth someone having another look to check it out as they are few and far between on Islay.

Clive McK. reports that his garden cuckoo that has been waking him up early every morning has probably gone as the specie as does return early southwards with no chicks to rear! Clive also noted an increase in Curlews at Gruinart with a count up to 80 today suggesting autumn with us already as early or failed migrant waders return.

Louise Muir saw 2 Puffins in the Sound of Jura this evening.

Bird of the Day goes to Gary T. with another sighting of the probably summering Osprey at Loch nan Cadhan this morning.

Thursday 19th June

Light southerly winds, sunshine and warmth for much of the day.

Ed Burrell found a Stock Dove at Cornabus - a scarce bird indeed on Islay. Jeff Duncan saw a Swift and 10 Twite west of Port Charlotte.

Otherwise, a report came in of Black-throated Diver on Jura, possibly breeding. If confirmed it would be the first definite breeding record for 30+ years, though Jura is choc-a-bloc with remote lochs and lochans in places where few people, let alone birders ever go, so they, along with all sorts of other gems, could be breeding up there incognito annually!

Wednesday 18th June

Warm, light, southerly winds with varying cloud and light drizzle at times.

Additional news from yesterday was a further sighting in the evening of the Velvet Scoter drake at Easter Ellister and a Barn Owl at Nerabus (photo below) seen by Jeff Duncan. Jamie Barton had a male Hen Harrier down at Portnahaven. The birding group led by David Rosair were on Jura yesterday and saw a pale-phase Arctic Skua just south of Feolin.

Today Jeff Duncan saw 3 Hen Harriers (2F + 1M) and a pair of Bullfinches near Kilnaughton, a pair of Siskins at Port Charlotte and heard a Corn Crake on The Oa by the RSPB car park. 

Tuesday 17th June

Another day that started out grey and drizzly, but turned into bright and sunny by the afternoon.

Large numbers of feeding Gannets were being seen offshore around much of the coast today - Orsay island and the Sounds of Islay and Jura.

Tim Scott sent in a lot of useful confirmed breeding records of common species along the Laggan River and Sanaigmore - it is surprising how few of these are recorded and go into the database, so keep them coming! Species seen with fledged young included Whinchat, Stonechat, Long-tailed and Great Tits, Starlings and Pied Wagtails.

Jamie Barton saw his first Hen Harrier of his visit to Islay at Portnahaven. The group visiting with my friend David Rosair were on Jura today and had a light-phase Arctic Skua chasing a Merlin just south of Feolin that crossed the Sound to Islay.

Monday 16th June

Apart from a bit of drizzle first thing, it turned into a dry day, mild, with cloud to begin with but becoming brighter with light winds.

I was up at Loch Gruinart in the morning and pleased to find an immature (2Y) Little Gull at Craigens, Further up the loch on the east side was a flyover Great Skua and a flock of c.80 Bar-tailed Godwits. A Little Egret from the South Hide was seen by several birders along with the summering Whooper Swan. Up at Ardnave in the afternoon were Wheatear fledglings and 4 Greenshanks. James H. reported a Grey Plover in the area. 

Over on the other side of the island Steve & Lyn Rogers did their WeBS count at Loch an t Sailein finding, amongst other things, Red-breasted Merganser with 6 chicks and another Greenshank. Christine Menzies found a Common Sandpiper with chicks at Kilnaughton (photo below) and David D. had 3 Common Scoter offshore there. Jeff Duncan had two Islay firsts on his latest visit: a Magpie at Glenegedale and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying across the road between Ardbeg and Kildalton.

Sunday 15th June

 Much of the day was cold, overcast, drizzling and misty - not what you want for a day close to midsummer, especially when I had a small group of birders to show around!

We did a drive up to Claggain Bay where 3-4 Red-throated Divers performed well offshore and a flock of 35 Red-breasted Mergansers flew by. We went out the the RSPB Oa car park intending to walk to the American Monument but we couldn't even see it in the fog and chilly breeze, so turned around towards Port Ellen. The High Road provided a couple of lovely male Hen Harriers that raised spirits and by late afternoon there was a glimmer of blue in the skies and a productive finale was a visit to the loch at Easter Ellister where the drake Velvet Scoter with its female Common Scoter companion put on a decent performance and a couple of nearby White-tailed Eagles perched up and gave good, long scope views, leaving the group with a better impression of Islay by the end of the day.

Jeff Duncan is visiting the island again and had seen a couple of Hen Harriers on the Rhinns and a Grasshopper Warbler at Port Charlotte. Steve & Lyn Rogers watched a White-tailed Eagle attacking a Mallard in Kilnaughton Bay, the Mallard totally submerging to try and escape the eagle's clutches, which apparently succeeded after five minutes of trying. Clive McK. was on the Big Strand and noted a flock of 36 Dunlin in breeding plumage at Knockangle Point.

Saturday 14th June

Grey, mild, with light to more serious bouts of rain setting in by mid-morning.

Gordon Yates made another visit this past week and notes an Osprey seen with fish at Loch Gorm plus a very pale "biscuit-coloured" female Hen Harrier near Ardnahoe.

Today, Martin A. had a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woods at Laphroaig. Jeff Duncan has returned for another birding holiday seeing 30+ Manx Shearwaters on the crossing.

Friday 13th June

The day started grey and rainy at times with a strong breeze, but by the evening it was sunny and calm.

Billy Stitchell still has his family of 4 Goldcrests in the garden at Caol Ila along with Treecreepers and this lovely Grey Wagtail.

Simon Stuart was on Jura for the day and reports thus: Goldcrest, Long-tailed, Blue & Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Siskin, Redpoll, Goldfinch, Wren, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush and Blackbirds all at Knockrome and Corrna house area. A pair of Snipe a mile south of Lussa and a Common sandpiper 2 miles north of Lussa.

Most other news today relates to entomology and cetaceans!: a Forester Moth seen by Mary R. and several reports of Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies, while Fiona Mc. saw at least 2 Minke Whales in the outer reaches of Loch Indaal this evening. There were rafts of Manx Shearwaters in the area too, suggesting good fishing/feeding opportunities for both seabirds and whales.

Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th June

A more cloudy and breezy day, but with little rain on Wednesday. Slightly calmer and mild on Thursday, but still quite cloudy.

David W. reports 2 Swifts on the High Road at Torra/Duich Lots yesterday afternoon, with another this afternoon at Glen Astle. Angharad Ward also saw Swifts today in the same area - 3 of them at Kintra.

Ed B. noted an Osprey at Cornabus today and David Protherough saw a Magpie at his house nearby.

Elsewhere, Mary Redman reports that, apart from seeing a White-tailed Eagle over Ellister this morning, her husband, out fishing six miles offshore had a Collared Dove land on his boat which scrounged a lift back to shore as he returned to harbour!

Tuesday 10th June

A very different day's weather today, with bright sunny and warm conditions and very light winds.

Simon Stuart reports Choughs nesting at Sanaigmore, adding the rather worrying observation of a Stoat on the roof of the old building in which they are nesting. He also noted a pair of Common Scoter on the loch down at Easter Ellister - I wonder if the Velvet Scoter male is still lurking there?

I checked out a couple of spots for Sand Martin nest sites. The little quarry just south of Uiskentuie still has large numbers of holes - 120+ - but just 25 birds flying about. I've no idea how to work out how many of the holes are actually occupied - any ideas?? 

Away from birds, there was excitement from sightings of a Minke Whale first seen between Islay and Rathlin and later (assuming it might be the same one) coming up into the outer reaches of Loch Indaal.

Monday 9th June

 An overcast day with plenty of fairly regular light drizzly rain. light winds to start with but breezier by the end of day.

Yesterday newly arrived visitor Simon Stuart has been busy getting familiarised with Islay and Jura at the start of his week here. Among various species at RSPB Gruinart he found the summering Whooper Swan and a Little Egret amidst all the breeding Lapwings and Redshanks. He also ventured to Machir Bay, and Saligo finding a Common Sandpiper at the latter and over 100 Rock Doves feeding in fields between the two. Today he heard one or possibly two Corn Crakes at Sanaigmore.

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June

Two more days of "showers and sunshine", with the rain mostly overnight. Winds light.

On Saturday Janice & Tim Scott arrived and watched a/the Osprey perched eating a fish on its favourite telegraph pole at Loch Gorm. Today (Sunday) they heard Corn Crake at Sanaigmore - definitely one, possibly two.

Also today, Val Peacock noted two lovely breeding plumaged Great Northern Divers at Port Charlotte and Ed. B. had a Whooper Swan over at Duich.

Billy Stitchell over at Caol Ila had feeding Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch and a family of Goldcrests in his garden provides us with lovely  images of a Wren near Lily Loch.

Thursday 5th June & Friday 6th June

A bit of rain overnight, but otherwise fairly dry, sunny days with light winds and moderate temperatures.

On Thursday I took a look from the two hides at RSPB Gruinart where there were plenty of breeding Redshanks and Lapwings showing signs of having chicks in the very lush vegetation after the recent rains. The only oddity noted was a lone Whooper Swan which, at this late date, will I imagine, stay as a summering bird with us.

On Friday Fiona McG. reports large numbers of Manx Shearwaters off Orsay in the pleasant calm evening conditions.

Wednesday 4th June

Breezy westerlies with sunshine and only a a bit of cloud and showers at times.

The only notes today come from visitor Alan Pearman who saw the Osprey attempting, but failing, to catch fish at Loch Finlaggan. Earlier in the day he took this fine photo of a Spotted Flycatcher over at Fairy Hill, Kildalton.

Tuesday 3rd June

Another day of quite blustery/strong westerly winds bringing rain showers between sunny spells.

Gary T. found the Osprey at Loch Gorm again today followed by a Little Egret up at the Gruinart floods. Ella Simpson found 2 White-tailed Eagles up at the top of Loch Indaal, clearly feeding on unidentified prey or scavenged meal.

Sunday 1st & Monday 2nd June

A cool and wet day with fairly strong NW winds on Sunday resulted in no bird news. Today was brighter, dry, sunny and lighter winds until the evening when wind picked up a bit, cloud came in and it rained in the evening. There was just one report: of what is probably the same Osprey as seen a few days ago, seen catching fish at Loch Gorm again, and flying off over towards Gruinart with its meal. This again raised the question of "is there a breeding pair hidden away on Islay"? and "if not, when will they start to breed"? The thought is that it is unlikely that a pair is breeding - more likely that this is a young/non-breeding bird - but perhaps it may like it here and settle to breed in the future?