Monday 17th August 

Rather a damp day, with rain most of the afternoon.

Bird of the month, possibly year, was an adult Mediterranean Gull, "loafing" at Gartbreck in the rain, according to Clive McK, who spotted this rare visitor. 'Birds of Islay and Jura" states that this is about the 13th record for the island since the first in 2010, and only the second adult. Sightings have been slowly increasing in recent years, with 3 last year, although those were the first since 2022.

The only other observation received came from Rogs M, who saw a Little Egret and a Greenshank while driving (!) between Bridgend and Bowmore. 

 

Sunday 16th August 

A quiet, mainly overcast day after overnight rain.

Not much to report today. David D watched a White-tailed eagle flying below the American Monument and also saw 2 Chough on the cliffs below, while Rogs W posted this photograph of a House Sparrow with a beakful of food which he reckons includes both a spider and a caterpillar. It's important to offer one's offspring a nicely varied diet.

 

Saturday 15th August 

Another fine day with light winds.

Rogs M spotted a pure white goose among a flock of Greylags on Loch na Cachie, which lies between Kilchoman Distillery and Loch Gorm. It is either a leucistic or an albino Greylag, but a closer look is needed, the former retaining normal coloured eyes, bill and legs, whereas in the latter those would be pink/red.

Clive McKay had a late afternoon walk around Ardnave, seeing 5 Sandwich Terns and 15 Common Terns at Ardnave Point, as well as 20 Choughs, 2 Whimbrel flying south, and the usual mix of waders on Traigh Nostaig beach, including 47 Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank. He also had a high count of 440 Grey Seals hauled out on the Loch Gruinart sandbanks. In  the evening a Barn Owl was hunting near the RSPB office, while he noted an evening wader emigration from Loch Griunart of 21 Black-tailed Godwits, 68 Oystercatchers and 8 Sandwich Terns.

 

Friday 14th August 

A dry day with light winds and mainly overcast skies. Yesterday evening, cloud obscured most of the sky, preventing more than very partial views (glimpses) of the eclipse of the sun and almost nothing of the Perseid meteor shower.

Only two bird records received for today. Louise M had a lone Curlew in Small Isles Bay, while Rog M continues his exploration of the northeast of the island, noting 8 Grey Herons, including juveniles, perched on trees at Lily Loch. This is the site of one of the several small heronries on Islay. It survived the felling of some of the nesting trees a few years ago as they had become dangerous, but there were plenty of alternative trees, including at adjacent Loch Allan. Peter Roberts, in his book 'Birds of Islay and Jura', lists no less than 18 heronries that have been noted in the last nearly 100 years since the very first National Heronry Survey of 1928, but attendance at several of them seems to be intermittent, while a number are definitely extinct. Peter estimates up to 30 breeding pairs on the island, of which 8-9 were at Lily Loch in 2023, the last time they were counted, making it one of the largest heronries that year.

This makes a perfect cue for one of the late Gordon Langsbury's photographs.

 

Thursday 13th August

Apart from a short sharp rain shower this morning it was a hot sunny day with light southerly winds for the annual Islay and Jura Show.

Ed Burrell sent in a map lotting the recent movements of one of his tagged Greylag Geese, wandering up and down the island over the past couple of weeks.

Otherwise, Rogan W. watched his fledged Buzzard  attempting to hunt at Dunlossit and witnessed another/the same as a few days ago, White-tailed Eagle journeying from Islay to Jura this morning.

Wednesday 12th August

A warm sunny start with only the slightest attempt of rain, but clouding sufficiently to make the eclipse of the sun this evening somewhat underwhelming.

Mary R. reports a Kestrel at Claddach yesterday. Today Rogan W. confirms the Buzzard breeding on his home patch at Dunlossit with sightings of adult and juvenile flying about. 

 

Tuesday 11th August

 A fine sunny day!

Rogan W. confirms that the Bullfinch pair in the gardens at Dunlossit have fledged two young. He also had a Crossbill flying over.

Up at Kilinallan this afternoon I had a young White-tailed Eagle being harassed by a Buzzard and Hen Harrier. Also a couple of Greenshanks and the Little Egret present.

Monday 10th August

A pleasant, fairly calm, warm, dry and sunny day for a change.

Some further reports for yesterday from Rogan W. include a Sparrowhawk at the airport.

Today, Rogan saw another Sparrowhawk - probably a nesting bird - in woodland near Port Askaig. Clive McK. counted 25 Black-tailed Godwits at the head of Loch Gruinart. I saw a Whooper Swan on Loch Gorm (presumably different to the seemingly resident/damaged bird at Gruinart?) and counted 530 Greylags on Loch Gorm with  further 60 on the shoreline at Bruichladdich - the autumn build-up of the species begins!

Sunday 9th August

The day started out cloudy with drizzle but brightened to sunny and dry with a moderate westerly breeze.

George Jackson sent in some notes for the previous two days:  on Friday a juvenile Grey Wagtail at Coultorsay and 60 Ringed Plovers and c.20 Dunlin at Crosshouses. (over half these in summer plumage). On Saturday at Gartbreck 5 adult Mute Swans and a Ringtail Hen Harrier. 

Val Peacock saw a Little Egret flying up Loch Indaal at Port Charlotte. Jo Rosser-Owen recorded Willow Warbler in Bridgend Woods and Steve & Lyn Rogers had 2 young Spotted Flycatchers in their garden at Kilnaughton Bay this morning. James H. noted an increase in waders  in Loch Gruinart with 40 Redshank, 20 Black-tailed Godwits,  and 16 Canada Geese. Clive McK. checked further on the waders there a counted 120 Dunlin, 180 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderlings and a flock of 66 Oystercatchers passing through. He also noted a Barn Owl hunting in the fields near Mill Cottage. Here at Bruichladdich there was a juvenile Sandwich Tern sat on the rocks for a while. Crystal Maw and friends were up at the RSPB hides in the morning and had, amongst other birds, a White-tailed Eagle, H2 Hen Harriers and a Peregrine.

Friday 7th & Saturday 8th August

Still a very strong contrast here to the drought and heatwaves of southern England and Wales! Winds swinging about and cloud coming and going, bringing increasing amounts of light rain with it - especially on Saturday.

Clive McK. sent in a record for Thursday of a Red-throated Diver feeding on Loch Finlaggan then taking off into the hills, returning 30 minutes later - an obvious sign of feeding young on one of the higher moorland lochs nearby.

Yesterday Rogan W. was birding his patch at Dunlossit and sent in some useful breeding records of Mute Swan with cygnets on Loch Ballygrant, where he also noted a Little Grebe and young Goldcrests.

Today he had Tawny Owls calling overnight, a Buzzard nesting along the Sound of Islay  near Port Askaig, where a family of Spotted Flycatchers was photographed.

Later he watched a White-tailed Eagle flying over to Islay from Jura.

Over at Ardilistry Bay David D. found a Little Egret and a Greenshank - an unusual place for these species more often found on Lochs Indaal and Gruinart.

Thursday 6th August

A slightly better day with no rain, winds dropping and sunshine increasing as the day progressed - until the evening when cloud and showers resumed.

Rogan W. reports a pair of Bullfinches at his home near Port Askaig, plus Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Siskins and families of fledged Great and Blue Tits.

Clive was also down at Port Askaig and noted good numbers of butterflies - 14 Red Admirals, 3 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and this Painted Lady.

Mary-Ann F. also reported lots of butterflies from her Kildalton garden - 20+ Peacocks, a few Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells and Whites. There was also a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on Buddleia.

Monday; 3rd, Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th August

Three days of changeable weather - generally changing for the worse! Winds going round to an easterly direction and increasingly strong by Wednesday, more cloud and increasing amounts of rain.

Further sightings from Sunday include 2 Little Egrets, a juvenile Peregrine, 2 Sandwich and 5 Common Terns noted by Clive McK.

Records for Monday come from Clive McK. and Mark Livingston who found a family of Tufted Ducks (8 well-grown ducklings with parent) on Ardnave Loch where there was also a family of Mute Swans with 4 cygnets. They also had a Greenshank on the west side of Ardnave and a juvenile Cuckoo by the Loch

On Tuesday Rogan Wolhuter watched 42+ Guillemots in the Sound of Islay by Port Askaig and Mark Livingston counted 200 Dunlin on Loch Indaal by the Gaelic College.

No sightings for Wednesday so far.

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd August

Two further days of light westerly winds, mostly sunny.

Yesterday Rogan W. was up at Bunnahabhain finding a pair of Grey Wagtails with 2 young with a dark-phase Arctic Skua passing by. Today he was at Machir Bay in the afternoon where there were counts of 23 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling and two Wheatears - a couple of photos below.

Thursday 30th & Friday 31st July

Two more days of mixed rain showers and sunshine with moderate westerly winds.

Yesterday Rogan Wolhuter had a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland just south of Port Askaig and sent in this fine photo. Otherwise it was all about White-tailed Eagles: Karim Labib saw one approaching the dead Minke Whale on Machir Bay, but being mobbed by a Buzzard and flying off. He also saw 2 sub-adult White-tailed Eagles there a little later along with a substantial count of 13 Wheatears. Later he was on Jura and found a male Hen Harrier 3-4 miles north of the Feolin ferry.

Clive McKay had 2 Whinchats at Gruinart - an adult with young. Later, Clive and I were over on Jura and watched an  adult pair of White-tailed Eagles that ended up happily sitting on the same branch in a fine woodland tree for upwards of 5 hours without doing anything much apart from stretching wings and legs whenever the sun came out.

Today Bill Bealey had 2 White-tailed Eagles at the Ard, Port Ellen and Jo Rosser-Owen had a Sparrowhawk in Bridgend Woods. Clive McK. a Little Egret and 175 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gartnatra and a juv cuckoo at Coullabus. Karim saw an Arctic Skua in Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte and Rogan found 3 Greenshanks on Loch Gruinart by The Oystershed, plus a few birds in the woods around Dunlossit: Bullfinch, Treecreeper, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 14 Redpolls and 5 Grey Herons including an adult with young on nest around Lily loch/Loch Allan. Val Peacock heard a quite late Corn Crake calling briefly at the north end of Port Charlotte in fields by the new housing.

Theo from Nature Scotland kindly alerted us to a report he'd seen on ebird this morning of an adult Mediterranean Gull at Blackrock, Loch Indaal.

Wednesday 29th July

Cloud, quite heavy rain at times and pleasantly cool temperatures during the day, the westerly breezes dropping by an evening with a bit of sunshine.

Roger Wolhuter, newly arrived resident birder on Islay, sent in a record of 2 Tawny Owls calling all night up at Port Askaig. He also noted 12 Redpolls, 2 White-tailed Eagles, a Grey Wagtail and 4 Spotted Flycatchers - 2 adults with recently fledged young.

Karim Labib and a ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Loch Gruinart and a male Hen Harrier near Port Charlotte, plus 3 Twite at Sanaigmore and a Whinchat on the east side of Loch Gorm.

Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th July

SW moderate winds bringing in belts of drizzle, cloud, mist and rain between a few sunny periods.

Yesterday David D. had 3 Greenshank at Loch Kinnabus. Ed B. had a reeling Grasshopper Warbler at Cornabus. Bill Bealey had a Chough at Kilnaughton, Lucy Chadwick saw a Golden Eagle at Finlaggan, Roger Broad noted a Red-throated diver off Port Charlotte and Jo Rosser-Owen reports a Tree Pipit from the Daill Farm area of Bridgend Woods.

Today David D. counted a flock of 23 Twite at Upper Killeyan. There were also several reports of Bottle-nosed Dolphins high up into Loch Indaal (I counted 5 at one point off Port Charlotte heading north). Rogan Wolhuter, coming over to Islay on the ferry had a selection of seabirds including a Red-throated diver and 2 Sandwich Terns. There were two pairs of Little Grebe with young on Loch Ballygrant.

Sunday 26th July

 Moderate Westerly  winds, rain and shine between.

Very few bird records in today. Jo Rosser-Owen recorded Great Spotted Woodpecker in Bridgend Woods - good to know they are still there. Roger Broad took and afternoon look at the top of Loch Indaal and noted  20 Shelducks, 120 Dunlin, 5 Sanderling, 1 Greenshank,

120 Bar-tailed Godwits and 25 Ringed Plovers. Up at Loch Gruinart there was another small group of 18 Black-tailed godwits freshly in.

Other, more sad news, was of a Minke Whale washed up dead on Machir Bay.

Friday 24th & Saturday 25th July

Variable weather with light to moderate winds from the west, some cloud, some rain and quite cool temperatures.

Yesterday David D. had an unseasonably large flock of c.100 Chaffinches feeding on a topped field at Kintra.

Today Simon Tardivel reports a couple of Chough at Ardnave and a White-tailed Eagle at Machir Bay. Clive McK. had a flock of 19 Black-tailed godwits in summery plumage coming n ew in to Loch Gruinart and Roger Broad and I had a further 7 arriving later in the afternoon. We also counted 145 Curlews and the Little Egret at Gruinart plus a Peregrine sat on the shoreline. In the same area, Bill Bealey saw the summering Whooper Swan, 50 Greylag Geese, and single Buzzard and Snipe from the North Hide.

There were 19 Tufted Ducks on Loch Gorm and over at Kildalton, Mary-Ann F.  had a family of Great Black-backed Gulls on the shore where the two families of Red-breasted Mergansers hang on, bravely defending their chicks.

Thursday 23rd July

Cloud and very light drizzle at times, with cooler temperatures, but sunny spells between and light winds.

David D. reports intermittent calling of Quail at times over the past several days at Kinnabus. Ed B. had 2 Choughs at Cornabus, seemingly attracted to a "sandy dung heap". Clive McK. noted the first returning/post-breeding Little Egret at Gruinart. Visitor Simon Tardivel sent in a list of 19 species noted whilst camping at Port Mor.

Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd July

Further quite pleasant weather - lots of sunshine, but light winds from the north at times cooling temperatures and bringing intermittent cloud and very light attempts at rain on a few occasions.

Again, there has been very little bird news reported. Tom Pope sent in a note of a White-tailed Eagle at Lagavulin on Sunday. Also on Sunday, an Islay Facebook posting mentioned a possibly injured immature Golden Eagle along the Killinallan road on Sunday, but there has been no further news of it.

On Monday Jo Rosser-Owen noted Bullfinch in Bridgend Woods and today Ed B. reports a White-tailed Eagle chasing Greylag Geese - a staple of their diet here I imagine.

Friday 17th, Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July

Three further days of glorious weather, though becoming slightly cooler by Sunday with a light northerly breeze, but otherwise dry and sunny.

There were no bird sightings for Friday. Yesterday  Mary R. noted a first year White-tailed Eagle at Claddach - presumably a fledged young from the pair in the large forestry area in the south of the Rhinns? Today David D. reported hearing the Quail again intermittently at Kinnabus - who knows if they are just off-course migrants or if there is breeding going on? Louise Muir, over on Jura had an Osprey at the head of Loch Tarbert with a White-tailed Eagle there later in the day.

Thursday 16th July

Another hot, dry and sunny day with temperatures between 20-25C.

Mary-Ann Featherstone recorded another brood of 7 Red-breasted Merganser ducklings at Cnoc Bay.

The count of the Starling roost on Bruichladdich pier this evening was at c.1,100 - a classic July peak of this post-breeding gathering of adult and young birds.

David Dinsley saw 2 Swifts this evening over Lagavulin distillery and sent in this fine photo of a leucistic Robin near Laphroaig distillery.

Monday 13th. Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th July

Hot, dry and sunny with light winds and high temperatures - our own little Islay heatwave with temperatures up in the low 20sC.

Despite the glorious weather (if you overlook the likelihood that it is all due to global warming!), it is a quiet time of year for birding and there were no sightings for Monday. Yesterday Steve & Lyn Rogers noted, amongst various regular species, Spotted Flycatcher at Cairnmore Woods, Kilnaughton. 

Clive McK. was over on Jura and had a group of 5 Swifts over the southern end of the island. This species has only been recorded on 8 previous occasions on Jura between 1974 and 2024, with 2-3 the previous maximum number - so a good record by all counts.

Today Jo Rosser-Owen reported continued nesting of Swallows in her garage up at Bridgend, while MaryAnn F. had a family of Red-breasted Mergansers (6 ducklings) at the Dower House, Kildalton. David D. saw a juvenile Cuckoo at Upper Cragabus and 2 Greenshanks on Loch Kinnabus where he heard 2, possibly 3 calling Quail this evening. Clive McK. had a further 6 Greenshanks at Bun an Uillt, Gruinart, a just -fledged Common Tern on Oitir Riabach (the small perilously low-lying shingle island in Loch Gruinart where terns often try, and often fail to breed due to flooding). Most odd was an observation of an Oystercatcher trying to feed a Common Gull fledgling with lugworms.

Roger Broad kindly sent in a report regarding White-tailed Eagle on Islay. Apparently Morven Laurie, NatureScot found the fairly freshly bird dead bird near Loch Gorm, back on 28th April 2026. It was good to know that the bird tested negative for HPAI. The bird was ringed by Roger as a chick on Mull 20 years previously on 29th June 2006. It was a female and was fitted with yellow wing tags. It was later seen at its subsequent breeding site on Islay with a male (also with yellow wing tags) in December 2009. These became the first breeding pair on Islay in 2010 when they bred successfully near Finlaggan. This bird was presumed to have bred in the same area in the following years - so may have been one of our pioneering breeding birds for 16 or more years.

Sunday 12th July

A bright, dry and sunny day of light wind and hot temperatures (I noted 26C at one point today).

Clive McK. was observing up at Gruinart and noted a sub-adult Golden Eagle being harassed by 5 Buzzards plus a flock of 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, some in summer plumage and 8 Arctic Terns. There was a juvenile Cuckoo at Coullabus, a roadkill recently fledged Barn Owl at Eorrabus and 7 Wood Pigeons at Gareallabus. Best of his sightings was a group of 7 Common Swifts, which prompted reports from Fiona McG. of 6 over Port Wemyss early this morning and Swifts over Kildalton yesterday from Mary Ann F. - though no numbers were given. This is not a common species on Islay, so do please send in all sightings.

Friday 10th & Saturday 11th July

Two pleasant days with a fair bit of sunshine between cloudier periods. Dry, light winds and not too hot.

Yesterday Ed B. saw a Tufted Duck on the loch at Cornabus - his first there, while David Wood had 100s of Common Dolphins between Gigha and the Sound of Islay.

Today I counted 26 Black Guillemots at Port Askaig and friends of Mary Ann F. watched a Corn Crake cross the road at Ardbeg, plus 3 Grey Herons off Cnoc Bay. Billy Stitchell was up at Lily loch seeing many of the usual species: several Wrens, a few juvenile robin, Redpoll, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Siskin, Swallows, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher  and Greenfinch. 

Bruichladdich pier is, as usual, being used as a roost site to currently 300+ Starlings.

Thursday 9th July

A warmer day with little rain, light winds and a bit of sunshine  - also quite humid.

A Great Northern Diver was present off Port Charlotte yesterday and this morning Alistair H. saw a couple of Swifts near Claddach, and a male Hen Harrier and 30+ Skylarks near Gruinart. I was up at Finlaggan where there was a group of 14 Pied Wagtails.

Friends who came over this morning on the Kintyre Express from Ballycastle report 2-3 Minke Whales between Rathlin and The Oa.

Monday 6th, Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th July

Monday and Tuesday were miserable - drizzle, low cloud, mist and breezy. Wednesday saw a turn for the better with bright, calm and sunny weather by mid-morning.

On Monday Alistair Hart reported Grasshopper Warblers calling at Portnahaven.

There were no records for Tuesday.

Today Alistair reported lots of the usual species from his wanderings around the Portnahaven/Cladville area in the much better weather.

David Wood reports a Quail at Kinnabus and confirms that the Tree Sparrows reported a few weeks ago have successfully bred with fledged young in the Glen Astle area. This species only occurs erratically, with little pattern to their appearances on Islay and is even more erratic as a breeding bird - the last confirmed breeding (also on The Oa) was 2009.

Over on Jura today, David Jardine reports Yellowhammer, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 singing Blackcaps at Port an Tarbairt. Girish Patel, also now on Jura saw a Yellowhammer at Cnocbreac and a singing Whitethroat at Inver Cottage.

Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July

 The weather has been awful - cloudy, raining and breezy, with Port Ellen apparently being the wettest place in the UK a day or so ago!

Needless to say, that has meant no bird notes sent in and the three day gap in bothering to write the blog.

However, we welcome a new resident birder to Islay, Rogan Wolhuter, who pointed out that this day 13 years ago was a true "red letter day" for Islay's ornithology:

This was the second UK record - both in Argyll, the first 60 years before the Islay one - so not long to wait until the next!

Tuesday 30th June, Wednesday 1st & Thursday 2nd July

Very variable, quickly changing weather over the last three days. Mostly with cloudy conditions and light rain and stronger winds, but brightening up considerably by lunchtime on 2nd.

There were no bird notes posted for Tuesday or Wednesday.

Today Girish Patel was at Claggain Bay and reports 2 Red-throated Diver and one Great Northern Diver, along with Black Guillemots, Eiders and a Red-breasted Merganser.

Monday 29th June

 A mostly overcast rainy/drizzly day with light winds.

Mary R. reports a total of 9 Ravens along with the regular White-tailed Eagle at Claddach. Girish Patel watched a Golden Eagle at Ballymeanach, while Ruaridh Fotheringham saw 3 0r 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins this evening off Port Charlotte.

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June

Two days of mostly decent warm and sunny weather with occasional rain showers.

Thanks to Malcolm O. for covering the blog for me while I was over on Colonsay and Oronsay where we saw Oronsay's first confirmed breeding Hen Harriers and visited "Pig's Paradise" on Colonsay - a very spectacular seabird cliff packed full of Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots that we can only dream of here on Islay.

The only bird reports for yesterday came from Mary Redman who saw a fine male Kestrel down at Currie Sands the day before. Billy Stitchell sent in some interesting  photos from a walk around Lily Loch.

Today, Martin Armstrong found a family of Whinchats along the Glenastle track on The Oa, plus a pair of Mistle Thrushes.

There were also various messages about lepidoptera sightings including this fine photo of a Common Blue butterfly taken by Girish Patel on The Oa yesterday.

Friday 26th June

It was several degrees cooler today, After some spectacular lightning during the night, it was mainly overcast with a breeze varying between north-west and east! A handful of light showers occurred in the morning.

David D, on the RSPB's Oa reserve, reported a Treecreeper, a juvenile Cuckoo, and a Great Skua, as well as a pod of Harbour Porpoises below the American Monument. Andy and Clare Sharman  had a flypast by 2 Grey Herons and a male Hen Harrier while sitting on the beach at Port Ghillie Greamhair, just to the west of Sanaigmore Bay, where they later saw 2 Black Guillemots, 5 Choughs and 12 Oystercatchers. 

An enquiry about Corn Crake numbers on the island this summer was responded to by David D with information that it isn't a great year for them, with the number of calling males around 25, though some of these are as yet unconfirmed, with 12 of them on RSPB reserves. 

The summering Whooper Swan is still present on the flooded fields at Gruinart.

The attached photo was taken by Tony Church, then warden of the Islay Youth Hostel, back in 2007. He was driving along a road and spotted this bird on top of a wall. It ignored him as he stopped his car and backed up until level with it to take this photo.

 

 

Thursday 25th June

Today was hot! The temperature at the airport, where there is an official met station, reached 27°C (80.6°F), which, if Google is to be believed, is a new record for Islay, the previous highest being 26°C (78.8°F) in June 2018. Light and variable winds, mostly from the south and east, helped a little bit.

Andy and Clare Sharman reported that, the day before, on their walk at Killinallan, they came across a Sand Martin colony in the dunes, counting 14 birds, which prompted Steve R to say that he thought that the recently reduced access to Kilnaughton beach had benefitted the Sand Martins breeding there. Andy and Clare were on The Oa today seeing both Golden and White-tailed Eagles (see photo below). They also counted 8 Choughs by the American Monument and saw 14 Gannets offshore.

Fiona McG, over on Jura in the last 3 days, reported 1 definite Quail, but more probably 2. As already mentioned, this is a good year for Quail all across the country. 

Local resident Jo Rosser-Owen has been walking through Bridgend Woods with the Cornell University bird identification app, Merlin, on her phone, which heard the songs or calls of 14 different species, including Siskin and Blackcap. This appears to be the only regular site for Blackcaps on the island.

Clive McKay on the west side of Loch Gruinart was surprised to see a Great Skua swoop low over his garden. He also saw a Pink-footed Goose flying south from Ardnave with 4 Greylags.

 

 

 

Wednesday 24th June 

Warm and mostly sunny with light mostly westerly wind.

Jackie Wedd and Dave departed today, seeing 3 Common Dolphins from the ferry, while yesterday they saw a White-tailed Eagle at Finlaggan, where a Common Whitethroat was singing nonstop. 

Another departing visitor, Stephen Garner, saw 5 Red-throated Divers off the Port Mor campsite, Port Charlotte, a Golden Eagle over the Gruinart Flats and a leucistic Collared Dove near the entrance to Aoradh Farm on the RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve

Clive McK reported a dramatic increase in Curlews on L Gruinart, from 25-30 two weeks ago to 147 today. Common Swifts continue to turn up, with David W. seeing two at Loch Kinnabus in the evening.

Andy and Clare Sharman had a walk along the beach at Killinallan and reported seeing a White-tailed Eagle, 5 Ringed Plovers, 17 Sanderlings, 1 Redshank, 4 Lapwings, about 20 Oystercatchers, and 3 Black-backed Gulls, the size, and therefore species, of these last not stated.

Tuesday 23rd June

A hot day with plenty of blue sky and sunshine with very little wind, though becoming fairly overcast and cooler by late afternoon.

Late news from yesterday from Clive McK. who was returning to Islay on the ferry and saw a Minke Whale off Ardtalla and a juvenile Great Tit sat on the ferry on the crossing!

Today's news started with reports of Common Dolphins off Jura and a range of interesting dragonflies and butterflies until Clive McK. reported a Quail calling at Gruinart near Creag Mhor. There has been quite a big influx of Quail into the UK this spring and this is the first for us on Islay. In the afternoon Fiona McG. heard another Quail over on Jura at Inver.  There had previously only been reports of the species back in the 19th century and this is the first modern record of the species on Jura.

Some of us were out overnight doing the second Corn Crake survey with David D. hearing a couple over near Gartbreck on Loch Indaal and myself noting 3 birds on my stretch of the Rhinns between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

Andy Sharman noted a colour-ringed Oystercatcher at Kilnaughton which hopefully can be identified in due course. We've had a number of these sightings over the years of birds from Ireland and wintering birds in S, Wales and the south coast of England.

Stephen Garner was out and about and sent in the following account of his day: "This morning we stopped off at Bridgend Woods for a walk in the shade. Nice assemblage of woodland birds - Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Treecreeper, Robin (including juveniles), Coal Tit, Blue Tit, a fly-past by 3 Siskin and a Spotted Flycatcher hawking insects from a large conifer next to the meadow area.

Onward to Saligo via north side of Loch Gorm: female Hen Harrier just below the road over to Gruinart. On the right hand side wires beyond the junction but before the White House being painted on the left, a male Cuckoo and a male singing Whinchat. At the parking area for Saligo a Sedge Warbler was calling from the common reed fringe upstream of the bridge".

Monday 22nd June

Quite warm, but with a mix of cloud and sunshine with an attempt at rain in the morning.

Yesterday Jackie Wedd saw a couple of Spotted Flycatchers at the Ardmore House jetty and  3 Red-legged Partridges by Cattadale Farm - presumably released birds for shooting? David D. had 2 Swifts over Ben Mhor this morning.

Mary-Ann F. commented that there seemed to be plenty of sand eels in the shallows at Kildalton and David D. saw similarly good numbers at Ardtalla yesterday, while Jackie Wedd commented that she saw Arctic Terns carrying sand eels in suspected courtship feeding.

Stephen Garner was over on Jura successfully finding Otters and hearing Cuckoo calling, and noting the usual Willow Warblers, Redpoll and Yellowhammer around Inver Woods.

Sunday 21st June

The summer solstice and a scorcher of a day with bright sunshine all day with heatwaves predicted further south in the UK.

Malcolm O. reports hearing Corn Crake from his house in Bruichladdich last night - a bird moving closer to the village from Conisby perhaps.

Stephen Garner was up at Ardnave again today, primarily looking at orchids but sent in the following bird notes: 

Just beyond the lobster pens a flock of 4 choughs above the dunes. A bit further on two choughs working the tide line, one un-ringed the other colour ringed single green on the left leg, 2 rings, pale blue over orange on the right (photo available if needed). Adult White-tailed Eagle on the central dunes seen 3 times, with a splendid flyby next to the car park on our return. Female Hen Harrier also near the point but assume same one seen again scaring the young rabbits in the field above the car park and again beyond the loch. Return along the Gruinart side very quiet with a pair of Ringed Plover and a single Dunlin working the tide line.

Jackie Wedd is on a return visit and noted 2 Arctic Terns and 4 Red-throated Divers off Port Charlotte by the lighthouse.

Here at Bruichladdich the House Martins are belatedly back trying to make a nest on the house, but it seems a real struggle as the material they are gathering is so sandy that once it dries it falls off the wall.

Friday 19th & Saturday 20th June

 Drizzly on Friday, bright and sunny on Saturday.

Today David Jardine was on Jura and counted 66 Canada Geese plus 2 pairs with broods of 2 & 4 young on Eilean Glas - or is it Glas Eilean?

There were no sightings sent in yesterday, but regular visitor Stephen Garner sent in his records for the past few days:

16th June: Port Mor campsite - Corn Crake calling  all night

17th June: Ardnave Point - 2 male & 1 female Hen Harriers, 1 Cuckoo  and a Shelduck with very young ducklings. White-tailed Eagle and 8 Chough in group. 2 Great Skuas flew south from direction of Nave island. 1 Little Tern feeding near Nave Island and Eilean Beag

18th June: Big Strand to Laggan river - a party of 4 and another of 5 Sanderling, 1 Little Tern and 3 Chough near Laggan river mouth. Portnahaven - a Grasshopper Warbler singing near the Community Hall

19th June: Kintra - 2 Chough above the beach beyond the car park and 4 Twite. The Oa - 1 male Whinchat singing near to RSPB Car Park, 4 Twite and a pair of Reed Buntings just before car park

20th June: Killinallan - pair of Curlew displaying beyond the gate across the road end, 1 female Teal on the beach

Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th June

Further days of mixed showers and sunshine with light winds from a mostly southerly direction, sometimes quite breezy.

No sightings for Wednesday, but some sightings for Tuesday from Rogan Wolhuter, visiting the island. Amongst other things he saw a Guillemot at Port Askaig, 27 Oystercatchers at Bowmore and 2 each of Little Grebes and Grey Wagtails at Loch Ballygrant.

Today was Nick Thomas's last day on the island before heading home. He found a few species of interest up at Loch Ballygrant and Loch Lossit - such as  a flock of Long-tailed Tits, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Red-legged Partridges (it has been quite a while since the latter have been recorded on Islay).

Tuesday 16th June

More unsettled weather today, fine to start with but deteriorating into rain and blustery SE winds.

Val P. and friends went up to Ardnave for a walk and had 3 Swifts flying south overhead.

Simon Cunningham was on Jura and had an Arctic Skua, working down the Sound of Islay close to the Jura shore from Inver towards Feolin.  Sadly he lost sight of it before he could see if it showed any inclination to head inland, which might of course indicate breeding!

Sunday 14th & Monday 15th June

Two days of sunshine - very warm on Sunday, but windier from the SE on Monday.

Despite the gorgeous weather, there were few bird sightings on Sunday other than Steve & Lyn Rogers WeBS count at Loch an-t-Sailean recording many of the summer resident and breeding species and from David Livingstone who took this photo of a Lapwing escorting its chick across the high road at Leorin in the morning and a couple of Otters at Carraig Fhada in the evening.

Today Mary R. had a Swift an Currie Sands - always a good find on Islay.

Friday 12th & Saturday 13th June

Sunshine and Showers with southerly and westerly winds prevails.

Yesterday Jeff Duncan reported a Garden Warbler in the woodland at Gruinart - a very uncommon species on Islay. He also had a couple of Dippers at the Woollen Mill.

Nick Thomas wandered Bridgend Woods finding large numbers (50-60) of Chaffinches including young birds along with Bullfinch and Siskins.

Today I had the privilege of seeing Gordon Yates into a hide to photograph a pair of Hen Harriers bringing in prey to a nearby nest (all with due legal licensing in place of course!). Gordon has been filming, recording and photographing Islay's wildlife for 50 years - harriers, eagles, choughs, merlins, otters and all sorts of other special and iconic species. He feels this may be his last year. I hope not, but regardless, he is due a vote of thanks and gratitude for his long term dedication to promoting Islay's wildlife in such a creative way.