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.

Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th June

Rain and showers on Wednesday gave way to more or less permanent rain with SW winds on Thursday.

With weather like this is not surprising that there are few bird records to relay. There have been a few reports from our visiting birders - Jeff Duncan and Nick Thomas who have been braving the elements and seeing some of the regular species - Choughs, Hen Harriers,  Cuckoos, Common Sandpipers and Spotted Flycatchers dotted about the island.

Here at Bruichladdich I noticed my first group of Eider ducklings being escorted by two females and male Eiders now going into moult.

Tuesday 9th June

The day started rainy and finished sunny. Light winds from a southerly direction throughout but still quite cool for June.

Mary-Ann F. took a group of High School kids on to Texa today and reports both Greylag and Canada Geese with goslings there, plus Cormorants.

Jeff Duncan counted Treecreeper, Siskin and Goldcrest in Bridgend Woods. Mark Crisp had a White-tailed Eagle over Machir Bay, Nick Thomas had a Hen Harrier on the Glen Road. Mary R. saw the best raptor though, with a Marsh Harrier at Claddach this afternoon.

Sunday 7th & Monday 8th June

Two further days of mixed sunshine and showers with light south and south-west breezes.

Bird reports of anything unusual have been few - though lots of notes on how some of our breeding birds are faring. Clive McK. has been monitoring several nests - Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler and Blue Tit included with mostly poor results, possibly due to wet and cool weather making feeding difficult.

Elsewhere others have been noting the usual good mix of summer species around the island. Jeff Duncan found a Kestrel and Whinchat at Claddach and Nick Thomas noted the same strange behaviour of a summering Whooper Swan at Gruinart chasing away Mute Swans.

The fields on the seaward side between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte are littered with families of Greylag Geese with goslings in various stages of growth - all looking very vulnerable to a multitude of predators!

Friday 5th & Saturday 6th June

Two days of mixed weather - sunshine and showers (mostly showers!) with a moderate breeze from various, mostly  southerly directions.

The only report yesterday came from Clive McK. who noted 3 Gannets flying south down Loch Gruinart then heading "overland" presumably to go out to sea down Loch Indaal. This has been noted once before on Islay in 2019 and more regularly from the Ailsa Craig colony crossing over the 8 km of the Kintyre peninsula to the Atlantic side which saves them a 55km journey around its tip.

Today there was a report from Jeff Duncan of a few birds (single Great Northern Diver and Manx Shearwater and 3 Common Dolphins from the ferry across to Islay.

Thursday 4th June

Westerly breezes today with rain in the morning, but brightening to a sunnier afternoon, but back to grey and rain by evening.

Graeme Glass found a Great northern Diver off Port Charlotte this morning, then a Treecreeper and Great spotted woodpecker at Loch Skerrols woodland. Mary R. watched a Great Skua being mobbed by gulls at Claddach and at the other end of the Rhinns, Clive McK. had an adult pale-phase Arctic Skua at Loch Gruinart and counted 115 Bar-tailed Godwits and 14 Curlews there.

Wednesday 3rd June

A day with slightly stronger winds from various southerly directions bringing with it rainy conditions throughout much of the day - some rain quite heavy at times.

Bird records have been understandably limited: Graeme Glass had one, possibly two Corn Crakes calling at the start of the Woodland Trail, Gruinart again today and Nick Webb had 4 Greenshanks near Bowmore Power Station.

The brief dry and sunny spells bought out some butterflies - Marsh and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries to keep people happy - photo c/o Mary Ann F.

Tuesday 2nd June

 A fairly grey overcast day with drizzle and very light winds.

Late news from yesterday, 1st June came from Nick Webb who found one, possibly two male Ruffs in full breeding plumage displaying to at least 3 Reeves at the North Hide at RSPB Gruinart in the morning. He also heard a Corn Crake near the Woodland Trail gate at Gruinart and a Grasshopper Warbler calling from scrub on the east side of Loch Gorm.

Today, Graeme Glass reports a couple of Chough at Machir Bay, 12 Sanderling and 23 Oystercatchers on the beach there and a female Hen Harrier at Lyrabus. Nick Webb had another female Hen Harrier between Cnoc Fada and Loch Gorm and a Whinchat east of Loch Gorm.

I took a look at the hides at RSPB Gruinart in the afternoon but couldn't locate the Ruffs, though did see a pair of Wigeon and this fine White Wagtail.

David Livingstone photographed a fine male Hen Harrier on Duich Lotts on Sunday:

Saturday 30th, Sunday 31st May & Monday 1st June

As the annual Feis Ile comes to an end so does the good weather! There have been more unsettled conditions with overcast and rainy spells, increasing to be fairly good downpours by the evening of Monday.

No birds on the grapevine for Saturday and just one post from Martin A. on Sunday from the mouth of the River Sorn where he recorded a family of Grey Wagtails and young Great Tits along with Siskin, Goldcrest and Blackcap. Today Mary R. reports a summer-plumaged Turnstone on Currie Sands, Louise M. had a 2CY Golden Eagle at the three arch bridge on Jura and Clive McK. had a couple of Mistle Thrushes up at Creag Mhor.

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.

Tuesday 19th May

Breezy from the south-east with some rain.

Hannah D saw a Common Swift flying over Bowmore, the second of this spring. This species has never been found breeding on Islay, the nearest being small numbers in Campbeltown. David W spotted two Puffins in the Sound of Islay from the ferry, a species which apparently used to breed here in some numbers at the end of the 19th century but thereafter declined with the last probable breeding being in 1986. 

The only other sighting received was from Carl Walker who reported that two male Common Eider were still at Bruichladdich, which suggests that two females are perhaps sitting on nests at or close to the top of the shore.

Monday 18th May 

Mostly dry with an increasing easterly wind.

Hannah D had a Corn Crake calling at Kinnabus around lunchtime, and Emily Garva reported a White-tailed Eagle beyond Claddach Loch in the afternoon, while last night Portnahaven harbour was full of swallows and a couple of house martins, with Gannets in closer than usual in front of the islands. Carl Walker saw a male Hen Harrier north of Kilnaughton Bay and 2 male Common Eiders at Bruichladdich.

Following on from yesterday's photograph by Billy Stitchell of a Black Guillemot in the Sound, here's one by David Livingston of another Black Guillemot at Port Ellen with a beakful of what appears to be a crustacean of some kind.

 

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May

 The weather, still unseasonably cold, has become more changeable, with winds veering all around the compass and bringing more occasional,  heavier rain showers.

Yesterday's only posting comers from James H. up at the RSPB Gruinart floods where he saw again the/a drake Garganey, 2 Pintail, 4 Wigeon, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 58 Dunlin, and 8 Canada Geese. There were 104 Whimbrel on the Flats and a late flock of 22 Whooper Swans dropped in. He was also pleased to note the first Redshank chicks of the season amid plenty of Lapwing chicks.

Billy Stitchell was up on the Sound of Islay and photographed this fine looking Black Guillemot:

The only reports today are from Carl Walker who, amongst other things heard a Corn Crake at Upper Killeyan farmhouse. 

Friday 15th May

A basically dry, sunny,  cool day with northerly winds, decreasing by evening. Just a few sprinkles of rain mostly in the morning.

Mary R. had a White-tailed Eagle fly by Port Wemyss this morning and later noted 20 Greylags on Claddach Loch with a suspiciously domestic-looking white goose. Ed Burrell scored a much more interesting goose at Cornabus - albeit a feral species. He found Islay's first, and Argyll's second Egyptian Goose!

Kath Butterworth had a Golden Eagle at Killinallan and a Great Northern Diver in Loch Gruinart there. Later she found a male Hen Harrier at Loch Gorm and another Great Northern Diver off Port Mor on Loch Indaal. Emily Garva was at Porntahaven listening to Corn Crakes there.

Thursday 14th May

The cool northerly breeze continues along with predominantly dry sunny weather.

All the birding news today comes from Kath Butterworth who heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland near Cluanach along with a male Hen Harrier nearby. Later she heard Corn Crakes at Portnahaven and Port Mor near Port Charlotte and finished the day with a great sighting of 2 Long-tailed Skuas flying north up Loch Indaal off Port Mor. If only I'd been looking out of my window here at Bruichladdich at the time I might have them to my "garden list"!

Wednesday 13th May

Some quite heavy, squally rain showers overnight and into the morning coming in on a continuing, quite brisk NW and westerly airstream producing cool but mostly sunny conditions.

Whimbrels are back on the menu, with 89 counted in a single field between Loch Gorm and Gruinart by James H. this morning. Mary R. counted 20 on her patch around Claddach and Paul Ward added another 25 early on around the Machrie golf course. 

Clive McK. had another sea-watch off Gartbreck in Loch Indaal this morning but didn't conjure up any more skuas. His best birds were a single Fulmar and good views of both Arctic and Common Terns. Steve & Lyn Rogers counted a raft of 60 Shags off Kilnaughton - quite a concentration of presumably feeding birds.

I noted the first couple of broods of small Greylag Goose goslings in the seaward side fields between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte this afternoon and plenty of Gannets feeding in Loch Indaal.

Tuesday 12th May

The N or NW wind blew a little colder and stronger today, which remained dry, but cloudier until some short heavy rain showers in the evening.

Louise M. noted the first Redpoll seen in her garden at Craighouse on Jura.

Clive McK. keeping a watchful eye on weather, especially wind direction, to produce the right conditions for certain species to show up on migration, hit the jackpot this evening. He watched from Gartbreck on the east side of Loch Indaal this evening for 2.5 hours and connected with a flock of 7 Pomarine and two Long-tailed Skuas moving north up the Loch. This just about equals the best ever count of a single group of Pomarine Skuas on Islay, and all the previous higher counts have been from Frenchman's Rocks. The Long-tailed Skuas are the first since 2018.

Monday 11th May

A cool NW breeze, but still dry, bright and sunny.

Ed B. kicked things off to day saying he had been sent a video of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Foreland Woods - very useful and the first record from there for a while. Phil Smith followed this up with a sighting of a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver at Port Ellen harbour, with Martin A. counting c.40 Whimbrel at Easter Ellister.

Then it was all about Corn Crakes - 5 in total at various locations: Louise M. had one at Rannoch Moor, near Bowmore, Fiona McG., and later Kath Butterworth, had one calling in a nettle-rich damp coastal stretch near Gleaners at Bruichladdich, Martin A. had another at Port Mor, Lauren S. had one at Kilchoman and Mary R. another at Portnahaven.

Sunday 10th May

Further bright sunny conditions with a moderate NW breeze, but clouding over towards the end of the day with a very brief sprinkle of rain.

I forgot to mention that I saw 2 Canada Geese on Nave Island yesterday.

Steve & Lyn Rogers were birding at Emerival/Kilnaughton Bay and finding 2 each of Common Sandpiper, Shelduck, Whimbrel and Oystercatcher there. Later there were a further 8 Whimbrel and a summery plumaged Great Northern Diver. At Ardnave, Paul Ward had a male and female Hen Harrier, small numbers of Ringed Plover and Dunlin and a Little Tern offshore. Kate Butterworth saw a Golden Eagle and male Hen Harrier at Lossit, while Martin A. had a flock of 13 Crossbills in woodland near Cluanach - that is quite a large count for this species on Islay and is in a location where Malcolm O. found them breeding in the 1990s.

Saturday 9th May

A dry, bright and sunny day with a moderate and cool breeze from the NW.

Not a great deal to report today: visitor Mandy Nogarede was pleased to find a couple of Choughs up at Sanaig. Val P. and I walked up to Ardnave point finding a flock of 35 Oystercatchers at Ardnave Loch then another flock of 55 towards the point. A Corn Crake was calling by the farm buildings at Ardnave and an adult White-tailed Eagle was watched at Gruinart slowly heading north. 

Thursday 7th & Friday 8th May

Winds still mostly light, but swinging round in all directions, but with continuing mostly bright and sunny weather throughout.

Yesterday Janice and Tim Scott  were at Saligo and Smaull where they counted 18 Whimbrels, had singing Whitethroat and Willow Warblers and heard 2 Corncrakes. David Shallcross found a Grey Wagtail at Bridgend and Kate Butterworth had a Grasshopper Warbler singing near Port Charlotte and a Golden Eagle on The Oa. I did a quick count of birds up on Loch Indaal finding 125 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gartnatra and a concentrated feeding group of 60 Red-breasted Mergansers just off Bowmore harbour.

Today, George Pike and David Shallcross noted sngle Whinchat, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle on The Oa, while Clive McK. had 35 Whimbrel up towards Ardnave. James How gets the prize for "Bird of the Day" with a sighting of a Wood Sandpiper from the North Hide at RSPB Gruinart - a species far from an annual occurrence on Islay.

Wednesday 6th May

 Light SE winds and sunshine for much of the day.

David Shallcross counted c.100 Bar-tailed Godwits on Loch Indaal near to Bowmore this morning where there were 23 Knot, some in red breeding plumage. Later, up at Bunnhabhain,  he counted 3 Whinchats. Up at Gruinart Clive McK. was watching a Common Gull flying by when it glanced upwards. Clive did the same and found it was looking at an adult White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by an Osprey! Jack Mitchell saw probably/possibly the same Osprey at Loch Skerrols later in the day. Kath Butterworth heard a Corn Crake at Conisby and down at Bruichladdich had a Dunlin with a pink ring on the left leg and a yellow ring on the right with numbering 9U2. We'll try and find out where that bird originates from and let you know.

Tuesday 5th May

Light winds from the north kept the day cool, but it was bright, dry and sunny throughout.

At Laphroaig Mary Ann F. found a Treecreeper and at the opposite end of Islay, Mary R. recorded 30 Whimbrel at Claddach. Kate Butterworth was up at Ardnave and had an adult and two immature White-tailed Eagles, 30 Ringed Plover and 2 Little Terns with a male Hen Harrier at Kilchiaran. At Cattadale there was a Golden Eagle watched closely by David Shallcross, with another seen by Neville Hargreaves at Machir Bay. James How counted the Dunlin in Loch Gruinart, amassing an impressive tally of c.2000 along with 30 Whimbrel and 3 Little Terns.

Monday 4th May

Another pleasant, dry day with lots of sunshine and light winds, though clouding up a little towards evening.

There was a lot of chat on the WhatsApp group about sightings of all sorts of lepidoptera today, but I'll stick with the bird sightings.

Jack Mitchell started things off with a Whinchat seen on The Oa, followed by Kath Butterworth noting a cuckoo at Port Mor campsite. David D. saw a White-tailed Eagle carrying a Fulmar off inland on The Oa - they have to be careful in taking Fulmars, in order to avoid being covered in regurgitated oil that fouls their feathers. Nick Bone had Chiffchaffs singing at Gruinart, plus 42 Whimbrel and 27 Ringed Plover. David Shallcross was down at Bruichladdich watching the Black Guillemots (8 of them) around their nest sites on the pier. While at Bruichladdich he also found a Garden Warbler - far from a regular species on Islay with only 11 records in this century. Later, David Shallcross found a Kestrel at Portnahaven. Late still he found another scarce species for Islay - an adult Little Gull at Bowmore along with 2 Sandwich Terns. Steve & Lyn Rogers noted 5 Whimbrel over Kilnaughton and Clive McK. had a Great Skua heading north up Loch Indaal at Gartbreck. Down at Cladville Mary R. had an adult White-tailed Eagle. Janice & Tim Scott took a hike out to Traigh Bhan and found 4 or 5 singing Whitethroats, a male Whinchat, 2 Golden Eagles, 10 whimbrel and noted a Sand Martin colony in the dunes. 

Sunday 3rd May

A greyer, cooler but dry day with light winds from a more northerly direction.

Late news from yesterday came from Clive McK. who revised his Whimbrel total down to 114 from from 122 and added a sighting of a pale phase Arctic Skua at Loch Gruinart that flushed 162 Bar-tailed Godwits and where there were 300 Dunlin and a Brent Goose.

Today Clive had a much higher count of Dunlin on Loch Gruinart - 900 in total along with 78 Shelduck, 60 Ringed Plover, 10 Whimbrel, and a Curlew Sandpiper (the latter not at all common as a spring migrant on Islay). There were 3 Little Terns doing courtship feeding at Gruinart in a site where they do try to breed but which is prone to flooding at high tides. 

Also birding at Gruinart was Kath Butterworth who noted 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 130 Whimbrel and later at Ard Chruaidh (Gartnatra) on Loch Indaal found a further 85 Whimbrel, 8 Knot and 140 Bar-tailed Godwits.

I took a look at Gruinart from the two hides this morning and noted a Whooper Swan that seemed to be lacking any primary feathers, but which was trying to pair up with a Mute Swan. I also counted 11 Great Northrn Divers, a Red-throated Diver and 16 Red-breasted Mergansers off Blackrock in Loch Indaal. Visitors David Shallcross and George Pike took a look at Blackrock later in the day finding a passing White-tailed Eagle and a flock of 17 Eiders. Up at Gruinart David found 42 Whimbrel and a Little Egret and Martin Hughes was at Ardnave Farm and heard a Corn Crake calling in adjacent rushy fields

Away from the Rhinns, David D. had a male Bullfinch and 3 Spotted Flycatchers at Cairnmore Woods on the edge of Kilnaughton Bay and a Corn Crake at Upper Killeyan.

Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd May

The weather slightly on the turn with light to moderate SE winds and more cloud cover on Friday, turning to fairly overcast conditions on Saturday with a hint of rain, especially by the evening, and winds dropping but turning to the west.

The expected passage of Whimbrel through Islay was evident on Friday with Clive McK. counting 35 at Creag Mhor, Gruinart, Ed B. with 32 at Cornabus, Mary R. with 11 at Claddach, Ian Littlewood finding 55 near Ardnave Loch and 15 here at Bruichladdich. Assuming they were all different, that is a tally of 148 birds minimum.

Clive also saw 2 summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits at Creag Mhor, Ed added a couple of Whooper Swans at Cornabus and Ian found a Great Skua near Ardnave Point.

Today witnessed further large numbers of Whimbrel on Islay, stopping off to feed on their way north. Clive McK. counted 122 feeding on leatherjackets on the fields around Creag Mhor (accompanied by a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit). Ed B. commented that the 60+ Whimbrels feeding around him at Cornabus were being pestered by Common Gulls stealing their food.

Other birds of interest today have been a Peregrine hunting over Cornabus, a substantial tally of 50 Swallows at Claddach from Mary R. along with 2 Cuckoos at Port Wemyss plus two others - at Ballymeanach and Portnahaven. Fiona McG. notes 3 Sedge Warblers on the coastal trail at Port Wemyss to Portnahaven with Arctic Terns arriving on Orsay island. Paul Miles scores the first Spotted Flycatchers of the year on Islay - two at Lily Loch along with singing Chiffchaff.

"Bird of the Day" goes to James How who saw a Tree Sparrow in his garden at Gruinart - a scarce and irregular species on Islay.