Friday 3rd April

 Yet another day with very changeable weather - everything from overcast and rainy to bright and sunny with light winds to breezy conditions.

Billy Stitchell reporting from Caol Ila reckons birds at his feeders are down in numbers, but still recorded 8 Siskins,  2Great, 3 Blue and  4 Coal Tits, a few sparrows, 2 Starlings and Chaffinch with a flock of 20 Goldfinches last night  accompanied by a few Chaffinch and a single Yellowhammer. He also noted this evening a Magpie that popped in briefly.

This morning Tom Skinner reported an Osprey - first of the year - perched atop a telegraph pole near Loch Gorm enjoying a large trout. James H. saw the wintering Green-winged Teal plus White-tailed and Golden Eagles over the flats at Gruinart, while visitor Brock Lueck saw a Wheatear up at Ardnave.

Following on from Nick Bone's excellent talk last night at the INHT centre about Terns on Islay, Val Peacock saw our first two terns of summer off Port Charlotte today, but too far to identify specifically.

Mary Ann F. sent in the two gruesome photos of a raptor found between Port Askaig and MacArthur's Head - anyone want to suggest what it is?

For any keen birders just arrived on Islay - or residents who are still thinking about it, the new book on the birds of Islay and Jura is very much available and waiting for your purchase!