FRiday 17th April

Mary Redman was in touch last night, after I had written the entry for yesterday, honest...
"Today I heard one! I thought I heard a Corncrake yesterday but it was so quick and didn't call again, but today it was nice and clear.  Also a Willow Warbler calling away out the back, and I saw a Common Sandpiper at Port Wemyss yesterday."

Mary-Ann Featherstone was touch to say that she had 4 Arctic Terns and also noted that the Eiders are back, both seen yesterday out from where she lives on Islay. Today, in her garden, Mary-Ann was seeing Willow Warblers and hearing the noisy Coal Tits at the feeders there. She was also telling me that her friend who lives in Port Ellen has seen that the Rooks are back on their nests in the trees at the rear of her garden.

James was on the phone earlier on this evening, saying that he had an adult White tailed Eagle flyover Mill Cottage today. While walking along to the office at Bushmills, he had a Blackcap, and  back at home, he saw a House Martin.

David Wood was in touch to say that Bonnie, his wife had seen a Black Redstart in their garden this morning, needless to say he did not see it as he was out feeding the cows...  It can be a tough life sometimes, David!!!!

Tuesday 7th August

This morning, at the early hour of 4.30, Mike had a seen a Whimbrel flying over Port Charlotte and also a Greenshank flew past shortly afterwards. He also saw a Common Sandpiper on the rocks at Port Charlotte.

This evening, I took the chance and managed to take some images of the lbj flock flying past, over the seed crop. I knew that there were not as many as other times, but on a closer look on the computer, I counted 60 birds. On the red feeder, of Niger seeds there were 5 Siskins and 2 Chaffinches while on the Red Millet feeder there was 14 House Sparrows on the actual feed station itself with a further 10 n the ground. On the wee "anti Starling" table another mix of a further 8 birds were counted, and that was not counting the main feeders at the house....

Tuesday 17th April

Rather blustery, all over the country today, with a fair bit of rain thrown in for good measure...

Today, Mandy had heard a Willow Warbler at Carnduncan. Gary saw a Common Sandpiper up at Bunnahabhain and then he had seen some Swallows at Finlaggan. This morning, we had a female Blackcap out in the garden, so possibly a pair as a male has been seen here on Sunday and also yesterday. The Chiffchaff has been very vocal again outside today as well.

Thursday 15th March

Another day when the weather was decidedly cool..

Yesterday Louise had seen a Dipper on the River Sorn in Bridgend Woods. Later on, she saw a Common Sandpiper,  North of Loch Gorm. This morning, Phill had a count of 37 Whooper Swans on Loch Dubh which is on the Duich Moss on the "Low road" between Bowmore and Port Ellen. James had seen Woodcock on the reserve at Gruinart. Here at home this afternoon, we had 20 Greylags down beside the pond, and just before 5 pm, 3 of them browsing around up on the grass around the house..

Tuesday 11th April

Another bumper edition in store tonight, so here goes...

Visiting birders (returning I think!) birders from Lincolnshire, Oliver and Lynsey Woodman had seen a GND at Sanaigmore on Sunday, and back at their cottage  close  to Loch Gorm they had seen a male Hen Harrier, Raven, a pair of Buzzard, several Wheatears and finally a Peregrine! Tom and Anthony, 2 of the "vols" at Gruinart had seen several Otters as well as 400 Golden Plover, 54 Curlew, 7 GND, 7 RBM, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Barwits while carrying out  the WeBS count on Loch Gruinart itself on Friday. Mark had a count of 10 Sand Martins over the floods in front of the hides, at the same time. Mary Redman had seen her first Swallow at Tormisdale on Sunday and also some Wheatears on the track up there. On the feeders at Tormisdale, Mary saw House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Siskins. Back near to Portnahaven, Mary saw a Sparrowhawk and then a ringtail Hen Harrier. Earlier on last week, Mary had seen 10 Whoopers resting up on the lochan beside Claddach. James has returned from his holidays, and on Sunday, he had seen a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Duck and also the Green winged Teal from the North hide. He had also saw 2 Blackwits, a Dabchick, "lots" of Sand Martins and a ringtail there as well. Lesley had seen a Common Sandpiper at Kilnaughton Bay yesterday and James saw a Corncrake on the flats and heard Willow Warblers along the path through the woods at Gruinart leading to the hides. Today, on the reserve at Gruinart, "vol" Mike had seen 2 Merlins, Mark had 2 Hen Harriers as well as 3 different Treecreepers. Mary had a female Peregrine today down close to Portnahaven. Here at home , we had a Redpoll on the feeders and over 25 Goldfinches present, as well as pair of Greenfinches still here.

Thursday 30th June

Peter Donaldson reported hearing a corncrake at Portnahaven, later at Machair Bay he had couple ringed plovers and a common sandpiper. Gary had a loads of willow warblers in the wood at Lilly Loch, also wrens, treecreepers, robin, bullfinch and young heron.

Wednesday 20th April

Yesterday Garry reported having 37 yellowhammers between his and his neighbors feeder at Ballygrant and a sparrowhawk in the woods beside his house. Yellowhammer was yesterday seen on Jura by Louise.  Swallow was spotted at Loch Gruinart yesterday. Becca saw two white-tailed eagles at Gruinart yesterday. James saw two lesser Canada geese (hutchinsii) at Gruinart. Today cuckoo was heard at Gruinart from the raised beach. Mary saw 4 common sandpipers at Claddach today. During the wader survey at Gruinart several lapwings with chicks were seen as well as a mallard with 7 ducklings. (Photo of the lapwing family taken through the scope this morning).

Tuesday 5 May

Thanks Dave for this lovely picture of the dotterel on The Oa yesterday, posing beautifully! Alistair is back in Portnahaven for his holidays, yesterday his highlights included a peregrine, 4 common sandpipers a grasshopper warbler reeling by the church and a pair of choughs. Forgot to add yesterday that I heard a corncrake on Saturday in the fields behind the church in Portnahaven, and Paul Graham heard a corncrake at Machir Bay yesterday while an other was heard near the old hide at Gruinart.

Friday 17th April

Breaking news.... There is a Great White Egret over at RSPB Gruinart, the best place to view it is from up beside the visitor centre and look over to the extreme right in the far floods, it was actively fishing in the pools there around midday. More sightings later on as usual.. Later on now, so here we go, been a great day with lots of sightings coming through...There was a reported sighting of an albino Swallow seen the other day down at the Limekilns up past Newton out of Bridgend. One was seen there a few years ago... Also from earlier this week Joan Brown had heard a Corncrake on her croft at Cruach out of Bowmore. Yesterday, a Common Sandpiper was seen by a visitor down at Carraig Fhada at Port Ellen. Yesterday evening, whilst we were out looking at the International space Station pass by, several Snipe were heard drumming away. Earlier on, we saw a close male Hen Harrier out quartering his patch down beside Loch Gorm. This morning Jack Fleming had seen a Corncrake on the reserve at Gruinart. There seem to be more Swallows and Sand Martins around with James also seeing 2 House Martins today at Gruinart, certainly a lot of Willow Warblers around now too!!! On the walk over on Jura today, the walkers had seen a White tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle far out, a Short eared Owl took off from the track they were walking on, 2 Ravens and a Cuckoo heard at Kinuacdrach, they heard another Cuckoo close to Ardlussa on their way back to their vehicles. They also had seen 2 Adders and a Lizard out in the sun!!! James also heard a Cuckoo at Gruinart, 2 Blackwits, a count of 1690 Barnies along with 9 Whitefronts

Tuesday 15th April

Another good day here, there might have been a wee edge to the air, but by the sound of the forecast,tomorrow is not looking too clever with rain here by midday! On Sunday, Mary Merrall had a Common Sandpiper down at Claddach at Portnahaven. George had 2 Golden Eagles up the back of Carrabus at the tail end of last week, possibly the same birds that Mary had seen there around the same time. Today, George had a Willow Warbler today down at his house at Bruichladdich. Bob, yesterday had noticed more Willow Warblers around with a Merlin up on Bolsay Moor. Down at Knockdon on a field being ploughed Bob counted 64 Lbb gulls, 120 Herring Gulls, 36 Common Gulls and 16 Black headed gulls. Today "Solo" from Dumfries had walked from Saligo round Coull Point to Machir Bay, his birds included a group of 3 Swallows, several pairs of Fulmars on the cliffs on thier nest sites, 2 Wheatear, pr of Chough, on Machir Bay iteslf, 6 Sanderling and 2 Turnstone were seen. The Beardsen Birders had seen a Swallow at Kilchoman, 1 Wheatear at Ardnave, over the reserve at Gruinart, a pr of Hen Harriers and then at Rock Mountain a further male Hen Harrier was present. This evening they saw 5 Hares while going over to Saligo from Kilchoman and then 2 Roe Deer at Rock Mountain. Armin and "London Dave on their way to their walk today over from Port Ellen had sen a Kestrel being mobbed by 2 crows on the high road, coming home the same road 2 Hen Harriers were seen.

Friday 19th April

Carl sent this image of a Little Egret which he took earlier today while he was out past Ardbeg. Later on he had a Swallow back home in Port Charlotte. Margaret had another one at Lagavullin Distillery and Mary saw 3 down at Portnahaven. Wheatears have fairly in come in over the past few days, we had seen some  at Claggain Bay, and at other points on our way over there, and Mary had seen them at Claddach down at Portnahaven. Michal had a pr of Red Grouse on the reserve at Gruinart today, and yesterday James had a leucistic Barwit on Loch Gruinart. A visitor reported in to RSPB saying that they had seen the Red breasted Goose amongst the Barnies that were resting up at the head of Loch Indaal today. Bob had seen a Whimbrel today, up behind Port Charlotte. Yesterday Bob had seen a Wheatear, 6 Sand Martins, a Common Sandpiper and 3 male Reed Bunting carrying nesting material all over at Kilchiaran

Monday 16th April

Walkislay is now in full swing, hence a slightly later entry this evening. The weather has been kind to our walkers with visitors from Scotland and England out enjoying what's on offer, and there are a couple of folk over for a few days from Germany too. Peter Gill who is over on holiday from Sunderland sent through some sightings from last week. Monday at Saligo, he had a Jack Snipe, Tuesday at Bunahabhain, 4 Crossbills were seen, a White tailed Sea Eagle swooped down on a Pheasant, but no joy! On Friday down on the Rhinns, he had a Short eared Owl while up at Knockdon at Bridgend he heard a Willow Warbler, and another over at Gruinart too. The Glaucous Gull was at the head of Loch Indaal and 4 Pale bellied Brent were at Bruichladdich. Today, Peter had 2 Common Sandpipers at Kilchiaran and also 2 Sand Martins there too. Back on Saturday, Carl had lots of Willow Warblers in Ballygrant Woods, pair of Tufted Duck and a pair of Little Grebe on Ballygrant Loch, with Chough at Uiskentuie. On Sunday, up at Ardnave Carl had Merlin, Wheatear, 2 Peregrine, 60 Bar tailed Godwit, 2 Sanderling, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Kittiwakes plunge diving, 20 Wigeon, several Skylarks singing, copulating Oystercatchers and also Chough carrying nesting materials. Coming home there was a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Rock Mountain. Today, over Port Charlotte he had 6 Swallows in the wind!!! Have a look at the link to the INHT blog and see some of Carls images from up at Ardnave. Bob had been out and about on the Rhinns yesterday with a pair of Hen Harriers seen, also a pair of Short eared Owls too. Up in the trees at Gearach there were several Willow Warblers and also a Chiffchaff.

Thursday 14th April

A great day out here, more of the same will do nicely....

An early entry tonight, but I may get a chance to give you some more later on my return. There was a Corncrake heard calling last night round Loch Gorm, possibly the first on Islay this year. Bob had seen a Common Sandpiper at Kilchiaran today, again another tear tick! This morning as we headed over to Gruinart we saw 3 different male Hen Harriers, all in less than a mile along the road at separate locations.

Sun 18th April

Carl was in touch to say that on his way down to Portnahaven that there was an absence of both Barnies, and of Whitefronted geese although James commented that the Barnies were still at Gruinart, possibly gathering there before heading North. James was saying that there not many Whitefronts with him, so possibly many of them have already left. Carl had noticed pairs of Greylags to the fore in many places on the Rhinns and he had a female Hen Harrier at Octofad.

A visiting birder had a 180 Redshank together on a 40 yard stretch of Loch Indaal at Blackrock, and on the stream at Port Charlotte this morning, he had heard a Common Sandpiper.

Michal had a count of 400 Golden Plover at Ballinaby. They were also seen by the same lads who had the Sandwich tern yesterday, but they had a single Dunlin in the midst of the Plovers. On their travels today, they saw a couple of White wagtails and at Gruinart a Greenshank.

This afternoon, James had 39 Black tailed Godwits, 4 pair of Gadwall, the Little Egret, 55 Golden Plover (not usually seen on the floods) with 3 Pale bellied Brent and 15 Whooper Swan on Loch Gruinart. 4 Swallow were seen over the flats and over a hundred Sand Martin flying there too.

Back here at home, and there appear to a large flock of Linnet on one of the game crops next door on Rockside.

Sat 25th April

This male Blackcap was caught in camera by Michal today, it had been there for a few days, but his perseverance paid dividends!

A phone message from Louise on Jura earlier on saying that there have been 43 Pale bellied Brent Geese in the bay at Craighouse, just below the shop. Another piece of news was that a dead Golden Eagle had been found in Pig Bay right up at the top of the Northern tip of Jura. It had a ring on its leg, and turned out to be have been rung back in 1987, so probably had died of old age rather than anything else. LG

James reported in to say that he had seen 52 Black tailed Godwits this morning on the floods, while at Bruichladdich he had an Arctic Tern. Coming home this afternoon, he commented that the salt marsh at the head of Loch Gruinart was covered with numerous Golden Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin, but was unable to get an accurate count as he did not have his 'scope with him at the time. He had been told this afternoon that there had been 4 Dotterel seen in a ploughed field over at Upper Killeyan on the Oa yesterday. JRH

Another visiting birder, over for a few days, left a message to say that he had seen his first Common Sandpiper of the year at Port Charlotte today, and had heard a Grasshopper Warbler over at Loch Tallant, while at the top of Loch Indaal there were 53 Black tailed Godwits. Were these possibly the same birds that James had seen too?

Fri 2nd May

This image was one of a pair of Yellowhammer, that was taken here on Islay today by Michal while out over at Gortontoid. As well as the Yellowhammer, he had a Common Sandpiper on the rocky foreshore and then later on he was fortunate to see an Otter. He also had a Peregrine Falcon and over the dunes at Gortontoid Point, there were 7 Sand Martin. There was also an adder out sunning itself! MS

There was a phone call in to Margaret today of a Hoopoe, that was seen over at Coal Ila on Sunday and Monday, but it has not been seen since. This is the first Hoopoe on Islay for a few years.

Yesterday afternoon, James had the Green winged Teal and 23 Black tailed Godwit as well as a Stoat on the reserve at Loch Gruinart. Today he had 2 Redpoll, 3 Whitethroats, 9 Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Water Rail. James also reported in to say that he had seen a lot of Drinker Moth caterpillars. JRH

Tues 15th - Thurs 17th April

Apologies for not putting any entries on the blog for the last 2 days, but I have been busy with Walkislay, the walking week here on the island.

Tracey and the team from SNH forwarded on the final numbers for the year of the count which took place on the 3rd and 4th of April. The tally was 46,515 Barnies and 6,101 Whitefronts, just as well they were counted then as almost all the Geese have flown North, with the last big group moving out on Tuesday night. It was odd for a few days to have the Geese still here while we had the arrival of some of the Spring migrants. Many thanks to everyone involved in the Goose Counts and to SNH for providing the data to me.

There are now a lot of Wheatear and Willow Warbler to be seen round the island, and we even noticed them over on Colonsay when over doing the walk yesterday with Walkislay. I spotted my first flowering Bluebell of the year in a sheltered spot on our way to Kiloran Bay. Also, at the Pier there were several Great Northern Diver, as well as some Eider in the bay. Back here on Islay, was my first House Martin down over the reedbed at the Coastguard Cottages. IKB

Andy reported in to say that on Tuesday, the first winter Iceland Gull was still over at Port Ellen, and there were 7 Sandwich Terns seen over Port Ellen Bay. Up at the Woolen Mill at Bridgend, 2 Dipper were on the River Sorn. On Wednesday, Andy had 2 House Martin at home, 12 Sandwich Tern in Port Ellen Bay, while Gus had a Common Sandpiper at Stremnish on the Oa, as well as a Great Skua. John had 2 Chiffchaff in Bridgend Woods. On to today, Thursday and Andy had 2 common Sandpiper at Seal Bay down beyond Ardbeg, and 3 Swallow at Carnain. This afternoon, he had 25 Golden Plover along with 2 Dotterel in a ploughed field at Ballinaby. The birds had previously been flushed out of another field by a Peregrine. RAS, AK & JSA

On the guided walk at RSPB Gruinart reserve, this morning there were 3 Dunlin in summer plumage as well as 6 Black tailed Godwit, but surpisingly no sign of any Pintail, and only the odd Barnie seen flying away, and no Whitefronts at all. JRH

Breaking news, as I write, Gus reoprted in to say that a Male Goosander had just flown in at Loch Kinnabus. AK

Sat 26th May 07

This is one of the Barnacle Geese that have not yet returned to Greenland, amongst the sea pink at R.S.P.B. Loch Gruinart Reserve. M.S.

A Short Eared Owl was seen carrying food back from Jura to Islay across the Sound of Jura. N.C.S.

Out for our last walk before going home, round Loch Gorm, 3.5hrs walking, and Hen Harrier, Sand Martin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper Heron, Oystercatcher, Curlew, and Reed Bunting were all observed and numerous Brown Hares were also seen. D.S.