Friday 1st May

Well, I managed to  find the rainfall for April down at Matt Jackson's weather station  where it came to only 0.45 of an inch.... say no more...a rather dry April for sure...

Speaking to Louise the other day, and she was saying that there have been a few pods of Dolphins seen in the Sound of Islay and also in Loch Indaal as well, being seen of late...

Tuesday 1st March

Many thanks to James for writing the blog since Thursday when I was out on the mainland.....

While we were out I did manage to spot a few things not seen on Islay, molehills and Grey Squirrels, double decker buses, trains, traffic lights, where does one stop? On the bird front we saw Great spotted Woodpeckers on feeders in the middle of Bearsden, also there, was a Brambling and a Coal Tit. We went and saw the Red Kites at Ardgaty near to Doune. We also saw Magpies too, 6 at one point alone! Coming home on the ferry yesterday afternoon, in the Sound of Islay we had a pod of 10 Dolphins close in beside the ferry, leaping out of the water. They stayed alongside for over 5 minutes before going to visit a freighter which was following us up the Sound. We saw a Golden Eagle on the wing. Also on the ferry was Rory who we first met back in The Seychelles a few years back, and he came and worked at Gruinart and on the Oa reserves the following summer.

This afternoon, Margaret saw a Peregrine up the back of Bridgend.

Wednesday 23rd February

James had seen 3 Lesser Black backed Gulls over the reserve at Gruinart today, another sign that Spring is on it's way.

Moira Meldrum had been over visiting her family last week at Ballygrant. She enjoyed listening to the Song Thrush singing its heart out in the morning and again late afternoon from the tallest tree. She also had seen a female Bullfinch in a Blackthorn thicket. They also had a wonderful time listening to 2 Tawny Owls calling to each other on Wednesday which was a perfectly still night with a clear Moon and stars. On leaving Port Ellen on the Friday, about 20 minutes out, they saw 5 Dolphins from the ferry, very close to the boat, and leaping out of the water, and keeping this up for around 5 minutes. Thanks Moira for your sightings.

Mon 15th Feb

A visitor over on holiday was in touch earlier this evening to say that 4 Dolphins had been seen off Port Charlotte at 8.30 this morning, now I know what the Doctor meant when she commented on looking for Dolphins....

The same visitor had also seen a male Merlin over towards Craigens this afternoon, but the strong wind had prevented him from getting any images as the car was being buffeted by the wind. Further on there was the Little Egret down on the floods at the reserve at Gruinart, up the hill at the Grainel road end, there was a large flock of Skylark and finally round at Ballinaby a flock of over 200 Golden Plover were present.

It now appears that the dead Gyr Falcon, that was found by John and Lindy MacLellan yesterday, is probably the same bird that was seen earlier on several times down at Portnahaven.