Tuesday 12th June

Back on Sunday, Distillery Dave had seen 2 Canada Geese down on Machir Bay.

The Barnsley birders yesterday had seen the White tailed Eagle and also a sub adult Golden Eagle while in at Finlaggan. Later on, at Loch nan Cadhan, 2 Golden ringed dragonflies and also 3 Marsh Fritillaries. Finally, in Ballygrant Woods they saw a Garden Warbler and also a Treecreeper.

Around midday, we saw a male Hen Harrier out on the wing, flying close to the lochans below Rockside, and this evening Margaret spotted another skirting along the trees below Creag Mhor. This morning, we saw a single Fulmar flying along the front of the big crag. When we first came to Islay there were around 35 pairs of Fulmar nesting, and now down to possibly only a single pair nesting.

Saturday 16th April

Some sightings through from Thursday, Karen Sims, one of the RAFOS team had seen a Garden Warbler down in Bridgend Woods and there was a reported sighting through from Maggie Birtwell of a Wood Warbler again in Bridgend Woods in from East Lodge. David Formby had a Whitethroat in his garden at Ballitarsin Smiddy with another 2 seen along the road his house towards Neriby. The Bowland birders on Thursday had a female Whinchat at Foreland. Over at Ardnave, Chough, Arctic Terns and 2 Little Terns were seen. They also had 3 male Hen Harriers, one at Ardnave Loch, another at the mouth of Loch Gruinart being harried by Arctic Terns and the third back at Octomore. Other birds at Ardnave included 2 Turnstone in breeding plumage, Sanderling, Dunnock with 2 Corncrakes heard calling, they also spotted an Otter eating a crab! On Friday, on the feeders at Gruinart they saw a Tree Sparrow, from the old hide a drake Garganey, Gadwall with Dunlin displaying. Through the woodland walk, a Spotted flycatcher was present while from the new hide, they had at least 6 Gadwall with dozens of Sand Matins hawking over the water looking for food.

Monday 18th April

Another busy day, but life goes on. Walkislay our walking week here on Islay broke new grounds today with a walk over on Texa, a small island off Lagavullin. A good time was had by all, the weather held and the crossing itself was quite calm. Several pairs of Greylags were seen there, as well as around 60 - 70 feral goats of varying ages, the horns on some of the billy goats were something else. Would not fancy a butting from them!

Bob today had a Garden Warbler in the scrub just opposite his house, and he heard his first Cuckoo for the year. Yesterday, when he was out he saw a pair of Red throated Divers displaying on one of the hill lochs. Mark had carried out a count on Loch Gruinart the other day with the main sightings being a female Long tailed Duck, 1 Black throated Diver, 3 Greenshank, 77 Curlew and 28 Redshank.

James today had heard 3 Grasshopper Warblers on the reserve at Gruinart, including one in Catherine's garden!