Sunday 22nd October

Surprise, surprise a dry day  for once, the first for some time, mind you I had to empty our rain gauge as it was full, we had the best part of an inch of rain yesterday with quite a lot of flooding along the roads...Right on with the main interest, the birds seen on Islay from various folk ....Yesterday, Mike who spotted the cattle Egret back in 2009, returned for another Islay fix along with his wife Elspeth. Late afternoon a quick run out from Bowmore  and over the head of Loch Gruinart provided great views of Barnies, and Golden Plovers, also a good flock of Redwing and a small flock of 10 Twite. On the stubbles below Sunderland they saw around 90 Whoopers. Richard and Pat had a White tailed Eagle up behind Ballygrant. A ringtail was seen being mobbed by a Hoodie while driving along the "Glen Road". Down at Cluanach, some Long tailed Tits were present. They also had 2 Dabchick at Ardnahoe Loch. Naturetrek had had a group over on Islay over the past few days, led by Dave Piece and Neil McMahon. At Kennacraig, while waiting on the ferry, on Thursday, a Wheatear and also a Rock Pipit were seen. On Friday they had 17 Scaup at Blackrock, 4 Ruff at Gruinart,  a Chiffchaff at Leckgruinart. At Ardnave 2 Wheatear and 41 Chough were present. Thy also saw the Golden Eagles at Gruinart already reported in earlier entries to the blog. Between Lyrabus and Ardnave, they sawa total of 5 ringtails and  also a male Hen Harrier. Yesterday another productive day with a Tystie, GNDs, a RTD, a BTD, 15 P B Brent and a Merlin, all seen between Bowmore and Bridgend. Over 1,000 Redwing along with a few Fieldfare were present out of Port Ellen towards Ardbeg. Also seen were another Merlin, a Peregrine, a Goshawk,  2 Sparrowhawks and an Otter! Over on the Oa, 2 Golden Eagles were present, another Merlin, a Kestrel, a ringtail and a male Hen Harrier, around 40 Twite, a Brambling, some Whitefronts were noted with neck collars as well. Mary Redman saw a juv. Little Gull at Claddach out of Portnahaven this morning. This morning, Mike and Elspeth had seen 3 groups of Brents between Bowmore and Bridgend totalling 30 geese, with around 50 Scaup at Blackrock. Between Sunderland and Rockside they reckoned a tally of 170 Whoopers were present. Early afternoon, a RTD was seen North of Bowmore Harbour with a couple of Turnstone seen on the shore there as well. Later on, up towards Mulindry around 70 Whoopers were present as was a large flock of Ravens in the same field. Just as the light was starting to fade they had a mixed flock of around 70 Ringed Plover and Turnstone came in to the shore at Bowmore, possibly in to roost for  the night.. Her eat home the Brambling was still present, not one but two, seen by Distillery Dave, a new tick for him. Late afternoon, and I have noticed several groups of Whoopers leaving, honking away as they flew on ...

There was a reported sighting of a Ring Ouzel down at Bruichladdich this morning, but still to be confirmed, watch this space..

Saturday 9th April

Thanks to Michal who has been holding the fort and writing the blog over the past few days while I was away down in the Scottish Borders...Catch up time for me, so some sightings for you from earlier this week as I forgot to take my laptop to access any e mails, oops... Graham Newton who had been staying over at Kilnaugton had regular sightings of 3 GND, 2 Red breasted Merganser and a pair of Eider out on the bay. On Loch a Chnuic, another 2 RBM were present. Over 200 Barnies were at Kildalton with at leastanother 150 at Kintra, alongwith 50 Oystercatcher. A pair of Ringed Plover were at Claggain Bay. Peter Gill on Monday had seen 2 Grey Wagtail at the Woollen Mill. Tuesday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the trees at Ballygrant, and in the evening a Barn Owl was seen at Gruinart.  On Wednesday, a male Hen Harrier was seen up past Gearach on the Rhinns and then a ringtail and also a male Hen Harrier past Ballinaby. On Thursday, a probable Goshawk was seen while walking the track between Octofad and Lossit. 4 Sand Martin were seen down examining nest sites at Kilchiaran and finally Peter had 2 Snow Bunting along the top of Loch Indaal on Thusday evening. Malcolm had been speaking with Donald Jones from Coull Farm who had told him the ever present Glaucous Gull at pool leading at Machir Bay had been seen was nearer to the farm on Wednesday. Peter Roberts yesterday evening had seen a tight gathering of 18 GND out on the middle of Loch Indaal, many with "their necks and heads buried into their back feathers". Peter can't recollect seeing such a large tight gathering of GNDs ever before.

Tuesday 29th March

Yesterday, Dave Protherough and his friend Keith had seen a flock of 20 Chough down on Machir Bay. This morning, we had seen a male Siskin on the feeders here at home, a new tick for the house for 2016! Down at Uiskentuie, earlier this evening, Margaret managed to read a couple of neck collars on  Greylags. It was the third attempt at reading the collars, but job done and the info is away to my old friend Bob Swann.... 23 folk came along to the hide at Gruinart for the monthly meeting of the bird nerds, so cornered some of them for sightings.... Dave from down on the Oa had seen 2 Wheatear at Lower Killeyan with 3 GND in the bay there. Dave also has seen a pr of Dipper nesting on the Oa as well. Richard had seen an Iceland Gull at Machir Bay and then a probable Goshawk on the Rhinns. Another of visitors told me of seeing 3 Snow Buntings along the shoreline at the top of Loch Indaal. Ian Greenwood had seen 2 Gannets off Ardnave,  some Eider, a Wheatear there also while over the reserve at Gruinart, he saw a Golden Eagle, 2 Buzzard and a Merlin at various points. Coming back home this evening just as the light was fading, we saw 5 Red Deer stags close to the side of the road, no need for a big lens to capture them on the camera...

Monday 17th August

Forgot to mention last night that were around 50 to 60 Swallows gathering here yesterday afternoon, there was also a Sand Martin with them and earlier on there had been a few House Martins as well! Paul Graham had a possible sighting of a Goshawk when he was out for a walk close to Foreland yesterday morning. There was a steady stream of Gannets flying South past Coull rocks this morning. Bob Swann was in touch with some more details of the Greylag with the neck collar that we saw yesterday. Basically it had the neck collar fitted last year as a juv goose at Gortanchuirn, up behind Bruichladdich, and had summered on Colonsay and now returned again to Islay. Thanks for the quick response Bob!!!!

Wednesday 28th March

The good weather continues, although I believe that Jura could not be seen from Bunnahabhain this morning! Talking of Jura, Neil and Elaine McMahon, who had been up last weekend from Northants, had visited Jura on Monday. Overall they had 8 raptors, White tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, 6 Hen Harrier, around 20 Buzzard, 3 Merlin, 2 Sparrowhawk which were displaying, a female Goshawk, and a male Peregrine. They had 20 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black throated Diver, 10 Red throated Diver,12 Black Guillemot, 12 Red breasted Merganser, 20 Canada Geese, a Yellowhammer which was singing away, as was a Chiffchaff. Also seen were 15 Stonechats, 5 Wheatear, 4 Crossbills, several Ravens, 20 Hooded Crows. 19 Whoopers flew up the Sound of Islay. Also seen were 21 Turnstone, several Rock Pipits, 9 Golden Plover, and a few Ringed Plover. 3 Otters were seen at Craighouse along with around 20 Common Seals in the bay. Back on Islay, 3 Iceland Gulls were at Bridgend as well as 2 Glaucous Gulls. A Golden Eagle was seen from Jura over Islay! Many thanks to Neil and Elaine for their sightings. The birders from Lancashire had been over on Jura today and had some new sightings for them this week, a female Bullfinch, 2 Long tailed Tits, Yellowhammer at Lealt, Willow Warblers singing down along the River Lussa and a male Hen Harrier "sky dancing"

Monday 25th April

Yesterday, Bob saw a couple of Golden Eagles as well as a female Goshawk close to his house up the back of Port Charlotte.

This morning, Paul Graham had a White tailed Sea Eagle fly past Bruichladdich, heading North. A visitor reported in to George, who was manning the Islay Natural History Trust, that he had just seen a large bird of prey, bigger than a Buzzard, at the head of Loch Indaal. No doubt the same bird! Carrying on the same theme, we had a Merlin this afternoon over at Saligo, and a Golden Eagle on a thermal high above Coille. Back at home there was a Peregrine watching the Rock Doves. Later on a Kestrel was on the wing, hovering far out over the hill. There were also 9 Chough flying closer at hand too. A Pied Wagtail was briefly on the bird table, a first for us on the table!

Fri 8th October

One of the Brent Geese that we had seen yesterday down close to Uiskentuie had coloured rings on its legs, and after a bit of waiting and watching, we were able to read them. We sent off the information and received an acknowledgement back from Graham McElwaine who co-ordinates Irish Brent Goose Research Group. This goose was originally rung on 22nd of May 2005 in Iceland, and has been seen regularly in Ireland, quite often in the Tralee Bay area. It is the first time it has been recorded in Scotland! There were a few Brent over at Port Ellen today, with the bulk of yesterday's Gruinart geese having moved on.

Yesterday Louise had seen a couple of ringtail Hen Harriers and also 28 Golden Plover on her travels.

This morning, Bob had seen 2 Merlin up near to his house, and this evening, around 6 pm he had a female Goshawk up the back of Port Charlotte.

On our way out this evening, there was a Merlin close to the roadside before it flew off, along at Sunderland the 6 Whitefronts are still present, while just at the farm steading at Sunderland, a Great Skua flew past. There were also around 35 Curlew at Braibruich at midday.

Thurs 20th May

Carl sent through a late entry (I think he is trying to keep up with my last Saturday late entry!) Yesterday, Carl had 12 Bar tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstone and a Whimbrel at Gartmain. At Bruichladdich, he saw 2 Shags, 2 Razorbill and 3 male Eider. Today at Gartmain, the Bar tailed Godwits numbers had risen to 104, while on the pool beside Crosshouses were 2 Moorhen.

The folk on the guided walk at the RSPB reserve at Gruinart had a great time this morning listening to several different Corncrakes, and they were really fortunate to actually see one in flight as well. You can sometimes see the Corncrakes as they skulk about, but see one in flight was something special! They also saw and heard Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. Through the Woodland trail, the Treecreepers were seen too, and finally over the moorland a male Hen Harrier was out on the wing.

Visitors had reported a possible sighting of a Goshawk in Bridgend Woods. One the locals has been seeing a Great spotted Woodpecker in the woods there too, and also hearing it drumming away on the trees!