Saturday 5th December

Speaking to James this afternoon, and he was telling me that he has not seeen a Lapland Buntig over at Gruinart so far this year, but told me that he reckons that there is a flock of over 200 Linnets seen up on one of the cover crops up towards Ardnave, but not much sign of any Twite at Gruinart, the opposite to what is present down on the Oa... James was also telling me that there is quite often a sighting of a White tailed Eagle being seen regularly each day at Gruinart.

Another topic of conversation was birds on his feeders, so he was saying that Chaffinches, Greenfinches along with some Goldfinch are persent most days along with Blue, Great and Coal Tit as seen as well as 2 House sparrows... The number of Goldfinches seen are not as high as in previous years, but commented on more Coal Tits being in at the feeders!!!

Sunday 26th April

A couple of birds from yesterday, through from Gary. "A Kestrel flew over woods beside his  house this afternoon. Male Hen Harrier across road at Gartmain and  away along the shore."

Petr emailed through with the following, later on last night...
"At least 3 corncrakes calling here at 8.30pm this evening between Bruichladdich and Conisby."

Bob gave me a shout on the phone this morning.. and he was telling me that he had seen  a Golden Eagle flying over his house a few days ago. Down at Octomore, Bob saw 3 first winter Med Gulls following the plough. On his way to Bowmore, he had counted 22 Whimbrel just past Blackrock.

Also interesting. In garden have a male blackbird often in. Yesterday twice noticed him with a worm which he dipped in bird bath before flying off. Why, to clean it or to wet it as its been so dry ? Cannot say I have noticed this behaviour before. Certainly the bird bath in use for drinking by all the birds and also for bathing. Or like the pigeons simply settle down in it like a cool bath and a dose off.
Karen Graham  from Bearsden had in touch with her question...

David Livingstone heard a GS woodpecker drumming away this morning in the woods at Ardenistle over at Laphroaig.

Lesley e mailed  through some great sightings through as well
"We almost had rain today, but not quite. Still there is a few hours to go. Biting wind again. Walk at Kilchiaran. I stopped to check a bird disappearing into a hedge when a large shadow passed over me. Golden eagle. As I opened the car door at Kilchiaran first 2 birds heard and seen Sand Martins.  Second Whimbrel of the week in the bay. Linnets in pairs and small flocks of Twite. One pair with nesting materials. One bird was colour ringed. L O/Y didn't see R.
A Common Sandpiper on the burn and my second Grasshopper warbler heard on way back. Close and clear view of Sandwich Tern and a GN Diver L Indaal before Bruichladdich.
Another great day."

Wednesday 15th April

Mary Redman yesterday had heard her first Grasshopper Warbler of the year, down close to Portnahaven..
Meanwhile, Mandy had  seen a couple of Linnet at the bottom of the track, on the fence. 

Thursday 2nd April

Gary emailed through some sightings from today...
"2 male Hen Harrier at Finlaggan, White tailed Eagle high up over hills, 3 Red breasted Merganser on loch, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe.
Linnets singing on territories. Sand Martin on Loch Finlaggan."

Some sightings through from James as well,
"a Merlin was seen as I was driving across the Flats and managed to read a few Barny rings from the Kitchen window - Good old ULB was there as usual he has been coming to this field since we moved into Mill Cottage (and probably before)."

James was saying that he had 5inches of rain at Mill cottage and he told me that the rain gauge at Shepherds cottage for the months Feb/ March came to 9.5 inches a total for both months as I forgot to empty it out at the end of February...

Dave Pierce was in touch regarding the Golden Eagle which he has been tracking...
"She roosted Monday night at Gleann Ullibh on the south end of Jura. Next day travelling northwards virtually the whole length of the island before crossing to Mull."

Great when others contribute to the blog....

Saturday 5th October

A right miserable sort of a day out here, especially from midday onwards, and by the look of things outside,it will be dark a bit quicker tonight...

Returning birders, Iain and Fiona came over on the ferry this afternoon.. They saw Kittiwakes, Gannets, Eiders and Razorbills. Top sighting  was, as they were coming up the Sound of Islay when a juv. White tailed Eagle was seen harassing a Gannet, until the Gannet gave up the fish from its' gullet. They also saw another juv. White tailed Eagle present there as well.

Up here at home, Margaret saw a male Hen Harrier flying past, out over the Machir. Late afternoon, I counted 18 Choughs floating about noisily and then they were joined by 2 more, so making 20 in total. We have also been watching a small flock of around 50 Linnets when they were in for a nosh up on the flower seed heads which are still present here. 

Thursday 1st August

What a brilliant day, I almost turned to  greasy spot...

Hopfully, this image willl be online for you to see a couple of Painted lady butterflies taken the other day. still quite a few of them around again today...

The rainfall for June and July came to exactly 8 inches, not sure how much fell in which month but the overall tally is correct.

Not a lot on the bird front today, only 3 Buzzards and a single Peregrine were seen out over the crag, late morning. with the Linnets up to around 80 birds on the seed crop...

Wednesday 31st July

For some reaon, I could not manage to download some images of the butterflies seen here yesterday. Today, there have not been so many of them around as were present yesterday.

Mandy had seen a Corncrake chick up behind Bruichladdich this morning...

Up here this morning around 8 am, there were 2 Peregrines out over the crag, down here on the seed crop, over 60 Linnets were present. Later on in the morning, we counted 5 Buzzards away high up over the crag and then late afternoon, I saw a family of Stonechats...

Alistair Hart had a male Hen Harrier over at Carnduncan and also he had some Ringed Plover and Dunlin down at Bruichladdich.

Monday 8th July

Back on Saturday, Distillery Dave and his wife Ann had gone over on the ferry to Colonsay for the day. On their walk up to Kiloran Bay, they saw a male Hen Harrier and also a close sighting of a male Linnet.
Today, James had seen an Osprey flying over Loch Gorm.

Monday 3rd September

A better sort of a day with a glorious sunset coming in shortly, so here is hoping for another good day tomorrow, mainly to allow the farmers another crack at cutting their barley...Distillery Dave was telling me earlier this evening that he had a count of around 400 Greylags early this morning, on the silage aftermaths down at Rockside. This evening, a few moments ago, the geese were in the air, but appeared to "drop" in to the barley crop...

"JD" had a flock of 160 Linnet and also 55 Goldfinch at Carnain this morning. Up at Gruinart, the female Ruff was still present as were 2 Whooper Swans, presumably the 2 that have been summering there... Craigens held a flock of 120 Linnet and then between Craigens and Coullabus, a Whitethroat and 4 juvenile Whinchat were present. Up at Braigo, he saw 12 Lesser Redpoll and 2 House Martin. Along at the road end leading to Coull, a Sparrowhawk was sitting on a fence post. Down on Machir Bay, he had 30 Ringed Plover and 4 Turnstone. This afternoon, he saw 22 Knot, 6 Barwit, a Blackwit and also 41 Wigeon down at Loch Indaal.

A 10 minute spot of bird watching mid afternoon, here at home proved to be quite productive, with 2 Golden Eagle, 2 Peregrine, 3 Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk all seen out along and over the crag. The Peregrines chased the Eagles away with the Sparrowhawk  being mobbed by many lbjs and Swallows..

Friday 3rd August

Rather a late entry tonight, but it has been a "busy day" , so here goes...

Distillery Dave , first thing this morning had seen over 100 waders down on Machir Bay and this evening he had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier out on the wing opposite Dr Matt Jackson's house below Rockside.

Also today, Al Hart had seen Gannets flying past Frenchman's Rocks. On his  to his viewing point, he had also seen Linnets, Meadow Pipits and also Skylarks. He also watched a Buzzard take a rabbit...

This morning Mike, Peter and Mark Livingston had seen a pod of 11 Bottle nosed Dolphins on Loch Indaal while they were out in their boat fishing. Mike reckons that some of the pod were the same Dolphins that he had seen the other day as there was one with a distinctive notch out of its' dorsal fin.

This afternoon Mark and Val, Mike's wife, had walked from Ballygrant Woods towards Port Askaig where they saw a male Hen Harrier, a Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Redpoll, and also 25 Mistle Thrush  feeding on Rowans.

This evening, here at home, we had a small mixed flock of 50+ Linnet and Twite on the seed heads of  the bird crop designed for that job. Over the fence, there were several families of Goldfinches eating on the thistle heads. Earlier on, in the afternoon, I took the chance and planted some more trees, mainly filling in a few spaces where some other trees had not  taken .. as well as some more in new sites as well, mainly Alder and some Birch, so fingers crossed that they all "take".

Monday 4th September

Well, you will all be relieved to her that it has stopped raining, although a low swirling mist this morning caused the flight from Glasgow to Islay was delayed. This afternoon, the cloud broke and it has turned out to be a not bad day, with the sun streaming in through the window as I write this entry. Mike made the most of the afternoon, with a walk along Machir Bay producing 51 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin and a dead ringed Manx Shearwater... Mike also had a flock of 30 Twite and also saw 2 nearly fledged Sand Martins at their nest hole. . On the game crop, here at home, the Linnet numbers were up to over 60 today, and this afternoon, we had a Peregrine sitting on the march fence between Coull and Ballinaby. We also had 2 charms of Goldfinches below Coulererach, one of 40 birds, the other with at least 70 in number.

Monday 31st July

Well, that is July almost over but you will just have to wait until tomorrow night when I will tell you all how much rain we heave had. The weather has been quite good today, got the rest of the grass cut and now, this evening, guess what, well it is raining again... Margaret this morning saw a hen Pheasant out with her brood of 11 newly hatched chicks. This evening, Margaret counted 23 Chough on top of the crag before heading in to the roost. on the seed heads on the cover crop down from the hut, over 40 Linnets were having their supper. On the hemlock heads, there were several Willow Warblers while the young Blue Tits and young Great Tits were still around with some Swallows swooping over the pond and along over the cover crop, good to see...

Friday 30th June

Well, that is almost another month in and come to think of it half of 2017 is almost past. So come tomorrow evening, as ever I will be able to reveal as to how much rain we have had in June, wetter than last June, but by how much? As it has been dry outside today, I have been  out in the garden for most of the time. I did manage see some birds mind you... 2 Peregrine flew over the top of the crag, 2 Ravens came out and practised some acrobatic flying stunts, a nicely coloured Linnet on the garden wall, a male Redpoll was a pleasant sight along with the colourful Siskins quarrelling amongst themselves on the feeders. On the back doorstep, the "friendly" male Blackbird waited patiently for Margaret to come out with his food... and then there was the daily flypast by the neighbourly Choughs while out on the grass our 2 local Hooded crows brought their 2 youngsters to show them off to us.

Sunday 2nd April

Yesterday, David Fallows, Jackie's other half had seen a Marsh Harrier at Gruinart. John and Kenny's tally for the week came to 105 species. they had a passage of Gannets at Frenchman's Rocks of 75 Gannets/ hour. Round at Kilchiaran, they saw Swallow and also House Martin. Richard today had an Otter at Bunahahabhain and also a White Wagtail. Over on Jura, he saw a Golden Eagle, Turnstone and 3 Otters. Back on Islay, Richard had a male Hen Harrier while driving along the Glen road. Malcolm, this morning had a pair of Siskins on his feeders in Bruichladdich, a year tick for his garden. Botswana Dave this morning had been up at Ardnave and on the East side of Loch Gruinart he saw 4 Greylag, pr of Wheatear, 13 Goldeneye, 2 Redshank, pr of Mallard, 2 Oystercatcher and 4 Lapwing. Coming back down from Ardnave, along the road to Bushmills he had 3 Stonechat, 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail and a flock of 70 Linnet. Margaret was out working in the garden this afternoon and counted 22 Chough as they flew around. The pair of Greenfinch were seen on the feeders again today as were the Blue Tits.

Saturday 13th August

A better sort of a day with the weather at least, so I have been out in the garden doing some catch up work, like cutting the grass. It has remained overcast all day with a wind, so at least there have been no midges. Late afternoon down on the seed heads on the game crop, there were at least 6 Linnets sampling some of the seeds on offer, a well as some Pheasants skulking around as well. On the Thistle heads a few Goldfinches were present at the same time.

Thursday 28th July

A not bad day with the weather today, and the sun is streaming in through the big gable end window, so I will try to write tonight's entry before getting blinded out...

Bob, yesterday had seen several Stonechats with fledglings as he took a walk up Bolsay Moor. Here at home yesterday, it is not only the "wee birds" that are enjoying the cover crop, as I have been seeing a more frequent visit of a  male Hen Harrier quartering over the crop, no doubt looking for some of the wee birds to prey upon.... I also had seen the Whitethroats and also Willow Warblers on the seed heads again. David Formby had a spell looking out over the crop this morning, and had seen 16 species in just over an hour including a total of 7 Linnets feeding on the crop, 2 Sand Martins flew past with  6 Swallows hawking over the pond. This morning, we saw a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Saligo, another at Culbuie, and then a third one as we came up to Rock Mountain.

Monday 20th June

Yesterday, David Barr, a relatively new resident to Islay had seen an Osprey on top of a telegraph pole along with a fish as he headed up towards Sanaigmore. Today, here at home the local pair of Chough have been busy teaching their youngsters, coaxing them away from the nest, with some success sometimes... This afternoon, there was a Linnet singing away on top of the garden fence ... Early evening now, and it looks as if the rain is not far away, saves me watering the plants if nothing else!!!

Friday 3rd June

Another great day and more to come by the sound of things....although last night I thought (wrongly!) that there was a change working. No news through tonight, but this morning, we saw a pair of Mute Swans with 5 cygnets in tow down on Loch Gorm, the first young swans this year that we have seen. Here at home this evening, there were a pair of Linnets on the garden fence. This afternoon, the Ravens were cronking away while the now resident Hooded Crows were out probing in the garden along with the Jackdaws and  a Chough flew past calling away as ever.. and then the Corncrake started to call away as well...

Saturday 18th April

On the walk over the moor at Gruinart led by Mary on Thursday, they had a pair of Hen Harriers displaying, a Buzzard, large flocks of Barnies, 2 Chough, Peregrine Falcon, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Yesterday, James had a Redstart on the reserve at Gruinart. Here at home this afternoon, in the glorious sunshine, in the garden a Wheatear and also 2 Swallows, and this evening I counted a flock of 26 Linnets. Bob and Martin had been over the hill from here at Kilchiaran Bay where they saw a pair of Common Sandpipers, 4 Wheatear, 20 Sand Martins inspecting nest holes and counted 9 pairs of Fulmar on nests. No word of the Egret today as our phone is the blink again, so messages through...

Friday 17th August

A miserable morning here on Islay with a lot of rain and strong wind turned eventually into a beautiful afternoon and later into an amazing evening. Midges are loving it! During the trip between the reserves this afternoon, towing a heavy flail mower behind a quadbike going barely 15mph, gave me a good opportunity to have a nice close look on a female hen harrier hunting along the road next to Loch Gorm. Just past Ballinaby there was a flock of 50 herring gulls drying their feathers after all that rain and mixed flock of about 80 linnets and twite feeding feeding along the road. James saw a couple of whitethroats along his track, commenting that it had been good few weeks since he saw any on the reserve. The picture below does not show a bird as you would expect for a bird blog but proves the seriousness of the midge situation mentioned above. This is how my windowsill looked like after about an hour when I opened my window. All alive and ready to bite. You can try to count them!