Saturday 11th May

Bob Mitchell or Derbyshire Bob to use his pen name was in touch last night to tell me that the bird which I could not make out on his video was in fact a Little Stint which he had seen along with some Dunlin over close to Killinallan, not bad for his 100th Islay bird of this visit and also his 200th tick on his year list...
Many thanks for your sightings Bob, trust you are wending your way home now!!!

Today, Distillery Dave had seen the Corncrake on 2 separate occasions at Rockside had also seen the Cuckoos in flight as well... So if you want to see either of theses birds , head round to Rockside and enjoy a cuppa and a piece of cake at the Kilchoman Distillery visitor centre and possibly see either the Corncrake or a Cuckoo...

Tuesday 16th October

As promised the highlights from Noel and Ann Hands visit to Islay last week. Coming over on the ferry on Saturday 6th they had a Common Scoter, on Monday 8/10 they had the Little Egret on the merse at Bridgend,and down at Machir Bay, the Little Stint was seen along with a male Hen Harrier, Chough, 35 Ringed Plover with 6 Stonechat seen close by. The following day they counted 19 Whoopers at  Craigens, On the 10th, over at Lagavullin, a Swallow was there, a Redwing and also a Red Admiral butterfly. At Finlaggan, they had a flock of over 100 Twite, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Golden Eagle.Up at Bunnahabhain, they saw 4 Gannets out on the Sound of Islay as well as 2 Kestrels together. Finally that day they had a juv Peregrine on prey at Coullabus and then a Merlin whizzed through.The following day they had a small fall of 19 Mistle Thrush along at the hedges, below Sunderland, and along at Rockside, they spotted a Pink footed Goose among the Greylags. At Machir Bay on Thursday the Little Stint was present along with 36 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 6 Chough,and a Grey Wagtail. On Loch Gorm, they saw 12  Whitefronts then at Bruichladdich they saw a Common Tern struggling in the wind and rain!!!Finally on Friday  they had 14 Whitefronts, 15 Curlew and a ringtail as well as a small family group of 2 adult and 3 juv Whoopers. Thanks for sharing your sightings with us.
Today Mike P had been down at Loch Skerrols where he counted 55 Adult and 4 Juv Whoopers, 18 adult and 4 juv Mute Swan and a count of 81 Wigeon.
I have got a tremendous list of birds through from Mark at Gruinart, seen by Phill Catton & Shona Isla but will give you it all tomorrow night....

Thursday 31st May

On our way over to Gruinart this morning, we were very fortunate to see this adult Little Stint which was seen over on the muddy pool beside the gate at Saligo, along with a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover. We returned home about an hour later and it was not there, just as well that I had the camera with me!! Over at Gruinart there  were 6 Whoopers seen, a group of 3 and also 3 single  Swans... Bob had gone round to Saligo this afternoon, and it was back again, along with 4 Lapwing with young, 9 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plover. He also heard 2 Snipe drumming while he was there. We revisited this evening, with Distillery Dave, but no joy at Saligo. On the return leg home, we spent some time down at the reed bed towards Machir Bay and we heard a Corncrake calling.

The Bolton birders have had another great day seeing 5  adult Marsh Fritillaries on the wing at Gearach, 3 days earlier than last year. Further on, they had seen 12 Turnstone down at Currie Sands. On their way back home, they had a GND at Carn and another seen off Port Charlotte. Down at Machir Bay, they saw a Peregrine away above the crag and also heard the Corncrake. Round towards Leek, they had seen 2 different male Hen Harriers. Finally over at Loch Tallant, they saw another 2 different male Hen Harriers and also a hen Sparrowhawk.

Tuesday 26th September

Another good day again, another day for the farmers trying to get their harvest in...

Visitors Richard and Kate have been making the most of the better weather too... On the Oa, they had seen a Chough and a couple of flocks of Twite. On their way back from the Oa, they had great sighting of a close ringtail Hen Harrier. In the afternoon, they walked from Kintra along the "Big strand" up towards the Airport. Birds seen included 5 Red throated Diver, 3 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling and also a Little Stint. They had also seen 3 Wheatear. Here at home, in the early evening we saw the Chough fly home to their roost. The ferry is already cancelled to Colonsay for tomorrow as the wind is picking up...

Friday 8th September

Another miserable sort of the weather, yet again...Mike got the stats back from BTO relating to the Manx Shearwater which he had found dead down on Machir Bay, on the 4th of Sept. It was rung as a first year bird at Bardsey Bird Observatory on the 5th of Sept 2004, a mere 4,747 days ago!!

Gary today had been down for a walk along the River Sorn from the Woollen Mill. On the River itself, he had seen a Dipper with Goldcrests and Long tailed Tits heard calling away in the trees. Mark and Phill had joined forces today and carried out the WeBS count on Loch Gruinart with their birds counted as follows: A Pale bellied Brent Goose, 2 Barnies, 234 Greylag, 380 Ringed Plover, 238 Dunlin, 16 Barwits, 2 Blackwits, 14 Knot, 121 Curlew, 29 Sanderling, 9 Turnstone and a Peregrine. They also reported through a possible sighting of 2 Little Stint up on the shore below Kilnave.

Jim Dickson arrived over for a week's birding, so here are some of Jim's birds seen today, 30 juv. Blackwits, an adult Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 House Martin, 1 Shelduck and 4 Knot all at Gruinart. 4 Greenfinch were at Kilnave with a Merlin at Ardnave also a male Hen Harrier at Coull. Finally Jim had a Willow Warbler along at Sunderland Farm. Here at home, I saw 3 families of Stonechats on the game crop this morning as well as one of the House Sparrows caught and rung by George E Jackson in the Spring. It was up close to the house and I managed take some images of the leg ring and matched the ring numbers.

Friday 12th September

No records broken today with the temperature only rising to 18 degrees early afternoon, but there is an outside chance of seeing the Northern Lights later on, but it is rather cloudy outside at present, so we will just have to wait and hopefully see... Paul our visiting birder had a busy time today. Down at Frenchman's Rocks he had count of 400 Gannets fly past in an hour along with 15 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Fulmar, 1 Kittiwake and some Guillemots. Later on, at "Smelly corner" Paul had 80 Dunlin, over 20 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint. Finally over at Ballinaby he saw a male Hen Harrier. On his travels today, he also saw 5 Wheatears, possibly birds moving through. He also reported seeing more Stonechats around than during other visits at a similar time of year.

Saturday 30th August

Yeserday, Peter and Pia had braved the elements and had been over on the Big strand below the airport and had walked down towards Knockangle Point where their birds tallied through at 10 Knot, 12 Sanderling, 10 Ringed Plover, 6 Redshank, 5 Dunlin and a Little Stint. Today the weather has been a lot kinder to us with Mandy from RSPB being over at Claggain Bay where she watched a Red throated Diver for some time, coming back along past Kintour, Mandy saw a Yelowhammer. Thanks to James, for writing the blog over the past few days while I was off Islay down in Glasgow, my highlight was watching an Osprey catch a fish as we headed into West Loch Tarbert on the ferry, no need for bins for that one!

Monday 23rd September

Been a good day out here for time of year, this afternoon I was out in the garden with a short sleeves T shirt on, no jersey... just great! This morning I had helped Bob with his count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck. The birds were as follows, 2 Heron, 62 Shag, 10 Cormorant, 30 GBB Gull, 300 Herring Gull, 300 Common Gull, 35 BH Gull, 9 Gannet, 10 Oystercatcher, 117 Curlew, 189 Barwits, 6 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 4 Turnstone, 1 Black Guillemot, 16 Ringed Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 9 Lapwing, 1 Barnacle Goose, 985 Greylags, 2 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 83 Wigeon, 1 Teal, 10 RB Merganser and 24 Eider. Earlier on Bob had 180 Wigeon, 30 Eider, 64 RB Merganser, 300 Greylags, 2 Scaup, 6 Mute Swan & 2 Whooper Swan at Gartmain. Yesterday, Carl had 6 "Comic" Terns fly past Bruichladdich and he also commented on seeing more Herons around Loch Indaal. Visitors had a Little Stint out from the new hide at Gruinart yesterday.

Tuesday 4th Sept

Another good here weather wise, most of the local farmers will be making the most of it with their combines out cutting the barley, and some will be taking the chance to make some more grass silage. The weather forecast for Thursday does not look too good, so make the most of this spell of weather, boys... Yesterday Bob had 4 Little Grebes and also 17 Mute Swans on Loch Skerrols. Today Bob had been round Ardnave with a visitor, their highlights included 11 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 150 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 6 Turnstone, 3 groups of Sanderling, 20, 34 & 60,  61 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 180 Curlew and 2 Black tailed Godwit. Over the other side of  Loch Gruinart, they had 2 Great Skuas, 2 Wheatear, 20 Twite, 45 Goldinches and a flock of 60 Chough. Bob this evening saw a Short eared Owl out of his kitchen window.  There has been a Chaffinch visiting the bird table of late that has several white tail feathers...no rings on it Euan! At midday, just past the memorial to the Kilchoman bards, there was a single Wheatear, and just along the road another 2 were present.

Tuesday 3rd April

Just after I had done last night's entry, I looked up Armin's Islay blog to see that I had missed his spoof that Apple were going to open a store in Islay House Square on the 1st of April 2013!

Back to today, well there has been a cold Northerly wind blowing with some blustery snow showers thrown in for good measure, the hills behind Bowmore had a covering as did the Paps of Jura. From the hide at Gruinart, a visitor had a Greenshank today. Bob had been out too, and had a Little Stint, 2 Ruff, 200 Golden Plover and a male Hen Harrier at Gruinart. On the edge of Loch Indaal, he had an adult Glaucous Gull sitting along with 30 Shelduck, and then a male Merlin flew past. Later on up towards Octovulin, Bob saw 2 Iceland Gulls and finally, further on a Sea Eagle was seen flying through a snow shower. In total, Bob had 62 species while he was out. There were also 50 Golden Plover seen round at Ballinaby, but just as I was getting the camera out, the sheep came forward and the birds took off, the sheep no doubt thought I was going to feed them! Back on Saturday, Carl had a Kestrel down at Ellister and also a Sandwich Tern at Gortan.

Sunday 18th December

Bob had been out over at Gartbreck, down below Bowmore this morning, and had the following count, 25 Mallard, 300 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 1 Goldeneye, 21 Red breasted Merganser, 16 Eider, 4 Shelduck, 4 Mute Swan, 121 Curlew, 45 Oystercatcher, 300 Dunlin, 20 Redshank, 3 Purple Sandpiper, 32 Knot, 90 Bar tailed Godwit, 73 turnstone, 26 Ringed plover, 350 Lapwing, 800 Golden Plover, 2 Grey plover, 1 Cormorant, 57 Shag, 6 Great Northern Diver, 2 Slavonian Grebe, and along at Gartmain 2 Little Stint along with 50 Dunlin. This afternoon here at home, out with birds on the feeders on the back garden was a Brambling. Yesterday Carl had a Merlin at Port Charlotte, and later on 20 Fieldfare were counted up at Octomore. Sorry about the late entry tonight, but more to come tomorrow!

Monday 26th September

Nick Wilkinson who is over working on the RSPB reserves here on Islay at present had seen 3 Little Stint on Loch Gruinart on Saturday. Yesterday, Carl had several Arctic Terns out over Loch Indaal, and also half a dozen Gannets fishing off Port Charlotte. Carl also had a Peregrine flying through his garden in Port Charlotte followed by 2 Jackdaws in hot pursuit. Round at Ballinaby he had a count of 20 Lapwing and at Blackrock 13 Pale bellied Brent were present. James, first thing this morning had counted 200 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Gruinart and also 65 Barnies. Later this morning with some more Brents arriving, Bob counted 300 and also 50 Black tailed Godwit, there were also another 4 present in a mixed flock of Ruff, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Starlings. Yesterday, James had counted 25 Ruff on the flats as well as 98 Brent Geese on the saltings. Tomorrow night, (Tuesday) is our monthly meeting of our local bird club here on Islay, a completely informal meeting of heads, no chairperson, just us, so if any visitors are out there and wish to come along, we will be in the Islay Natural History Trust at 8pm. We will be moving along the street to the local for a pint afterwards..... anyone is made welcome!

Sunday 4th September

The other night while James was out walking his dog, he heard the Red Deer roaring away. Today down on Loch Gruinart, James had a count of 87 Redshank and later on Jim Dickson who is over for the week, had seen 3 Little Stint, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank and 24 Black tailed Godwit, all on Loch Gruinart. This afternoon over on the reserve at Gruinart, Michal had a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a pair of Ravens, and then a Buzzard joined in to have a go too! Late afternoon, James had an Osprey between Rock Mountain and the turn off at the head of Loch Gorm heading over the hill to Gruinart. Jim Dickson was down at "smelly corner", around tea time and had more luck with the waders today, and had 5 Little Stint and also a juvenile Baird's Sandpiper.

Saturday 3rd September

Another day and another dollop of rain through the night, but at least it faired up through the day itself, that's the way we like it..... A visiting birder had a count of 44 Chough up at Ardnave yesterday, and today another visitor had a juvenile Little Stint down at "smelly corner", and as he was scanning through the rest of the waders a Peregrine flew past causing havoc, net result, not much seen of the other waders there.... This afternoon, James had a Sparrowhawk up at Grainel, and also an Elephant Hawk moth caterpillar.

Monday 1st August

Another month in now, and another dry month with only 1.6" of rain for July, so we are still behind last year's running total.... This afternoon, Bob had been up at Ardnave on the INHT ramble led by Becky, and on one of the bays the following were seen, 80 Oystercatcher, 4 Black tailed Godwits, 8 Bar tailed Godwits, 1 Knot, 10 Dunlin and 3 Little Stint

Wed 8th Sept

Our visiting birder had turned up trumps for us again today. Over at Loch Gruinart this morning, he had 9 Sandwich Terns, 2 juvenile Common Terns, 3 Greenshank and 2 Pintail. Round Loch Gorm he had a count of 16 Wheatear including a few Greenland Wheatear. As the tide was coming in this afternoon on Gruinart, the American Golden Plover was still present, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Little Stint, 8 Curlew Sandpiper and 14 Black tailed Godwit. Hope he remembered it was his wife's birthday today.....

Tues 7th Sept

This is the American Golden Plover, taken today by our visiting birder. He also had a 2 Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Ruff all over on Loch Gruinart. The tide was well in this evening, but the light was not too good. There has been almost an inch of rain since last night, but here it must have been a steady rain as the burn was not up. There must have been a lot more rain further over as the River Laggan was full and several fields were flooded!

Before I forget, it is almost time for James and Eleanor to set out on their epic Kayak trip, so if you feel up to it, click on the link on the right and help them raise their total. On Sunday morning their tally was £1613, so now their goal is £2,000, so fingers crossed they acheive it.

Mon 6th Sept

An image of a Teal taken by Carl, not today I hasten to add as the weather has not been that great! Carl had seen around 50 Teal down at Carnain on Saturday. Coming home at the lighthouse beside Port Charlotte, a Sparrowhawk panicked some Goldfinches......

Yesterday Bob had a Lapland Bunting over at Gruinart amongst some Meadow Pipits. Amongst the waders, he too had a Little Stint and also Curlew Sandpiper. Over at Gartmain today, Bob counted 150 Wigeon present.

Our visiting birder reported in to say that the American Golden Plover was still present at Loch Gruinart today. The Curlew Sandpiper was seen, along with 4 Little Stint, 4 Greenshank, 2 Pintail, a few Wigeon and around 300 Bar tailed Godwit.

Yesterday in the Bridgend woods we had a Treecreeper on a Ewe tree, down at The Woolen Mill a Coal Tit was busy on the nut feeder and on the River Sorn itself were 3 different Dippers as well as a Grey wagtail. Up at at Ardnave there were quite a few Twite to be seen, and on the way over there, we saw a couple of male Hen Harriers at different places.

Sun 5th Sept

An image given to me today of a Lapland Bunting taken this morning down on the Machir Bay by the same visiting birder. Also at Machir Bay there had been an Osprey, heading inland. Over at Gruinart, and he had seen the American Golden Plover again, as well as a Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank and Whimbrel.

This morning George had found a 4 foot long Conger Eel down on the shore below his house at Bruichladdich. It would have been longer but it was missing its' head! George left it down on the shore, with a couple of Greater black backed Gulls claiming it, and they managed to defend "their prey" against a couple of Ravens! Later on and George had seen a Greenshank up at Gruinart and a female Pintail along with a few Shelduck.

Carl yesterday had 8 Basking sharks off Easter Ellister and also a Peregrine at Carn.

This evening, the weather looks like as if it is going to break down, the wind is picking up a bit too!

Wed 11th Aug

This was taken by Carl yesterday in Craighouse outside the Jura Distillery of some Swallows resting up for a moment or two.

Also yesterday some visitors had seen an Osprey fishing at the head of Loch Indaal. George had a count of 70 Common Gulls down at Bruichladdich, and there were 10 juvenile birds in the tally. Today he had seen 4 Ravens on the roadside between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.

Earlier on in the week, Bob Davison had seen a Little Stint amongst some Dunlin up at Ardnave. He also had some Golden Plovers too. Back at home Bob has had counts of up to 26 Whinchat, and also had good numbers of Reed Bunting up at Grimsay.