Sunday 25th March

Back on Friday, James and the team at Gruinart had carried out the Red Deer count on the reserve with a tally of 95 Red Deer counted, a figure similar to other years, and in line for the number required for management purposes. Whilst doing the count, some birds were seen too, a total of 7 Hen Harriers (4 Male & 3 Female), 2 Red Grouse, a Golden Eagle up at Ardnave. Back at Gruinart, there was an adult Glaucous Gull and a 1st winter Iceland Gull. A Lizard was also seen out sunning itself. Yesterday, James had 39 Whoopers flying over his house heading North.

First thing this morning, visitors from Lancashire had been up at Sanaigmore and had seen an Otter chasing a rabbit, across the dunes, down a rabbit hole, out again and away they went, possibly it was a young Otter which could tie in as an adult Otter could have difficulty getting in and back out of a rabbit hole! The Northants birders had a Goldcrest in the wood here again today and also a Goldfinch on the nut feeders at the back of the house, it's the first Goldfinch that has been around for a while. Down the road, they had 70 Golden Plover, a Pink footed Goose at Sunderland Farm. Close to Bridgend, there was a 2nd Yr Glaucous Gull eating at a dead Seal, with a Grey Wagtail on the Sorn. On Loch Indaal, off Bowmore, 2 Great Northern Diver and also 4 Red breasted Merganser. At Port Ellen, a male Sparrowhawk was seen, down the Oa, 2 adult Golden Eagles were seen mating, a Kestrel, and male and female Peregrine, Male Hen Harrier, 40 Twite, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 1 Chough. 3 Fulmars and 3 Gannets were also seen. On the "high road" between Port Ellen & Bridgend, a male Hen Harrier and 5 Stonechats. In the afternoon, 4 Crossbill were seen flying East at Finlaggan. They had also seen 3 Treecreeper while they were out today at different locations. Dave from down on the Oa has returned from his holiday out to South Africa, and today on the River Sorn up behind Bridgend had a Grey Wagtail and also a Siskin. Over at Port Askaig, Dave had an adult Iceland Gull.

Sat 24th July

A bit of a miserable day out here today, not really wet, just damp and muggy, so much so that Carl only had a Collared Dove today as he went to feed his chooks!

Some sightings through from James, on Thursday while up at Ardnave, he had seen 10 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin and a Bar tailed Godwit. Yesterday at home he had 2 different Hen harriers, and a Lizard at Grainel. Down on the reserve itself on some of the nettles, he had noticed lots of Peacock butterfly caterpillars.

Fri 26th June

Getting a bit forgetful in my old age, I forgot to mention yesterday that while we were out with Rory on the guided walk at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, we had splendid sightings of Hen Harriers. At one point there was a Ringtail (female) mobbing a Buzzard, if memory serves me correctly we had 7 different sightings during the walk, at one time we had both the male and female together. I was speaking with George earlier this evening and he too had been commenting on seeing more Harriers out on the wing, hunting for food for their young. James commented on this to but with reference to Short eared Owls.

Another entry which I forgot was seeing a Lizard while over on Colonsay on Wednesday while returning back to our car after being at Pig's Paradise.

Wed 26th - Fri 28th June 07

Barn owls and also Tawny Owls were seen out hunting over at R.S.P.B. Loch Gruinart Reserve, while 2 lizards were seen out sunning themselves during the day. There have been several sightings of Adders around the island, during this spell of sunny weather! Also over at Gruinart, 3 of the Hen Harrier broods were rung with a total of 7 fledglings, apart from the normal metal B.T.O. rings, they also have a white plastic ring with black lettering, the female has its ring on the right leg while the male is on the left leg, so if you see any of them, please let us know. J.R.H.
Down on Loch Indaal, there was a good sighting, close inshore, of a Great Northern Diver. G.J.
Also on the other side of the Loch, there were 4 Red Throated divers, and a Peregrine Falcon while on an inland lochan there were a pair of Whooper Swans who may now be here the whole summer, having missed out on the Spring migration! G.D.Y.
Here at home, this afternoon, I watched the Peregrine high up, flying with the Swallows, nobody taking any notice of either party! M.A.B.