Wednesday 11th April

Today, David Clugston had seen a Hawfinch down in Port Wemyss. Louise had a Bonxie out from Saligo Bay, 5 GND, 2 Tysties and also saw 7 Common Scoter there as well. All I can offer you is a Magpie here at home. I remember the last time seeing one on Islay, it turned out to be a bit of a twitch then, again here at home... a Magpie was seen last Saturday over on Texa last Saturday, and then Mark saw the one at Gruinart yesterday, so one wonders if it was the same bird that we all saw!!!

The weather has not ben too bad, so I took the chance and rotovated the ground again, in the hope that we will be trying to knock the heart out of the couch grass....

Tuesday 10th April

Jeff Duncan is back over at present for another Islay fix...Yesterday, Jeff had seen GND, Slavonian Grebe and Sandwich Terns off Bowmore on/ over Loch Indaal. Round at Carnain, he had Sand Martins, House Martins and also Swallows. In the evening he saw a female Hen Harrier and about 30 minutes later a male Hen Harrier, both seen from the kitchen window from where they are staying! Also yesterday, Mark had seen a Glaucous Gull at Gortan.

Today, Mark had a Magpie on the reserve at Gruinart. Bob was speaking to some visiting birders at Gruinart this morning and they told him that they had heard 3 Willow Warblers earlier on, on their way down to the hide. On my way back from Bowmore at lunchtime, I saw 6 Pale belied Brent  at Blackrock. James reported though a count of 4,375 Barnies and 117 Whitefronts on the reserve at Gruinart... He also saw 2 Ruff while out in front of the hide. Visiting birders came to visit us today while I was out, but Margaret spoke with them and they saw a Redpoll, and 2 Greenfinch along with other birds around here at home. This afternoon, the Yellowhammer was still around. Later on, a Sparrowhawk zipped through, spoofing all and sundry. It flew past and returned to sit on top of a fence post for the best part of 5 minutes before flying off, still hungry!!!!

Thursday 23rd Novembr

Back on Sunday, Louise had seen a Magpie behind her home at Gatehouse up towards Tarbet on Jura. David Wood on Sunday had seen a Black throated Diver at Kilnaughton Bay, and he had a Cackling Goose at Kinnabus  and a count of 330 Twite and also 4 Brambling seen there as well. Yesterday Mike counted a couple of rafts of GND totalling 131 birds as they were going into the roost off Laggan Point between 15.30 and 16.40 on Loch Indaal. Because of the poor weather on Tuesday, the count for the International Goose count was not carried out, but Andrew Kent sent the figures from Wednesday's tally.. The totals were as follows, 48,336 Barnies, 4,877 Whitefronts and 880 Greylags. Jams had carried out the Gruinart stint, so his count in the total figure came to 16,244 Barnies, 546 Whitefronts, and 29 Greylags. Thanks to Andrew and his team or these numbers. Louise had counted 80 Barnies fly over from Inver on Jura over to Islay this morning. Ed Burrell had a Carrion Crow the other day on the Oa. Ed was saying to me this morning, that he has caught, rung and fitted collars to a further 25 Whitefronts, 5 with transponders, the rest with neck collars. The team from WWT had also fitted neck collars to 24 Greylags as well. Armin had seen the overhead power lines being weighed down by a good number of Rooks along with some Jackdaws, below Carrabus.

Friday 19th May

Back on Wednesday, Irene Miller had a Spotted Flycatcher which was playing along with her as she was cutting her lawn. In the evening out on her fence a Magpie was present. Remember Irene had a Hawfinch in her garden last year... Other birds seen in Irene and Tony's garden include Siskin, Greenfinch and also Goldfinch. Yesterday, Bob had heard a Corncrake calling up towards Knockanbearach which is up past Loch Skerrols. Today, in his garden, he saw 2 Orange tip Buttefly. While he was  carrying out survey work, James saw a Roe deer giving birth, cleaning the calf and then watched it having its first steps and having its' first drink of colostrum. Up at Ardnave this afternoon, Mark had seen Little Tern, Bonxie and Sanderling. Here at home the Bowland birders dropped by for a catch up, and lo and behold we were fortunate enough to have a fly past by 39 Chough. Earlier on Margaret had counted 14 birds on the new niger feeder, mainly Goldfinches.

Monday 8th May

Another great set of sightings today for you to peruse...

Yesterday morning at 7am Mike had counted 79 Common Scoter, 13 GND, 4 RTD. Later on Mike walked up to Bolsay from Port Charlotte and had Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat, Cuckoo, he also saw a juv. Golden Eagle being mobbed by Raven, Buzzard and Hooded Crows. On Kilnaughton Bay, yesterday, Dave saw 6 Whimbrel, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern and a GND. Today, Mandy had heard Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler at Carnduncan with a Reed Bunting calling nearby as well. Phill sent some highlights from Kinnabus on the Oa this morning, "lots of Skylarks and Mipits, 8 Linnets, 4 Redpoll, 4 Wheatear, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, 2 Stonechat, and 5 Swallow. Phil also saw the Magpie at Upper Cragabus on his way home late afternoon. "The Olds" today had seen a male Garganey at Gruinart, heard 2 Corncrakes calling on their way to the South hide, 4 Snipe were roding, up at Ardnave they had 12 Whimbrel, and down on the River Sorn below Bridgend they saw a Grey Wagtail. Bob heard a Whitethroat in his garden and then saw a female Blackcap over at the water works. The Bowland Birders had been up round Ardnave today counting 3- 400 Dunlin, 100 Ringed Plover, 100 Whimbrel, 5 Sanderling, 2 Chough, 4 Little Tern, 20 Barwit, a BTD, 6 Swallow, 25 Sand Martin, 3 White Wagtail, and a dog Otter. Other birds seen were GND, Sedge Warbler, Turnstone with a Corncrake as well. Ardnave Loch held, Teal, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Mallard and Redshank. Here at home, last night we heard a Corncrake calling down towards the Coastguards' and today Margaret counted 4 Hares out beside the "game crop" and a further 3 on the machir at the same time. Also on the machir were 22 Chough. 

Saturday 6th May

Another glorious day and like a lot of places, I think some of us might like a wee shower of rain, to help the garden plants especially, as long as it remembers to stop, once it starts...

Back on Thursday, Paul Graham had seen a White tailed Eagle out on the wing, out past Ballygrant. Yesterday, Bonnie Wood, Dave's wife saw a Magpie between Mid and Upper Cragabus on the Oa, Dave saw it later on as well, does he not trust his wife's id skills?  Gary had seen a Swift over Loch Indaal yesterday. Today, down at Machir Bay, Mandy had seen 9 Whimbrel, 20 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin in summer plumage, 2 Wheatear and a Linnet on the fence wires. Along at Coull, a Sparrowhawk was seen and back home at Carnduncan, Mandy heard and then saw a Chiffchaff in a bush outside her window. She was also saying that the Cuckoo there is calling away non stop...

Monday 10th April

How young do you start Birdwatching?? Amelia, our daughter in law, took this image yesterday evening of Abbie and myself when the 2 of us were out in the "hut" doing a spot of bird watching. And no, young Abbie was not primed to put the bins up to look out the windows....

Malcolm was in touch to say that a visitor had seen a Magpie over at Farkin, out of Port Ellen yesterday. Our friend Armin Grewe who is over for Walkislay had seen a Sparrowhawk out of the kitchen window while waiting for us to return home this afternoon. Mark Shields had seen 2 Swallows out from the North hide at Gruinart today, his first for this year. Gary had a Dipper on the burn leading out from Ballygrant, past the Quarry. In the Ballygrant Woods, Gary had heard a Woodpecker drumming and also a Blackcap singing.

Wednesday 24th August

Paul Hathaway had seen a Magpie at lunchtime last Friday at Nerabus. On Sunday, Malcolm had spotted an Osprey perched on a tree on the wooded island  on Loch Gorm, and also a Coot, the first he has ever seen on Loch Gorm. Today, Peter had done an hour down at Frenchman's Rocks. There were over 200 Gannets, adults and sub adults, feeding actively between the rocks and Islay. There was also a constant stream of adult Gannets passing right by without stopping to fish. Peter wondered if these birds had already fed and were returning to Ailsa Craig. Manx Shearwaters were noted flying from West to East at around 10 - 20 per minute. Also seen were a few Fulmar, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Common Gulls. James had been up at Ardnave where he saw a Sparrowhawk, 42 Chough,  50 Black tailed Godwit and 2 Hen Harriers. Back down over the reserve at Gruinart, he saw a Peregrine

Wednesday 24th August

Paul Hathaway had seen a Magpie at lunchtime last Friday at Nerabus. On Sunday, Malcolm had spotted an Osprey perched on a tree on the wooded island  on Loch Gorm, and also a Coot, the first he has ever seen on Loch Gorm. Today, Peter had done an hour down at Frenchman's Rocks. There were over 200 Gannets, adults and sub adults, feeding actively between the rocks and Islay. There was also a constant stream of adult Gannets passing right by without stopping to fish. Peter wondered if these birds had already fed and were returning to Ailsa Craig. Manx Shearwaters were noted flying from West to East at around 10 - 20 per minute. Also seen were a few Fulmar, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Common Gulls. James had been up at Ardnave where he saw a Sparrowhawk, 42 Chough,  50 Black tailed Godwit and 2 Hen Harriers. Back down over the reserve at Gruinart, he saw a Peregrine

Tuesday 8th April

Yesterday, Mary had a Magpie close to Garra Eallabus on the way up to Ardnave. At Ardnave farm, Mary saw a Swallow, while on the bird feeders, a Redpoll was present. The solo birder from Dumfries saw a female Merlin sitting on top of a fence post down beside the wee lochans beside Loch Gorm. Here at home this afternoon one of the Ravens, defending its' patch, chased a Buzzard off. Jack Fleming at Gruinart was telling me that some of the geese have flown North today. Just heard on the evening news that there has now been a total of 18 raptors found dead in part of Ross-shire, not good news at all, here is hoping that the person who carried out this crime is caught and severely dealt with.

Saturday 29th March

Yesterday the Lincs birders had gone to Bunnahabhain where they saw several Buzzards, 4 GND, 2 pr of Eiders, 4 R B Merganser and a pr of Ringed Plover. At the other end of Islay, down at Portnahaven they saw a couple of Gannets off the wave generastor station where thay also flushed a Snipe. On their way back up, a male Stonechat was obligingly on top of a fence post when a male Hen Harrier glided past! They also saw a pr of Golden Eagles and 12 Whoopers at Ballinaby with a pr of distant Hen Harriers round Loch Gorm. The Bolton birders yestarday had seen 6 Wheatears while they were up at Ardnsave, they counted 12 GND, with 3 Barwits, 35 Oystercatcher and 4 Ringed Plover at Traigh Nostaig. Ardnave Loch held 3 Goldeneye, 4 Teal, 2 adult + 2 juv Mute Swan and 6 Tufted Duck. Out from the new hide at Gruinart, the Green winged Teal was present along with 2 Greenshank, also there were Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail, Mute Swan, Lapwing and Redshank. John & Kenny had small flock of Fieldfare between Laggan Bridge and Bowmore. Gartbreck held a Jack Snipe,Tysties were present on Loch Indaal and a Rock Pipit was on the harbour wall in Bowmore. A male Hen Harrier was seen on the Oa as was a male Stonechat too. Numerous Divers were seen noted on Loch Indaal and also a mixed raft of Common Scoter and Slav Grebe. Their tally for the week came to 99 species seen in all. Thanks to John and Kenny for their birds, to the Bolton Birders, Chris and Tony and also Oliver and Lynsey from Lincs for all thier sightings throughout their time spent here on Islay. Finally, David Livingstone had a Magpie in his garden this morning over close to Port Ellen!

Thursday 13th September

Thanks to James for writing the blog on my absence while I have been across the water over the past few days. Yesterday as we came home, at Tarbert just before we headed on to Kennacraig for the ferry, a Sparrowhawk crashed into a planter along beside the harbour. It came out after a moment and flew off. What it had hoped to have caught I don't know as nothing else emerged and I had not been aware of anything before hand either! Earlier on just out of Ardrishaig, on the shoreline along Loch Fyne there were at least 5 Herons in about a 2 mile stretch, the fishing must have been good, or was it?  Also back here on Islay, George had a Sparrowhawk fly through his willows at his home at Bruichladdich, a Buzzard overhead and 2 Herons on his ponds. Just after the former Kilchoman School we had a ringtail Hen Harrier out on the wing, and later on, and another one down beside Loch Gorm just past Rockside again this morning. Also today, James had a phone call from a lady who had just seen a Magpie in The Glebe in Bowmore. From the new hide on the reserve at Gruinart this afternoon, James had a count of 22 Black tailed Godwit and a flock of 35 Twite there too.

Tuesday 28th February

A bit of a late entry, sorry about that folks, but tonight was the "monthly" gathering of the "bird nerds" here on Islay. We were well pleased with 19 folk coming along, including 9 visiting birders, great to meet up with the visitors especially and show them that we are a friendly bunch!

John Lumbie from Bruichladdich had a Short eared Owl, up behind Port Charlotte last Tuesday and today he had 2 Red Grouse near there too.

Paul Beresford from Nottingham, left to go home today, but gave me through his sightings from yesterday. Craigens, first winter and a second winter Glaucous Gull and also a first winter Iceland Gull. RSPB Loch Gruinart, 5 Whooper Swan, 22 Greylag, 11 Mallard, 27 Pintail, 26 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 500+ Teal, 2 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Greenshank & 1 Redshank. On the feeders outside the visitor centre at Gruinart, there were 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 40 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch & 20 House Sparrow. Ardnave Loch had 9 Whooper Swan, 10 Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Buzzard and 60 Chough along with some Jackdaws. On the estuary, at Ardnave, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Shag, 100 Bar tailed Godwit & 6 Raven. Thanks Paul.

David and Jenny from Staffs, had an imm. Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard at Mulindry, with a further 2 near to Dun Nosebridge., and then a fourth Eagle that was displaying out over the Eastern hills as they headed up to Ballygrant. Also a Mulindry, there were 30 Fieldfare, and a ringtail Hen Harrier. They also had a male Hen Harrier at Finlaggan, while on Ardnahoe Loch, 3 Goosanders were present. 3 Pale bellied Brent were were close to Bridgend, and a female Pochard seen on Loch Skerrols . One of the other visitors told me this evening that this morning, they had seen a Magpie down at Ardbeg.

Thursday 8th September

A better day here folks, in fact almost a dry day if you did not count in the rain that fell through the night..... Yesterday Donald James MacPhee had seen a Magpie up the back of Port Askaig. On the walk at Gruinart, Mark reported through to say that there were 2 Curlew Sandpipers still present. This afternoon James had a Peregrine causing havoc with waders at Gruinart, and later on up on the moor he had a Merlin.

Tuesday 21st June

An image taken last week by a visitor of the "noisy one", out in broad daylight, the cheek of it having the nerve to break cover.... Michal had been out last night and had heard 5 Corncrakes calling in the Ballygrant area. While he was out he also saw a Tawny Owl and also 2 Barn Owls, one near to Loch Skerrols, the other at Bunnahabhain. He also heard 5 Snipe drumming as well as 15 Grasshopper Warblers on his travels. Mary, this morning saw the Magpie down outside the hall at Portnahaven. Later on this morning, Michal had seen an Osprey flying over from Loch Laingeadail towards Ardnave Loch.

Monday 20th June

An image of a Whinchat taken today by a visiting birder. He was just commenting that there were not so many Whinchats around this year, and also how few Stonechats there were in comparison to previous years. Yesterday other visitors had been up at Ardnave Loch and had seen the pair of Mute Swans along with their 4 cygnets. Also on the Loch were 8 Tufted Duck while on the shore, there was a pair of Oystercatcher along with young. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew past. Round Ardnave Point, they had Shelduck with 6 young, and a female Eider again with young. Offshore, but close in was a Great Northern Diver. Good numbers of both Little and Arctic Terns were seen, Black Guillemots and Gannets were seen flying past as was a Bonxie. At the reed bed area close to Braigo, a Grasshopper Warbler heard, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were present too, a Peregrine flew past and a male Hen Harrier was out quartering. Another 2 Grasshopper Warblers were at Saligo as was a female Hen Harrier. Close to the Coast guard cottages, a Corncrake was heard calling as was a Sedge Warbler. Back here at home the Corncrake did n't stop calling until after 5 am this morning, he did n't even stop to catch a breath of air either. I reckon he was calling at 72 calls a minute, a bit sad really, almost as bad as counting sheep to get you to go to sleep!!! A Magpie was seen down at Portnahaven through the day today, and was at Easter Ellister this evening.

Tuesday 14th June

Michal had been out round Ardnave doing his "early" morning survey, and I really do mean early, 5 am start if not earlier...He reported back through that there were fewer Lapwings on territories, 15 pairs, 3 weeks ago only 7 now. On a positive he heard 7 Snipe drumming, saw 4 Roe Deer, a Black tailed Godwit and also the Magpie checking out a Buzzard! Coming home, on the reseed there were 55 Greylags present. Along close to Sunderland Farm yesterday, a Whitethroat was singing away while on top of the dyke at the side of the road

Thursday 9th June

Michal sent this through yesterday, taken up at Ardnave earlier on. Talking of yesterday, I commented that it was not that often that I had seen a female Hen Harrier sitting on a post, well this morning I too had one on a post....but no camera to immediate hand, so you will just have to believe me... A visitor gave me a late entry last night of seeing Siskins in Ballygrant Woods eating Beech mast. Also yesterday, James had a Red Grouse on the reserve at Gruinart, and later on 2 Greenshank. Mark saw 3 Barnies on the guided walk this morning, as well as a late group of 8 Whooper Swans. A visitor told me after the walk, of seeing a Magpie up towards Ardnave, close to Garra Eallabus, wonder if it was the same one that was in the wood at Gruinart? Pia, Peter's other half, had seen a couple of Red legged Partridges beside the cattle market at Bridgend. George had a couple of Arctic Terns down on the foreshore below his house and they were being very protective as if they were on territory, as George cannot recollect ones nesting there of late. He also saw a Whitethroat and had an Eider with 5 young on edge of Loch Indaal. Bob had 2 Redpolls, 3 Siskins and also 2 Greenfinches feeding their young on his feeders at home. This evening he had a male Hen Harrier fly through his garden, about 2 feet off the ground and around 10 feet away from him, being chased by a Common Gull.

Monday 6th June

Just to spoil the script, it has stayed dry today, which is just as well. Some of us were out helping with the Seabird survey round Nave Island and along the coast line back from Sanaig to Smaull. There was a bit of a swell here and there, but we all came back safe and sound. All going well, I may have the figures for tomorrow's entry. Highlights included a Golden Eagle, a Manx Shearwater, 3 Great Northern Divers and also a Red throated Diver. On the way over to meet with everybody, down at Sunderland Farm, there were a few families of Greylags heading down towards Loch Gorm, with goslings of different ages. Also this morning, George had a Magpie down in his garden at Bruichladdich, and it was still to be seen there later on this afternoon.

Thursday 19th May

The computer came back as promised, first thing this morning, so as I said last night, all I would like now (not want) is that more reliable broadband connection...

Mary had a Goldcrest in the car park just up from the hide at Gruinart this morning. Jon and Angie Shutes had been at Ardnave today, and had seen 3 Great northern Divers, 1 Red throated Diver and 6 Little Terns between Ardnave Point and Nave Islad. On Nave Island itself, they had a pair of Ravens and also a single Canada Goose. Back down closer to the farm at Ardnave, they were fortunate to see a Corncrake, before it scuttled off. On their way down Gruinart thay saw a male Hen Harrier. Yesterday on the River Sorn they saw a Dipper with 3 fledged youngsters and also a Grey Wagtail with 5 fledglings. The Lapwings next to where they are staying, lost their clutch of eggs overnight and they wondered if a hedgehog was the culprit. The Magpie was seen again on the the guided walk at Gruinart this morning, an Islay rarity....