Monday 25th May

Gary emailed some sightings seen by himself today...


"Down at Carnain, 9 Whimbrel on the grass, 1 Moorhen in the ponds & a Water Rail flying across the pond from muddy area to thick vegetation."

Tuesday 25th February

Ken Reeves and his friends, "The Elite 5" sent through their highlights seen yesterday

"Once again the weather has been mixed with all seasons in a day. However we did manage..

Ringtail Hen Harrier.... Gorton

Moorhen 3 ...Port Charlotte

Pale Bellied Brent 37.....Gorton 

Slavonian Grebe 3 Loch Indaal.

Common Scoter 50 +    "

Long Tailed Duck 3         "

Scaup 3                            "

GND 5                               "

RTD 1                                "

Hen Harrier (male)   Gruinart

Merlin ... Skerrols "

James today watched a White tailed Eagle which was chasing the geese at Gruinart.

Saturday 10th November

Yesterday was the last full day on Islay for this visit for Mike Bell and also the Bolton birders... Many thanks for all your birds folks... Not to be outdone, no, I have not gone without their sightings from Friday... the Bolton birders had seen 200 Whoopers on the merse at Bridgend and a juv. White tailed Eagle was also present there as well. Over at Keills, they counted 6 Brambling among the Chaffinch flock there. They also saw the 2 Golden Eagles out from Storakaig. Over at Bun an Uisg, at the edge of Bowmore, 34 Scaup were sheltering up from the wind, as were 16 Pale bellied Brent at Carnain. Mike made the most of the windy day as well, a bonus as he should have gone back home yesterday, but had to delay his trip on the ferry as it had ben cancelled... On Loch Skerrols, Mike counted 32 Mute Swans, 4 Whoopers, 98 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 29 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 19 Tufted Duck, a Moorhen, a Heron, a Grey Wagtail with 20 Siskins seen in the Alders there as well. He saw an imm. White tailed Eagle up towards Octovullin with an adult Golden Eagle seen over Scarrabus. Close to Skerrols House, Mike saw a male Merlin. Up the East side of Loch Gruinart, he had 400 Dunlin, while on the fields at Craigens, 1,550 Golden Plover and also 350 Lapwing seen. Along the flats at Gruinart, he had a flock of 220 Linnets. Along the road, his "friend" the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again!!! On the barley stubbles at Coull, the Whoopers were up to 120 in total while the Starling mumeration came to 1,500 birds. Down on Machir Bay, he saw 42 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 3 Turnstone and 10 Chough. Coming back up from Machir Bay, down at the Coastguards' a female Merlin zipped across the road in front of his car!!   Thanks again for your birds folks....

This morning, Martin had walked from Bridgend down along the River Sorn to where it joins Loch Indaal. Martin saw the following birds, a pair of Bullfinch, 12 Siskins,  a pair of Goldeneye, a Peregrine Falcon, 26 Wigeon and also 2 Whoopers. Back home at Glenegedale, Martin had a Sparrowhawk and a Treecreeper along with the usual Blue Tits and Coal Tits in his garden. Up here today in our garden, the Sparrowhawk was perched up on the fence while the Brambling was still along with our "wee" flock of 47 Chaffinches!!

Thursday 14th June

Yesterday, the Barnsley birders had heard a Corncrake calling up at Kilchoman House around 11am. Down at Machir Bay, they saw some Chough. Round at Ballinaby, they had some Dunlin, all in summer plumage and also a Whinchat nearby. Over in front of the Visitor centre at Gruinart, 2 Whooper Swan were present. The Coullabus crowd yesterday had the Ring necked Duck over at Finlaggan as well as a Sedge Warbler there too. Earlier on in the morning they had seen 2 Chough between Coullabus and over the hill towards Carnain and also saw a male Hen Harrier out quartering its' patch. They also noted seeing a Cuckoo and a Meadow Pipit together on the overhead phone wires on their travels. Over on the reserve at Gruinart, they saw Snipe, Shoveler, Redshank, Moorhen and also some very bedraggled Herons during yesterday afternoon....

Sunday 19th November

This morning, we saw a Moorhen down on the pool at Carnain, where a pair of Mute Swans have tried to breed over the past few years.  The Scaup were present in the bay at Cash Kelly's house past Blackrock. Today Bob, Martin and Distillery Dave had carried out the WeBs count from Bowmore along to Gartbreck counting the following birds, 6 Greylags, 850 Barnies, 60 Whitefronts, 16 Mallard, 64 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 9 Eider, 25 R b Merganser, 6GND, 2 Cormorant, 35 Shag, 2 Shelduck, 6 Heron, 52 Oystercatcher, 38 Curlew, 50 Barwits, 2 Blackwits, 20 Knot, 7 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 7 Turnstone, 450 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 55 Lapwing, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Gbb Gull, 40 H Gull, 20 C. Gull and 8 B h Gull.

This afternoon, Margaret spotted over 20 Whoopers flying South towards Ireland, way out past Granny's Rock.

Friday 17th November

A mixed day with the weather, with quite a lot of squally showers coming in from the sea..

The Bowland birders had seen 2 Barn Owls up past Bob's house out of Port Charlotte.. This morning they saw a Moorhen on the distillery pond at Port Charlotte. Later on they had seen 6 Snipe near to Ballinaby, then a Snow Bunting at Machir Bay and while they were up having a catch up with us a male Blackcap was in at the feeders, eating away at the apples on the ground. Also seen here, over 40 Chaffinches and around 20 Goldfinches clamouring around the feeders, and then a ringtail flew past, keeping everyone on their toes!! The Lesser Whitethroat is still on Martin's feeders..

The Blackcap was a new "Islay tick" for them.. a not bad week, with 90 species seen so far.

Mark along with the "vols"  had carried out the WeBS count at Loch Gruinart today, with their tally coming in at 1,610 Golden Plover, 114 Curlew, 47 Turnstone, 106 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin, 49 Ringed  Plover, 9 Snipe, 6 Greenshank, 104 Shelduck,175 Wigeon, 54 Barwit, a Blackwit and a Pale bellied Brent Goose

Friday 6th October

It is that time again for us al to ty and fit in our WeBS counts... Mike had carried out his patch, Outer Loch Indaal, his birds were as follows, 61 Common Scoter, 34 GND, 5 RTD, 8 Shag, 110 Herring Gull, 24 Common Gull, 2 Black headed Gull and a Harbour Porpoise. James had done his stint on the floods at Gruinart seeing 84 Mallard, a Moorhen, 2 Whoopers, 13 Mute Swan, 299 Teal, 14 Pintail, 97 Wigeon, 2 Curlew, 3 Blackwit, 14 Ruff, 2 Lapwing and 9 Shoveler. Late afternoon, and James had done the goose count on the reserve, with his numbers tallying at 10,650 Barnies, 104 Whitefronts, 6 Brent Geese and 5 Greylags. Phill from down the Oa has had a good day there as well. On Loch Kinnabus, he had 4 Whoopers, the first there for this Autumn. He also saw a Blue Tit and also 3 Long tailed Tit, both new ticks for Phill on the Oa reserve itself. Other birds seen by Phill were 2 Goldcrest, 2 Black headed Gull (the second sighting for 2017),  2 Golden Eagle, a Peregrine, a Hen Harrier and also 2 Grey Wagtail. Here at home, down on the lochans below Rockside, 18 Whoopers were present.

Saturday 27th February

The Rochdale birders had yesterday had been over at Bunnahabhain where they saw 2 Otters out in the bay. They also spotted Golden Eagle in the  distance carrying what they took to be "some nesting material" and then a couple of ringtails, talon gripping. Over on the "glen road", they had a Peregrine at the roadside plucking a Redwing, before the Peregrine flew off with its' prey. Finally at Carnduncan, they counted 100 Fieldfare and 10 Redwings. David and Jenny yesterday started their day seeing a Dipper on the River Sorn at Bridgend. In Ballygrant woods, they saw 10 Woodpigeon. Along at Finlaggan, a total of 8 Buzzards were present and also a ringtail. On the "distillery pond" behind Port Charlotte, they saw a Moorhen. Pat and Angie had been over on Jura, seeing a White tailed Sea Eagle, 2 Golden Eagle, several Stonechats, Long tailed Tits, a Kestrel, and GND. Felicity and David Pollard have been down from Mull for a few days... They had seen 4 Reed Buntings down on the Oa, and close views of Golden Plover. On Loch Indaal, a pair of Long tailed Ducks were off Blackrock, with 13 Pale bellied Brent further along the coast.

Sunday 6th July

It started off with a rather miserable sort of a morning with mist swirling around, and back to some more of it again this evening, in between the odd shower of rain, just great it must be the school holidays again!!! Yesterday Mary saw a Moorhen on Claddach Loch down at Portnahaven, her first there! In the evening, Becky a "vol" with RSPB over from Loch Lommond had great sightings of a Short eared Owl up at Ardnave. Today on the reserve at Gruinart, 5 Hen Harriers were seen (2 males and 3 females). Mary reckons that the pair of Great Skuas on Nave Island have hatched their clutch of eggs. Back close to her home this evening, Mary had a Peregrine. Here at home at Kilchoman, there was a Peregrine sat on top of the crag for some time watching all around. Later on a Buzzard and a Raven were having a difference of opinion as whose piece of ground was whose, nothing really new...

Tuesday 9th December

Luckily for you all out there, I kept some of Mary's birds, as I have not heard of any new sightings for today apart from Margaret seeing a hen Pheasant getting blown along at a high speed in the wind... The plane came this morning and again this evening, but we have not had any ferries coming today at all, and already tomorrow's ferries are already cancelled and the schools might even be closed as well. Mary managed to carry out her webs count yesterday, so here are her tallies... Loch Gruinart held 50 Whitefronts, 5 Pale bellied Brent, 215 Wigeon, 10 Mallard, 40 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, 9 RB Merganser, 2 Goosander, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 5 Heron, 1 Dabchick, 238 Oystercatcher, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 228 Barwit, 189 Curlew, 2 Greenshank, 33 Turnstone, 11 BH Gull, 22 C Gull, 36 H Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 4 GBB Gull. On the floods at Gruinart, her count was 7 Whooper, 34 Greylag, 6 Wigeon, 275 Teal, 99 Mallard, 25 Pintail, 11 Shoveler, 795 Golden Plover (+ around 150 in nearby fields), 96 Dunlin (an additional 28 in a nearby field) and a Moorhen. Up at Ardnave, Mary's birds were as follows, 6 Mute, 7 Whoopers, 12 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 17 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck and 6 Goldeneye. Thanks Mary.

Monday 3rd November

Another dry day here on the West of Islay, although I believe that it had been wet down on the Oa and around Port Ellen, no pleasing some folks...Quite a few sightings , so here we go... Ken Chapman who is over with a group of 36 birders from Sandwich Bay Bird observatory in Kent. On Saturday, they had seen a Cackling goose amongst the Barnies along the flats at Gruinart. 2 Ruff were present at Gruinart with 40 Chough seen at Ardnave. On Loch Indaal from Bowmore they saw 3 GND. Yesterday, they noted plenty of Redwings around the Loch Gorm area and further on as they went round the Rhinns, over 200 at least. They had seen 4 different Hen Harriers. At Sunderland/ Rockside there were 2 flocks of Rock Doves on the barley stubble, several hundred in all. They also saw another GND off Port Charlotte. Returning birder, Paul from Nottingham had seen 10 GND as he came over on the ferry on Saturday and he also had a Sandwich Tern drift past the ferry..Yesterday Paul saw 8 Whoopers and 6 Pale bellied Brents on Loch Indaal from the Power station. Up round Ardnave Point, he had a count of 50 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sandpiper and 10 Turnstone. At the reserve at Gruinart, he had a ringtail Hen Harrier and out over the fields behind Bowmore, a male Hen Harrier. There appeared to be a fall of Thrushes overnight, as there were more Redwings and Fieldfares around here this morning, I saw 2 small groups first thing this morning, one of 25 in the field below the house before they took off flying South and there were a further 15 in the trees. Michael had a count of 55 Fieldfare and 70 Redwings as well as the ringtail Hen harrier as he went out this morning. On a flat calm Loch Gorm, he counted 113 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye and a Coot. Later on at Ardnave Loch, he had a male Hen Harrier while on the water 2 Goldeneye, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Dabchick, 6 Whoopers and a Coot. Also present were 35 Redwing, and 5 Fieldfare. Up at Traigh Nostaig Michael had 12 Snow Buntings, including 3 cracking males. Also there, he had seen 51 Ringed Plover, 29 Sanderling, 4 Turnstone. He saw a total of 8 GND offshore as he walked round Ardnave Point, a juv Gannet offshore too and a distant sighting of a Pomarine Skua pursuing some Kittiwakes. In all going round Ardnave Point, he had a total of 46 Rock Pipits! On the Gruinart estuary, Michael counted 144 Barwits and also 13 Knot. Down at Blackrock he had a raft of 72 Scaup with a male Long tailed Duck in flight. On his way home late afternoon, at Rockside there were 10 Whoopers including a family group of 2 adults with 4 youngsters. Bob today had a a male Kestrel and wee while later on a Peregrine both in the Kilchiaran area. Around midday we headed over to Tormisdale, we had a Golden Eagle down at Loch Gorm, with a further one close to Tormisdale, a total of 10 Buzzards on the overall trip, 2 Moorhens on the Distillery pond behind Port Charlotte and finally coming up the hill to home, on the fence wires, 16 Goldfincheswhile on the overhead wires around 50 Redwings. There were also quite a few Fieldfares to be seen around as well.

Sunday 27th July

Sorry folks, late night last night, so I forgot to do the entry... Up on top of the crag yesterday was a solitary Raven cronking/ calling away. George was telling me today that the Moorhen on his ponds is sitting on a clutch of 7 eggs. Down on the shore there are now 5 juv Arctic Terns as well as 14 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin and 5 Snipe were present there. On top of George's house this evening were 2 Collared Doves. Today, Carl had a Red Grouse on Bolsay Moor, up behind Port Charlotte.

Thursday 18th October

Rather a lot of rain through the night, but it turned a not bad day once it cleared up... Yesterday afternoon, the Horwich birders had seen the following, 1 GND at Saligo  along with Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Shag and Eiders. Above Traigh Fleigien Beag were 90 Golden Plover and in the dunes behind were 2 groups of Twite on the grass, one tallied at 36, the other 12. Other visitors had told them of seeing Snow Buntings further up the coast from Saligo as well. Peter had a Sparrowhawk on his garden at Bruichladdich today and Bob saw his first Woodcock of the Autumn along with a few Snipe just up behind his house at Port Charlotte. Andrew and Jane had 8 Sanderling and 41 Ringed Plover down on Machir Bay, at Loch Gorm they had a male Goldeneye, pr of Tufted Duck and 8 Reed Buntings. They saw a Merlin opposite Kilchoman Distillery, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Kestrel at Ballinaby and then a Peregrine at Grainel road end. Finally on the former distillery pond at Port Charlotte 2 Moorhen were present. Coming back home this evening we had a Barn Owl on the flats at Gruinart and another just before Sunderland Farm. There was also a reported sighting of an American Golden Plover down on Machir Bay by a visitor, but no more details apart from that. 

Thursday 27th June

Rather a dreich sort of a day outside. It started of with rain through the night and wet first thing this morning, then it stopped and then it became misty or was it a haar rolling in from the sea? The crag came into view for a while, although the tops were still shrouded, as I write this entry at around 9pm I cannot see any of the crag at all.... Luckily for you folk out there, I had forgotten to put on some birds through from Carl last night! Along at Crosshouses, Carl had seen some newly hatched Moorhen chicks. Back outside the Distillery at Bruichladdich, he spotted 2 broods of Eiders, and on Loch Indaal  off Port Charlotte a GND was present in full summer plumage. We saw a pr of Shelduck with 9 ducklings on Loch Indaal, just as we came into Bruichladdich yesterday evening. Bob had not seen the Sparrowhawk of late, but on Tuesday had seen it devouring a House Sparrow with a ring on its leg, one of possibly Euan's birds caught and rung last July!

Wednesday 18th January

Peter had a roosting flock of 95 Dunlin down at Gartmain, forgot to add it on yesterday, sorry Peter! George has had a Moorhen on his ponds up behind his house at Bruichladdich the last couple of days.On his feeders, there were 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Coal Tit and 10 Greenfinches. Good to hear that the Greenfinch numbers are holding up. Down on the shore below George's house 12 Pale bellied Brent were present yesterday, and today 15 flew past and landed about 200 yards further down Loch Indaal towards Port Charlotte.

Friday 9th December

What a difference a day makes, today here on Islay, blue skies and the sun was shining too, and no wind to speak of. We heard this afternoon that there had been gusts around 90mph down at Portnahaven yesterday. The only damage that I saw was the skin on the polytunnel at Blackrock has gone awol. Several other tunnels around Islay that often catch it, seem have got a reprieve this time round. All in all, we got off lightly although I believe that down below Port Charlotte and in the Portnahaven area folk are still without power. Right back to the purpose of the blog, Islay and its' birds. Danny commented yesterday that he had seen some geese flying backwards... Today before he set off for home, Danny had 2 small groups of Pale bellied Brent Geese, one of 6 and a further 12 both on Loch Indaal just before going into Bowmore. He also commented on a single Whooper down at Sunderland. Thanks to Danny for your sightings this week. We also saw the same swan later on ourselves, and it appeared to be okay, it was up on its' feet and no sign of any wing damage. Down at Portnahaven this morning Mary saw a rather sorry looking Hedgehog, perhaps wondering what yesterday was all about. Up at Uiskentuie, there was a solitary Moorhen, well off course, whether it got swept down the burn is a possibility...Bob this morning had 3 flocks of Lapwing fly past his house, a 20, 30 and also another flock of 50 birds. In the fields nearby were a flock of 30 Fieldfare and also 20 Redwing. Along at Loch Gearach, there were 50 Wigeon, 30 Greylags and also 3 Whoopers. Down at Jimmy's shop at Bridgend, Bob this morning had an immature White tailed Sea Eagle fly over just above the trees! Bob thought that it might have taken off from down on the merse at the head of Loch Indaal and it appeared to be heading inland.

Sunday 9th October

On Friday, George had a Hen Harrier over at Gruinart at dusk, earlier on at Uiskentuie, he had seen a Swallow. At home today he saw 10 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches and 3 Collared Doves in the garden, while down on the shore there was a Merlin. Over at Gruinart today, James's numbers were 3,577 Barnies, 30 Whitefronts, 61 Pale bellied Brent, 2 Canada hutchinsii sp., 1 Peregrine and 27 Whooper Swans. We had a female Peregrine over at Ballinaby this afternoon, and later on a male Hen Harrier at Craigens while we were out looking at the geese. There was quite a lot of rain last night, the best part of an inch, so far this month the total is at 2". With us being away last month, I forgot to put in last month's tally which was 6.75", although we are still drier than last year, the total is catching up!!!On Friday evening Bob went over to Port Askaig to pick up one of his friends from the evening ferry, over there he heard a Tawny Owl and also saw a Barn Owl. Yesterday, they had a Sparrowhawk at home, and also 2 Redpolls as well as a couple of Hen Harriers fly over the garden. In the fields around the house there were 3 Whooper Swans and 55 Lapwing while down at Uiskentuie a Peregrine was present and along at the spit 25 Turnstone were present. From the hide at Gruinart, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 10 Snipe, 300 Teal, 1 female Tufted Duck, 25 Pintail, 15 Shovelor, 20 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe and 2 Moorhen. This morning down at the hide at Gruinart, they had a female Goosander along with the Red breasted Mergansers, 10 Grey Plover and a mixed flock of Sanderling, Bar tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. While round at Craigens, 15 Whooper Swans flew in. In the Loch Gorm are were 2 flocks of Whitefronts (27 +15), 700 Greylags, 200 Barnies, 60 Tufted Duck on Loch Gorm itself along with 3 Scaup. 2 Arctic Terns were seen on the wing between Bruichladdich and the spit. In the afternoon, on the left of the hide they counted 35 Black tailed Godwit, 20 Snipe, 400 Lapwing, 12 Gadwall, 20 Pintail, 7 Whitefronts and 20 Twite. Back home they had a further 25 Twite in the garden. Over the last couple of days a total of 71 species seen so far!

Friday 8th April

Bob had been down at the hide at Gruinart yesterday. He saw several ticks for the year, Swallow, 2 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin. He heard a Water Rail calling and saw a Moorhen. Back up at the "platform" Bob heard a Willow Warbler calling, and had also seen 12 Black headed Gulls, like George, more in number than usual. There was also a small group of Golden Plover in summer plumage in one of the fields behind the platform.

Today was the last full day here on Islay for the birders from Somerset. Although the weather earlier in the week was not too kind, they have enjoyed their stay. Round Loch Gorm today they had 100 Golden Plover, again in summer plumage. On Loch Gorm they saw 4 different Otters! Earlier this evening and they had a male Peregrine fly past.

Other visitors had been in the woods down at Bridgend this morning, and had heard a Blackcap and also Chiffchaff singing away... They also had a close fly by of a Peregrine while up at Ardnave this afternoon!

Malcolm had a White Wagtail on the strand at Uiskentuie, and in front of his house at Bruichladdich on Loch Indaal, Malcolm had 20 Pale bellied Brent Geese. The Magpie has moved up to Gruinart and has been seen there since Tuesday by Fiona MacGillivray.

Fri 3rd Sept

A great image of a Moorhen taken by Carl. He had seen a pair of Moorhen down at Carnain and further on along the strand at Uiskentuie, he also had seen a couple of Chough. Down at Bruichladdich there were a few Turnstone present.

The farmers have been busy again today with their combines and at Rockside a couple of fields of grass were put into the silage pit for feeding to the stock in the winter.

Tues 23rd March

Looking back over the blog for the past few days, I had overlooked some sightings from Bob Medland who added his sightings on the comment box last Saturday, many thanks for that Bob.

Other birders over for the week were in touch today. They had seen over 200 Twite and some Linnet down on the Oa, and on their travels round Islay today, they had 7 different sightings of Hen Harriers as well as an Eagle being mobbed by a couple of Buzzards!

Tracey sent through the figures for the Goose count carried out yesterday and today. In total, there were 33,776 Banies and 5,924 Whitefronts. Thanks again to Tracey and the team.

Back here at home, and there were 2 Siskin on the feeders, along with 6 Goldfinch, there were only a few Chaffinch and no Greenfinch. I had to make do with a Peregrine flying past the kitchen window at teatime!

Over at the reserve at Gruinart, James had managed to get out of the office to spot some birds for us. There was no sign of any Whoopers, and also James felt there was a lack of Greenfinch, which backs me up! Out in front of the hide, the Little Egret is still present. On the flats, James had a Moorhen while out on Loch Gruinart there were 73 Turnstone, birds on the move as they were in a large group rather than several smaller groups. A male Harrier was seen displaying. James also carried out a Goose count for the reserve today, there were 5,205 Barnies, 156 Whitefronts, 19 Greylag and 1 Lesser Canada, hutchinsii.