Monday 11th April

It may have remained dry today but there was a lazy Easterly wind blowing, with the cold air going through you, rather than round you...Yesterday, Michal had hear his first Willow Warbler for the year, just outside the office at Bushmills. He also heard Treecreepers calling away along the woodland trail. He had also spotted a Stoat carrying a vole into a hole in a stone wall... Peter Roberts had also heard a Willow Warbler calling away at the rear of his house down at Bruichladdich. Later on, Peter had been on a quick return trip to Kennacraig on the ferry but reported a "totally birdless trip with not even a gull being seen". Visitors to the visitor centre at Gruinart had written in the diary of seeing 2 Sandwich Terns at Bruichladdich, 2 Pale bellied Brent amongst the Barnies at Kilchoman, and also 2 Pinkfoots amongst the flock of Whitefronts there as well. Bob Swann and Andrew Ramsay from Tain had seen 12 Sand Martin at Gruinart yesterday. Today at Ardnave, they saw an Iceland Gull. Arminreported through from the walking week and felt that there was a lack of birds seen because of the cold wind... All the same there were a few Skylarks, all flying quite low, 2 Buzzards were seen, one circling over Foreland with the other closer to hand as they walked back towards Bridgend, this one was being closely watched by 2 gulls.... Our Bob Davison, late afternoon, had seen the White tailed Eagle again, but this time it was really close, taking a Hare from the field adjacent to his house, wonder can Bob call it a "house bird" now??? 

Tuesday 15th March

Another great day, long may it last... Today, had been the first day of the International goose Count, so we have got some sightings from round Islay from some of the counters involved, contributors to the blog at other times too... Malcolm had been on the Oa run today, and at Mid Cragabus, 2 immature White tailed Eagles were perched on top of fence posts, close to the road. Malcolm also saw a Pinkfooted Goose amongst some Whitefronts at Risabus. Bob had been on the Laggan/ Tallant run.  On the "Laundry Loch" up behind Laggan Farm, 5 Whoopers were present while down at Laggan Farm itself, a male Hen Harrier was seen. At Gartmain, a male Sparrowhawk was spotted while over at Cruach, 3 Pinkfooted Geese were there amongst the Whitefronts. Mandy and Fiona had been on the Kilmeny/ Bunnahabhain route. At Ardnahoe, they saw a Golden Eagle flying over towards Jura, and then a male Hen Harrier and shortly after a ringtail as they headed on to Bunnahabhain. Lesley yesterday had seen an Adder out basking in the sun as she walked out to the "Singing sands" out past Kilnaughton Bay. With the weather staying good again today, I took the chance to get the tractor out and made a start to preparing the 2 pieces of ground in readiness for sowing a  cover crop for the birds next winter. The big downside was the number of stones, one of the areas had very few stones, but the other piece certainly made up for it for sure....

Tuesday 16th February

Bob Young and his wife had been over at the weekend, staying up in their cottage up the top end of Gruinart, towards Ardnave. Their highlights including good sightings of an Otter, Merlin and down on the reserve at Gruinart, out in front of the new hide, a Gadwall was spotted amongst the Teal and geese. Oriole Birding led by Ashley Saunders arrived yesterday for their first trip to Islay. Coming over on the ferry they had seen 70 GND in total, a BTD, 6 Slavonian Grebe with a Golden Eagle and a white tailed Eagle seen flying over Jura. Late afternoon, came in at the head of Loch Indaal, they had a distant Glaucous Gull, 150 Barwits and 20 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Finally, down close to Port Ellen, they had a count of 50 Fieldfare, a Redwing and 2 Reed Bunting, close to where they are staying. Bob yesterday had a Golden Eagle over Bolsay Moor and a Pinkfoot fly over his house along with some other geese. The weather has not been too nice today, a complete contrast to yesterday, with low cloud and swirling mist... the ferry is meant to be coming over this evening for the first time today, at least it is coming...