Thurs 14th October

This Wheatear was on the dyke just beside the former Kilchoman School this morning on our return from Gruinart. There were also 6 Whooper Swans on Loch Gorm, 6 Collared Doves were perched on the telegraph wires down at Sunderland farm, a few Redwings also at the old Kilchoman School, as well as a Snipe overhead.

Yesterday Louise had been down on the Oa reserve, and had seen a few Brambling mixed in with a flock of Linnet.

Back to today, and Michal had done a Goose count at the back of lunchtime at Gruinart, 5,000 Barnacle Geese were there along with 400 Pale bellied Brents, 40 Greenland Whitefronts and 2 Pink footed Geese. Peter had a count of around 900 Barnacle Geese at the roost at the top of Loch Indaal this evening just as dusk was setting in. At the same time the Greylags were flying off inland to their roosting sites. Peter also had a walk round Loch Ballygrant earlier on and saw a pair of Little Grebe as well as large feeding flocks of mixed Tits, Goldcrests, Thrushes and Treecreepers. Further on, the "Glen road" provided the excellent backdrop for the bellowing of the rutting Red Deer stags. He had also seen a flock of around 150 Golden Plover up there too.

Malcolm had been out along the high water mark of Loch Indaal, from the Foreland turn off along to the Spit, and his dog Merlin had found 6 dead Guillemots and also a dead Herring Gull. All the corpses seemed to be fairly fresh which fits in well with the strong south -easterlies last week. Malcolm also commented that all the Guillemots were adult birds and wondered whether the young were already far enough out to sea.

Mon 5th April

The ever present Little Egret was seen out in front of the hide at Gruinart as was a Little Grebe. On the way over to Gruinart this evening, there were 15 Red Deer close to the roadside, and they did not move off as we slowed down to look at them, further on was a Roe Deer.

This evening was the first Visitor Welcome Evening of the year, which was well attended by 42 visitors.

Fri 1st May

This image of a Roe Deer hind and her calf was taken yesterday. A friend later told me that he had never seen a calf as early as this in the year, to the best of his knowledge.

Later on I saw 5 Red Deer hinds on Foreland and they looked massive in comparison!

Tues 14th April

Yes, as predicted, I have been kept busy with walkislay. Certainly, not with actual walking but acting as a taxi, ferrying folk back and forward, to and from some of the walks. The weather was not so good today, but there were still over 60 folk out on the walks on offer today. The walkers on the "North" walks saw numerous Red Deer, Sparrowhawk, ringtail Hen Harrier, and while I was on one of my "runs" I saw a Yellowhammer. Not sure what was seen down on the Oa walk. The " North" walks should have been good for seeing the herds of Deer as they were both led by our local gamekeepers!

Tues 10th March

What a difference a day makes, it was a Spring day here today, no rain and quite warm for time of year. The birds in the wood at lunchtime had quite a choir singing away to their heart's content.

This evening on the way out to a meeting, there was a Barn Owl out too, and on our return later on there were 3 Red Deer down on the roadside. I was also surprised to see as many hares out, as well as a single rabbit. It was the first I had seen for some time, as we seemed to have lost a lot with myxie. Infact, the other day up at Sanaigmore none were noted, and they are usually there, also another day up at Ardnave and none were to be seen there either come to think on it.

James had a count of 63 Twite in field beside his house today,which was a high count there.

Fri 26th Sept

After mentioning yesterday that the year was rolling on with the return of a few Geese, tonight and another indicator, was the sound of the Red Deer stags roaring. I had been speaking to several colleagues round Islay on the phone earlier this evening, and we all had the same comment about the stags!

Another friend told me today that this morning, he had the viewing of 3 Golden Eagle, all in the same field of view in his binoculars at the same time, without moving his binoculars at all. Talking of Eagles and James had a single bird soaring over the reserve at Gruinart today, the first he has had there for almost 6 weeks.

A visitor was telling me of their sighting of an Otter the other day when they were down at Claggain Bay. It was first seen less than 30 yards away, and even when it noticed them it was in no great hurry to move away.

Mon 4th August

The other day, James had 178 Greylag on the RPSB Loch Gruinart reserve, along with 2 Greenshank, a Peregrine and also 7 Black tailed Godwits. The question is, are these the same 7 Godwits that have been around for the last few days, or are they different birds? JRH

Coming home tonight, 18 Greylag flew over down towards Loch Gorm, and there were 6 Red Deer Stags in a field of silage aftermath. They did not get spooked when we stopped to have a look at them.

Tues 1st July

Whilst returning from checking his sheep last night, Kevin Wiggins saw the Osprey sitting on a telegraph pole on the roadside beside Loch Gorm. Coming home this evening, we had a close viewing of 3 Red Deer stags, no more than 10 metres away, needless to say the cameras were at home and not in the car!

The rainfall finished up at 3.2" for the month, and with this wetter spell recently some of the Distilleries have started production again!

Wed 2nd April

In keeping with the Estates over here on Islay, James and his colleagues today carried out a Red Deer count on the RSPB Reserve at Loch Gruinart, coming up with a total of 84 Red Deer, a similar tally to that of 2007. Apart from doing the count, birds seen while out were as follows, 3 Water rails, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Merlin, 1 Red Grouse, 11 Whooper Swan, 3 Male and 4 female Hen Harrier. JRH

Fri. 15th Feb.

Another great day weather wise, so could not resist going for a walk... We saw and heard Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Blackbird, Wren, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. We also saw Red and Roe Deer hinds. When stopped for a well earned rest and a cup of tea, we watched a Golden Eagle soaring on the thermals. Lots of geese to be seen all over the island, and here at Kilchoman there is an increase in the number of Greylag Geese on the fields. MAB

Fri 5th Oct - Sun 7th Oct

The Geese are certainly returning in their numbers, on Friday, at Loch Gruinart there were over 1300 Barnacle Geese, 7 Greenland Whitefronts and 45 Pale Bellied Brent noted. Also seen on Friday were 9 Pintail, a Green Winged Teal, 23 Black Tailed Godwits, 7 Grey Plovers and a Greenshank. A Peregrine Falcon and also a Golden Eagle were also observed. The count at Gruinart at 11am on Sunday was up to 10865 Barnies, 17 Whitefronts, 4 Brent and a solitary Pinkfoot. 22 Whoopers were also on the estuary and a single Redwing was seen. Out on front of the hide 2 family groups of Roe Deer, one of 4 the other 3, were seen grazing quite happily in the sunshine. JRH
Out and about, there was a group 0f 107 Lapwing, quite a few Twite at various locations while at home, Goldfinches were seen on seed heads and a new "house tick" with Long tailed Tits. On Saturday evening there was the sound of the Red Deer Stags roaring down the road. IKB