Thursday 22nd October

Peter sent me though this e mail yesterday relating to the 2 Whooper Swans which he had seen down on Loch Skerrols on the 16th of October...

"I've had a super-quick response from WWT regarding the  2 colour ringed Whooper Swans that we saw on Loch Skerrols on 16th October. Here are the details:

Both are male birds and both were caught as adults at Caerlaverock on 14th February 2019. Both were seen back at Caerlaverock from October 2019 to late February 2020.

I presume that is where they might be headed this winter?"

Stewart and Alison McCormick had the following birds seen yesterday:  

Two ‘lines’ of Whooper Swans flying south west (a dozen in each) near Port Ellen, probably moving on.......    At the Oa, 2 Reed Buntings and a 2 Twite. Enjoyed watching 2 Choughs for twenty minutes not far from the car parking area on our return from the reserve walk.

Later on at Claggain Bay 3 GND and a pair of Red breasted Mergansers close in to shore provided fine views. 

Yesterday's birds from Richard came through as follows: At Gruinart he had 6 Eiders, several Turnstone, some RBM. also some Common Gulls and also a flock of over 200 Golden Plovers. Down at Blackrock, Richard counted 50 Common Scoter, 4 Scaup, 12 RTD, 1 GND, 12 Shag. Along at Bruichladdich, he saw 2 Ringed Plover and a Rock Pipit with 6 RTD and also a Gannet on the water , down at Port Charlotte, seen off the pier there, Richard had 5 RTD and also a Razorbill. Finally late afternoon, he saw some of the male Pintails displaying over at Gruinart, a distant W t Eagle and also a group of 15 Whoopers flew in.

This morning, we counted a fly past of 29 Whooper Swans heading out to the sea and on to Ireland. Then late afternoon, we watched a W t Eagle being chased by 2 Buzzards out over the crag. 

Thuirsday 12th March

Yesterday Dave and Jean Killick had been out and about
"We have been dodging the showers. We started around Bowmore where we spotted a Great Northern Diver and 2 Scaup.

Loch Skerrols was quiet except for a small flock of Tufted Duck and a pair of Bullfinches in the woods. In the fields at Eallabus there was a flock of at least 31 Skylarks.

Our last stop was a walk from Ballygrant through to Lily Loch. On Loch Ballygrant we found 3+ Little Grebes and as we walked through, we found a single Brambling, 12+ Redwings, a Grey Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker."

Gary had also braved the elements yesterday as well...

"Went looking for the Lapland Bunting on the Coullabus road. No joy but had over 30 Reed Buntings at wee quarry near Lagstoban. Male Hen Harrier up at Finlaggan."

Thursday 24th October

David Clugston had a Chiffchaff  when on the Woodland trail at Gruinart back on Monday, sorry David, forgot that one...

Another visitor that I was speaking to up at Ardnave this morning when waiting for a heavy shower to pass, Mark Cockburn had seen 10 Snow Buntings up at Ardnave Point on Monday. Yesterday, when he was down at one of the hides at Gruinart, he watched a White tailed Eagle take a Barnacle goose out in mid air. What a spectacle...

Coming back down from Ardnave, I had seen a count of 20 Reed Buntings together in a flock.

Albert Percival had counted over 200 Whoopers in various fields as he was out round the island. David Clugston, his wife Pauline and fellow birder Valerie Wilson had counted 342 Whoopers coming in and moving through today, they are now up to 97 species seen so far this week. 

Catheine Fotheringham today had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier over the moor towards Grainel.

Friday 1st February

Another cold day again, luckily I left a tap running slowly through the night and the water in the house did not freeze up, having said that the tap over at the garage which is well wrapped up was frozen ... Loch Gorm was frozen over today....

Mandy, yesterday, had 3 Reed Buntings over at her home at Carnduncan, and today she now  has 5 Reed Buntings present there.

Today Gary and Wndy Ruffel had ventured out from Carnain along to Bruichladdich and then back home. Birds seen included Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, BTDs, and some Ringed Plover. Out on Loch Indaal from the spit on the Uiskentuie Strand, they also saw GNDs and also Great crested Grebes.

As we are now into February, the rainfall in the rain gauge came to a mere 3.4 inches, the driest January here for the past 4 years at least... early days yet...

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Wednesday 30th January

Another cold day out here on the edge of Islay, the council grit lorry was round before 10am today fitted with a nice big snow plough fitted on the front of the lorry... but not in use!!!

Mandy, today had a male Reed Bunting on the ground below her feeders over at Carnduncan. She also had the her usual culprits eating away at the food on offer... Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Great Tit and also 3 Goldfinch on her feeders, but no sign of any Blue Tits. 

Over here this morning, I saw a Wren scurrying along the base of one of our walls, out of the prevailing wind which was not that warm, a lazy wind going straight through you rather than round you!!!

Saturday 24th November

This morning, a quick scan through the Chaffinch flock outside here at home, and I saw a female Reed Bunting and also a female Brambling. The day got better and this afternoon, we saw a male Hen Harrier quarter over the garden on 4 different occasions, and fortunately the bird never did drop down on any prey. The weather has ben a bit on the cool side but when you see these birds, just wrap up and keep warm. Oh yes, it was dry too...

If you are over on Islay, please remember to come along to David Wood's illustrated talk on his recent trip to Mauritius. The bird nerds will be meeting on Tuesday at 7 pm and David's talk will be the main thrust of our meeting which will be held at the Gaelic College, on the outskirts of Bowmore. There will be an admission charge of £1 per person to help pay for the room hire...

Tuesday 11th July

What a glorious day it has been and even at 9pm as I write this entry, there is not a cloud to be seen, mind you I am not complaining...

Tom G today had been down below us here on Machir Bay that is... Out along past Granny's rock  Tom had a very vocal Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard. He also saw a family of 5 Ravens as well as 7 Chough all out on the wing. Back along Machir Bay, up towards the North end or Coull Farm, Tom heard a Corncrake calling. Later on along at Rockside, he saw a pair of Peregrines. Yesterday afternoon Mandy and myself had the monthly look at the birds round at Rockside. It was great to see some Whinchats along with their broods out and also a few Reed Bunting with young out too. The Swallows were out hawking over the barley crops growing for the Distillery

This is one of our "friendly" Blackbirds who comes to beg for food, think he has his beak full this time for sure!!

Wednesday 15th March

Yesterday, while out on the International Goose count, Bob had seen a couple of Hen Harriers, one at Balulive and the other at Ardnahoe. Also at Balulive, he had a couple of White tailed Eagles and he also saw another at Daill. David and Jenny yesterday had a male Hen Harrier over at Leek. Earlier on, David had counted 60 Wigeon and 40 Teal on the wee lochan up the hill beside the standing stone above Ballinaby. Along at Saligo, David had 35 Reed Bunting and he also commented on more Stonechats around this Spring. Today, we had a welcome visitor, a blast from the past in the form of Martyn Jamieson. Martyn led tours along with Robin Sutton for Field Studies Council for a number of years, and to Islay many times. It was great to catch up... This week, Martyn is leading a tour on behalf of Aigas. Martyn commented on seeing more White tailed Eagles around compared to his previous trips to Islay ...

Saturday 13th February

Forgot to mention that James had seen a Lesser Black backed Gull on the reserve at Gruinart on Thursday.

George and Pat Jackson had seen the Glaucous Gull down at Machir Bay and also there at the big pool alongside the car park were 9 Ringed Plover. Later on they saw a ringtail Hen Harrier on one of the roadside poles up beside their son's house. They also had 9 Reed Bunting flitting between the overhead cable and the neighbour's hen run! Peter and Mike had been over at Claggain Bay yesterday afternoon  and saw an immature Golden Eagle hunting over the fields there before it flew on along the coast, it had been disturbing Oystercatchers and around 20 Golden Plover. Coming back  home along the high road from Port Ellen, they had a male Hen Harrier. Colin and Alison Parnell on Thursday had a flock of 80 Twite while down on the Oa, out over the sea from the monument, 5 Guillemot, 3 Fulmar, a Kittiwake, 4 Gannet were seen, while close to the car park 2 pr of Raven and 2 Chough were present. At Coillabus as they headed back to Port Ellen, a pair of Stonechats and    27 Fieldfare were seen. Here at  home yesterday, we had a new tick for the garden with 2 Ravens down at a dead Hare! In the afternoon, we had 29 Pale bellied Brent, 14 Barnies and 30 Scaup all sheltering in the bay at Blackrock, out from "Cash Kelly's" House. Just as we came into Bowmore, we had a Goldeneye close to the shore. Colin and Alison also saw the birds that we had at Cash Kelly's but they also spotted 24 Common Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe and a GND. On their way up to Bunnahabhain, they saw a White tailed Sea Eagle over the hills past Ballygrant with a Golden Eagle spotted from Bunnahabhain itself. Finally over between Gruinart and Loch Gorm, a Barn Owl was outhunting and also a Woodcock was seen as well

Sunday 8th November

Yes, the weather forecast was (yet again!)spot on as early morning, the rain came and the wind picked up, so needless to say the ferries are on amber alert and could be disrupted or cancelled, as ever we are lucky with 2 ferry ports on Islay...and the weather does not look much better for the rest of the week!!! Yesterday Gary and Bob had carried out a survey out over Loch Indaal from the Gaelic Centre (NR324604) just out of Bowmore. They too had seen the antics of the White tailed Eagle trying to possibly drown the Eider. They had seen the end of the tussle with the Eagle flying away with no prey! Birds seen were Oystercatcher, Redshank, Barwits, Turnstone, Curlew, 400 Golden Plover, 10 Grey Plover, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, juv. WTSE, GND, RTD, R b Merganser, Cormorant, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Eider, 1 Shelduck, 4 L t Duck, Greylags, Barnies, P b Brent, Whooper and Mute Swans, C Gull, B h Gull, H Gull, G b b Gull, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Dunnock, Redwing, and Reed Bunting.

Friday 18th October

Yesterday our Horwich birders had been out and about. On their way over to Gruinart they had at the former Kilchoman school, on the hawthorn berries 12 Redwing along with 12 Blackbirds (migrant type), all gorging themselves on the available food.  Up at Bun an Uillt, they saw 2 Greenshank, from the new hide at Gruinart, a female Sparrowhawk, and from the old hide a ringtail Hen Harrier. Also seen from there were 1 Ruff, 2 Snipe, and many Teal, Wigeon and Lapwing. From the viewing platform a Swallow was hawking  along the trees.  Later on, off Ardnave Point, a GND was spotted and several groups of Gannets were seen flying past.  6 Turnstone were seen on the rocks, and they even were fortunate to watch an Otter loafing about for the best part of an hour...Back down at the farm steading at Ardnave, a group of 40 Golden Plovers were present. Earlier on in the morning while it was still raining, they did some birding from the shelter of their cottage and saw at least 65 Reed Buntings coming in to shelter in the trees from the squally showers. Finally at Ballinaby they had a Whitefront with a collar on reading 3HX, possibly one that was "collared" there last winter. Dave down on the Oa, has seen some of the ones that were fitted with collars last Spring down there again. Finally Andrew and Jane had seen an immature White tailed Sea Eagle up behind Bridgend being mobbed by Gulls as it flew over...

Thursday 28th February

Yesterday, over on the bird feeders at Keills Primary School, Sally , James's wife saw a Yellowhammer. Den Mather from Edinburgh had 10 Purple Sandpiper down at Bruichladdich. Gordon and Pauline Yates who have been over for the past 10 days or so headed home today, so thanks to them for sharing their sightings. Before they left, just as the light was fading on the reserve at Gruinart, they had 50 Reed Bunting coming in to roost on the scrub willow bushes at Culbuie roadend. Earlieron the spotted a female Brambling amongst the finch flock close to Coille. They also had around 20 Linnets there too. Speaking with them before they left, highlight, no rain at all during their stay, low point no sign of any Crossbills this visit. Today, down at Carnain we had a Moorhen on one of the rushy pools where the Mute Swans are often seen. Just before we arrived back home we counted 4 Buzzards and a Golden Eagle out high above the crag. There had been a few Fulmars seen this morning. The "vols" at Gruinart seen a male Hen Harrier, a Jack Snipe, 2 Buzzards and later a Golden Eagle walking on the ground.... Phil and Kath's top bird for the day was a male Hen Harrier and then shortly after a ringtail Hen Harrier out towards Kilchiran. Just at the darkening the mist rolled back in, the crag was lost in mist, wonder if the plane came tonight?

Sunday 20th January

The weather here today was the same as yesterday, cold, no snow so no complaints there... Tracey from SNH had e mailed through the figures from the International goose count while I was away and I forgot to put  them on the blog last night! The count carried out on the 15/16th January was as follows, 44,062 Barnies and 5,100 Greenland whitefronts. Thanks to Tracey and the team at SNH. Dave had a Golden Eagle yesterday down on the Oa. While he was out yesterday, up here at the back of Machir Bay he saw a leucistic Lapwing, so I had better go and have a look for it as it is on my doorstep... Round Loch Gorm, Dave had a Hen Harrier and a total count of over 20 Reed Buntings. Today, another first for me, a couple of Buzzards sitting on top of the garden wall, We often have them out from the crag and on fence posts but actually on the garden wall, something else. While we were in Glasgow, in our friends' garden on their feeders was a male Brambling, Great spotted Woodpecker, while on the ground a couple of Woodpigeons were present, as well as the odd Magpie flying past. All birds that we do not have over here on a regular basis!! It will be interesting to compare notes after the Big Garden birdwatch next weekend!

Thursday 23rd February

A few sightings through from James on the reserve at Gruinart on Tuesday were as follows, 3,755 Barnacle geese, 165 Greenland Whitefronts, 50 Greylags, 1 Canada hutchinsii sp, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Hen Harriers, 37 Reed Buntings, 8 Whooper Swans, 1 Peregrine, 2 Glaucous Gulls first winter at Craigens and a first winter Iceland Gull at Blackrock.

This morning, round at Ballinaby there were 30 Fieldfare and around 55 Starling and further on the Iceland Gull was still present. Here at home, a Sparrowhawk was on top of the garden wall. Visitors had a female Sparrowhawk, just out of Port Charlotte and saw the Glaucous Gull down at "smelly corner" still on the seal! Later on they had a male Hen Harrier over at Ballygrant, down on Ballygrant Loch there were 28 Tufted Duck and a Goosander. At Sunderland, there were 7 Herons and also a pair of Ravens down in the pine trees.

Margaret had been up at the pond and there is more frog spawn and there were some primroses out too, the first that she has seen.

Sunday 1st January

A Happy New Year to all our readers and followers. I think that on a positive note that there is only one way that things can go this year and that is for an improvement in the weather. I have not got all last year's figures together yet, but in December alone we had 9.25". I read in the paper yesterday that several areas in Scotland were heading for the wettest year ever, around Fort William their total was 115.0" and that was before the end of the year, with a mere 17.0" for December alone, and yet I complain when we get roughly half of what they got, sorry! With another miserable day here, when I was out I had a look at some of the grass fields, even the geese and starting to "poach" the fields up, as they are leaving muddy tracks behind them as they walk along. Just outside James's house there were a few Reed Buntings on the bushes there.

Tuesday 6th December

Late last night we had a few flashes of lightening and distant rumbles of thunder to go with it. Today there have been quite a few squally showers on the go, here the ground is still green but further over, the hills are white for sure! David down on the Oa had 3 Golden Eagles, 2 Chough and a Sparrowhawk. Danny today had 5 Pale bellied Brent at Bruichladdich, 2 Great Northern Diver on Loch Indaal before he came into Port Charlotte. Up the back of Portnahaven, 50 Fieldfare were seen. At Coullabus, there were 6 Reed Buntings on the roadside, and also a Kestrel. There was another Kestrel over at Sunderland. He also had a female Sparrowhawk on a mission down at Foreland, whether it caught its' intended prey he did not see as it had then flown on out of sight! Finally Danny had 6 Brent Geese over at Bowmore.

Sunday 25th September

Bob yesterday while he was out with Martin lost his hat, so nothing doing today he retraced his footsteps, and hey presto, he found his hat! While he was out there he saw 2 male Hen Harriers and also a Merlin. The other day, round at Killlinallan, Bob had a count of 50 Reed Buntings. Back at home and recently in his garden he has been having a lot of wee birds in at the feeders and the garden in general, up to 200 House Sparrows, with Robins appearing again and also good numbers of Chaffinches too, mainly males. He was also saying that he has been seeing regularly a female Hen Harrier out hunting over the barley field adjacent to his house.

Tuesday 30th August

A Golden Eagle was seen out over the crag earlier today, and a little later on the same folk had a Peregrine there too. David Mason, a volunteer with at RSPB at present, had seen a Yellowhammer over at Bunnahabhain on Saturday, and today up near to the former Kilchoman School, a Reed Bunting was present. Coming home tonight and there were a lot of moths out on the wing.

Saturday 29th January

The other day we took a quick run up to see what was on Ardnave Loch. We were not to be disappointed as there were 11 Whooper Swan, 2 Mute Swans along with a few ducks, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and some Tufted Duck too. Also present on the loch were 46 Greylag Geese. Coming back over the hill from Gruinart and the flock of around 30 Reed Buntings were still to be seen, just below the hut circles.

Today, in one of the fields close his house on the reserve at Gruinart, James saw the Canada Goose hutchinsii sp

Thursday 20th January

James had a male Peregrine over the reserve at Gruinart yesterday, and today he had a count of 27 Reed Buntings at the hut circles, again on reserve. James also sent through the figures from a count at Gruinart earlier this week. The tallies were as follows, 2 Great Northern Diver, 4 Shag, 2 Heron, 131 Shelduck, 99 Wigeon, 13 Mallard, 4 Goldeneye, 4 Red breasted Merganser, 2 Shoveler, 4 Mute Swan, 261 Oystercatcher, 8 Grey Plover, 159 Lapwing, 52 Sanderling, 112 Dunlin, 54 Bar tailed Godwit, 273 Curlew, 64 Redshank, 31 Turnstone, 3 Rock Pipits, 6 Hooded Crow, 3 Raven, 4 Greenshank, 8 Black headed Gull, 163 Common gull, 83 Herring gull and 3 Great black backed Gull.