Weds 18 May

 A very late entry for yesterday, but better late than never!

The common crane was reported again, this time in the fields below Carnduncan, near Loch Gorm.  Peter went out to seek it, but with no joy. He did, however count 57 ringed plover and 11 dunlin at Ballinaby, and 14 tufted duck at Loch Gorm.

James found a pair of gadwall at the Gruinart Floods, plus a yellow wagtail.

Lauren at RSPB LochGruinart attempted the WeBS in the poor weather, and shared the highlights: 

"21 shelduck, 100 oyster catcher, 136 ringed plover, 4 knot, 289 dunlin, 85 bar tailed godwit, 5 curlew, 1 turnstone, 123 common gull, 4 common tern, 1 little tern and a whimbrel

 

I also had 15 arctic terns at Ardnave today"

Ed reports that the Iceland gull is still with him at Cornabus. 

Vicci had been in touch after an other day out, this time on Machir Bay "A walk behind Traigh Machir revealed Sand Martin visiting nests, Meadow Pipits and at least one Twite. On the beach we saw Ringed Plover and 2 purple sandpiper" She also kindly shared these photos. Thank Vicci, Islay photos at last!

Finally Aidin reports of a singing whinchat outside Kilchoman Distillery. 

Thanks to all for your sightings.

Mary

Thursday 16th April

David Barr was in touch back on Monday saying that he had just seen a Green Woodpecker when out with his 2 dogs over at Lochearnhead that morning...

Mandy has had a great day with the birds around where she lives on Islay...

"This morning I had the Redwing again in the tree at the rear of her house, sunning itself. Late afternoon, just sitting in my front garden listening to a starling going through its repertoire of the usual buzzard, curlew, crow, raven, gull, blackbird etc., then it threw in a bleating lamb!Exceptionally good. If it wasn't coming from the roof I'd have believed it was real ...And it has just did a chough too! And I've seen the willow warbler, appropriately enough in my willow in the front garden😄. Just heard a second willow warbler up here, one is calling close by and a second further away 😊"

Dr Matt Jackson had been down at Machir Bay, late afternoon

"Was out for my authorised bought of exercise this evening and heard my first Corncrake of the year down by the parking area at the beach at Machir Bay! There were also quite a number (20+) of what seemed to be mixed sand and house martins among the dunes along the middle and south end of the beach."

Tuesday 7th April

David Wood yesterday had seen 4 Sand Martins and a Swallow down on the Oa yesterday.

I have just heard that the British Bird Fair which should have been held in August down close to Rutland Water has been cancelled, another victim of that virus.....

Wednesday 28th August

Forgot to mention last night on the blog, that we had 8 Sand Martins seen as we drove home last night, at Duich Farm over the bridge there. Margaret had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier out over the machir, here at home yesterday afternoon. 

This morning, just before breakfast, there was a Sparrowhawk seen outside flying down towards Kilchoman House. Yes, the rain came through the night, not a lot but enough to stop the combines working and it was still damp for some time this morning, so I doubt if any harvesting was carried out today, certainly no baling of the straw would have been done... This evening there appears to be a gathering of the Swallows, so perhaps there might be not so many around tomorrow...

Friday 16th August

George E Jackson sent some sightings from through the week...

Coming back home on Tuesday evening, they had seen a Barn Owl between Sunderland Farm and Rockside. On Wednesday morning down on Machir bay, 7 Greylags were seen, but George also commented on the amount of Goose footprints seen up the Coull end (North end) seen there over the past few days.. Other birds seen there included 5 Chough, as well as 15 Ringed Plovers. On the fence along the edge of the dunes around 40 Linnets were counted with 15 Sand Martins out feeding. A Stonechat was seen there as well. Up in the reed bed, a Sedge Warbler was present. In the afternoon, over at Finlaggan, they had a family group of 4 Stonechats and then separately, another 2 Stonechats. Also, sitting on a fence post in at Finlaggan was a Buzzard. Yesterday, they had gone over to Jura, up from Craighouse and before Ardlussa, they had 5 pair of Mute Swans seen, none of which appeared to have any youngsters... From the ferry coming back from Feolin they had seen an Otter, in the middle of the Sound of Islay.

Today, Richard Williams and his wife came and visited for a well earned cuppa and catch up, great when visitors throw their sightings at me for to use on the blog... It has been their first visit to Islay and by the way they both spoke, it will not be their last, just spread the words around folks...

Friday 21st June

This morning, on his way into the Machrie, for a round of golf, David Livingstone had seen a male Hen Harrier on the ground eating its' prey. 

This afternoon, while we were oustside doing a spot of birdwatching, Margaret saw a Buzzard swoop down onto the ground. It was being annoyed by a hen Pheasant and shortly afterwards the Buzzard flew off, carrying the hapless Pheasant chick away in its' talons... We were pleasantly surprised watching around 25 to 30 Sand Martins flying low over the meadow next door, great to watch them hawking for some food.

Today, was John Wilson's last full day of this present visit... Down on the Oa, they had seen some Twite and heard 2 Corncrakes calling away...Out past Ardbeg, they had a Great spotted Woodpecker and out on the water on Claggain Bay, 19 Red breasted Merganser were present. Finally John saw a ringtail Hen Harrier along at Rockside.

Tuesday 28th May

Yesterday evening, after writing the entry for the blog, I took a wee walk down along the burn from here towards the Coatguards and on towards Machir bay and the sea... I was not disappointed as a Heron took off from the burn, and there are at least 40 active nest sites being occupied by Sand Martins. Finally when sitting down for a breather, I heard a distant Corncrake calling over on Rockside.

Jamie Barr, Distillery Dave's son who has been over for a few days visiting his folks, had seen a male Hen Harrier yesterday, down close to Foreland.

By the way another glorious day with the weather again, so we managed out in the garden, all going well, we might get the borders finished tomorrow...

Monday 1st April

Well another month in with the rainfall tally up hee at home for the month of March coming to 4.6 inches in total.

Yesterday with the better , nicer, warmer weather around, Lesley had seen several small Tortoiseshells and also a couple of Peacock Butterflies in her garden. She also spotted a Thrush sitting on a nest in the hedge. Lesley was also saying that she has been hearing and also seeing both Redwing and Fieldfare flying overhead through the week...
Also yesterday Peter had been out for a spot of birding with some guests, after returning from leading a tour to Borneo, and then visiting family in New Zealand. Out on Loch Indaal, from Bruichladdich Pier, they had seen 5 GND, 25 RTD, and a single BTD all in non breeding plumage. At the Pier, they also had spotted a Tystie. Later on, up at Gruinart, they had a flock of 175 Golden Plover out in the fields below the visitor centre with some now in breeding plumage. Finally up at Ardnave, they had seen 2 Wheatear and also 2 Sand Martins..

This morning Phill had counted a raft of 16 Eider in the bay at Port Ellen. The weather out here was not as good as yesterday, just as well we took a daft turn and did some time working outside when we did.  I am not complaining, as long as the weather improves and stays for some time in a fortnight so we can sow the seeds!!!

Saturday 30th March

Down on the Oa reserve on Thursday, David Wood had a count of 15 Whooper Swans and he also saw a Wheatear. Yesterday Dave had 2 Sand Martins and also a total of 8 Chough, all seen down on the Oa. Yesterday, Malcolm had counted 28 Turnstone on the strand along from Uiskentuie. Along at where the road leads up to Kintra, he had a female Peregrine fly across the road and away...
Up here at home, we saw the Red legged Partridge again, where it has come from is a bit of a mystery, as I do not know where it has come from, as none are released locally...

Friday 1st March

Malcolm was in touch to say that Jean Reid and Ian Turner had seen a Sand Martin flying around at Portnahaven on Wednesday, the earliest and only February record for a Sand Martin on Malcolm's data base. The earliest sighting of one, prior to Jane and Ian's sighting was of a Sand Martin seen back on the 1st of March 2000.

I also had heard that there was a Wheatear seen over on mainland Argyll as well as a sighting of  an Osprey, both earlier on this week..

Friday 13th April

Some sightings through tonight from Mike Peacock... Yesterday, Mike had seen a Magpie along with 5 Mistle Thrush down at Easter Ellister. Out on Loch Indaal, from Easter Ellister, he saw 4 Sand Martin and also a Swallow. Today, Mike has been seeing 4 Sandwich Terns for most of the day over Loch Indaal, from Port Charlotte. Up off Loch Gorm House, Loch Indaal, the Glaucous Gull was still present. Mike had a flock of 65 Golden Plover at Rockside and then he saw a Wheatear down at Machir Bay.

Monday9th April

A mixed day with the weather out here today, it started off with fog which eventually did clear and mid afternoon it was raining, but now it is turned out quite sunny... And no snow!!!

Yesterday, Gary had seen 4 Hen Harriers while driving up to Bunnahabhain, a male and female sky dancing and shortly afterwards, another 2 out on the wing, yes, sky dancing too, great to watch... Down towards Caol Ila, he heard a singing Yellowhammer. Finally, over the pools behind Carnain, he saw 3 Sand Martins. Also yesterday, Dr Neal Vaughan-Jones, one of the our local GP team, had seen 2 Swallows on the Eastern side while down on the Oa. He also had a male Hen Harrier there as well with some GND heard out on the water of Loch Indaal. This afternoon, we watched for a wee while, a Yellowhammer out on the feeders at home, earlier on in the rain (it was dry when we started out!) while walking back home through the dunes behind Machir Bay, my sister and I saw a cracker of a Wheatear and also close range views of the local Choughs. On the edge of the large pool in the dunes, we saw an Iceland Gull along with the other gulls there. Margaret counted 46 Goldfinches on the feeders today, no wonder I am kept busy buying niger seed!!!

Wednesday 13th September

Mary Redman yesterday had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Claddach Loch and also a Dabchick on the water itself. Today, JD has put in another days' birding...  At Frenchnan's Rocks, Jim did a sea watch for almost 1.5 hours seeing 930 Manx Shearwater, 127 Kittiwake, 11 Fulmar, 2,100 large Auk, and an Arctic Tern, he also saw 2 Ruff and 2 Golden Plover in off the sea. Later on, he had a Grey Wagtail at Kilchiaran with 6 Red Knot and a Wheatear at Carnain. Off Bruichladdich, 5 Arctic Tern and a Sandwich Tern present, with a female Greater Scaup noted at Blackrock. A Sand Martin was present at Gruinart with 7 Gadwall seen on Loch Gorm.

Here at home, many thanks to the Electricity Boys as we lost power through the night, the long and the short was that they laid a complete new cable to allow us power again, so once again thanks to Rop, Shimy, Ross and Ant..

Friday 31st March

Yesterday, Michal heard a Chiffchaff at Gruinart Farm, while Bob saw a Swallow round at Rockside. Jackie Fallows had seen some Fulmars on the cliffs on the Oa and also saw 4 Gannets flying East, low over the sea. John and Kenny's Reed Bunting flock was up at Storakaig on Wednesday. Yesterday they saw 4 Sand Martin following the river, up past the "wood chip store" above Avonvoggie. Peter saw a Gannet at Bruichladdich, his first there this year. Richard Belter had seen the drake Green winged Teal out from the new hide at Gruunart, this morning. Marc Eden had seen 3 Lapland Buntings at Ardnave while "Botswana Dave" noted a few Pale bellied Brent out from Crosshouses.

Monday 20th March

It was meant to be the first day of Spring today, it certainly did not feel like it...and the weather does not look too promising tomorrow either !!!

Mike Peacock yesterday saw a Sand Martin and also a House Martin at RSPB Gruinart, both the first report as far as I know for Islay this year. Mike also saw a male and female Peregrine Falcon thee too, as well as a White tailed Eagle.

Thursday 28th July

A not bad day with the weather today, and the sun is streaming in through the big gable end window, so I will try to write tonight's entry before getting blinded out...

Bob, yesterday had seen several Stonechats with fledglings as he took a walk up Bolsay Moor. Here at home yesterday, it is not only the "wee birds" that are enjoying the cover crop, as I have been seeing a more frequent visit of a  male Hen Harrier quartering over the crop, no doubt looking for some of the wee birds to prey upon.... I also had seen the Whitethroats and also Willow Warblers on the seed heads again. David Formby had a spell looking out over the crop this morning, and had seen 16 species in just over an hour including a total of 7 Linnets feeding on the crop, 2 Sand Martins flew past with  6 Swallows hawking over the pond. This morning, we saw a ringtail Hen Harrier close to Saligo, another at Culbuie, and then a third one as we came up to Rock Mountain.

Monday 19th April

Mary reported big number of gannets along the coast at Portnahaven, 4 Canada geese roosting on the loch at Claddach, loads of wheatears and a swallow at Nerabus. On Friday Gary had a male hen harrier flying across his garden in Ballygrand and on Saturday he saw a male hen harrier with couple females below Beinn Chùrlaich and back home he had a sand martin flying over his house. Yesterday he saw a redwing feeding in his garden. Over the weekend there was a cuckoo heard in Foreland Woods and great spotted woodpecker in Bridgend Woods

Sunday 17th April

James had 2 arctic terns yesterday at Ardbeg, also a chiffchaff and loads of willow warblers. There were also 4 Canada geese in the bay past Ardbeg. He saw a swallow at Blackrock and loads of sand martins from the hide at Gruinart.

Friday 15th April

Today in Ardnave James saw a pink-footed goose, loads of wheatears, 2 whooper swans on Ardnave Loch and 205 grey seals in Loch Gruinart. Yesterday Fiona saw 3 sand martins at Killinallan Point while doing a guided walk for Walk Islay. Today there was a female sparrowhawk seen at Lyrabus. Walk Islay finished today with a walk on one of the Paps of Jura - Beinn an Oir. During the walk we had a good view of a single meadow pipit.

Friday 8th April

Today Bob had a chiffchaff in his garden, also five or six red grouse and male hen harrier near Bolsay. Couple sand martins were spotted on east side of Loch Gruinart. A visitor reported seeing a woodcock in Bridgend Woods. On Ardnave Loch there were 8 tufted ducks, 6 mute swans, 3 whooper swans, 6 oystercatchers and pair of black headed gulls. Loch Gruinart was surveyed today and 2 great northern divers were seen, as well as 75 shelduck, 75 wigeon, 16 eider, 102 oystercatchers, 108 bar-tailed godwits, 65 curlew, 41 turnstones. From the south hide there were seen two sand martins, 8 shovelers, 11 pintails, 125 whitefronts, 34 redshank, 10 snipe, 3 moorhen, 30 lapwings, 64 teal. Dave had a singing chiffchaff at Kinnabus, 2 wheatears and a peregrine at Laggan Point.