Saturday 7th November

 Yesterday was Mike Bell's last full day here on Islay for this visit.... so here are Mike's birds..

Bowmore to Gartbreck: 6 GND, 1 Slav Grebe, 19 Greylag, 109 Greylags, 3,900 Barnies, 26 Wigeon, 85 Teal, 32 Mallard, a male Pintail, 15 Eider, a male Lt Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 25 RBM, 36 Oystercatcer, 52 R Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 245 Lapwing, 51 Knot, 60 Dunlin, 27 Barwits, 64 Curlew, 12 Redshank and also 21 Turnstone 

Gartmain to Bridgend held the following birds: 68 P b Brents, 129 Wigeon, 84 Malard, 4 Goldeneye (incl. a drake), 2 ad WTEs, 157 Oystercatcher, 55 R. Plover, 75 Knot, 290 Dunlin and  960 Golden Plover.

At Gruinart, Mike had 18 Whoopers arriving in, 740 Lapwing and only 200 Golden Plover, a Hen Harrier and also a  Golden Eagle, and a Blackwit.

Loch Gorm a WT  Eagle flushed around about 90 Teal

Mike kept the best birds to the end as he had seen a Short eared Owl being mobbed by 2 corvids in the sky above Kindrochid. A few moments later,Mike watched the S e Owl being caught in flight by a WTE...

Many thanks for your birds Mike, stay safe, hope you had a safe journey home...

Last night I had an email through from Dave Jackson who has been over here for the past 2 weeks, and heads home tomorrow..  "We've had an interesting - and occasionally somewhat feisty couple of weeks, but haven't managed to see anything that has not already been reported on your blog ... although we were fortunate enough to see at some distance what appeared to be an altercation between an immature WTE and an Otter on the flats at Gruinart at 7.45am on Monday!  There was what appeared to be a Grey Phalarope surfing the waves on the beach on Monday afternoon"

Dave Pierce sent this through last night as well...

"Our daily holiday cottage White-tailed Eagle didn't arrive until c0900. Again perched on rocks in Loch Indaal below Bridgend, but also on to the boat wreck briefly.

Down at Kildalton a Redwing flock was in excess of 130. A Sparrowhawk was in the same area. Another Sparrowhawk at Leorin.

On the Oa there were White-fronts at Cornabus c70, plus c120 at Kinnabus mixed with Barnies & Greylags. An adult male Hen Harrier was hunting here. At Upper Killeyan a flock of about 110 Twite were buzzing around.

Finally a Merlin was on a roadside post at Glenegedale by the High Road."

Dan  Brown had seen "2 Blackwits on the Cornabus burn flood, American Wigeon still  present on Loch Skerrols plus possible 1cy female Lesser Scaup though distant, Todd’s Canada with Barnies north of Gruinart farm."

  

Dave Dinsley who  now works  down on the  Oa for RSPB had a Glaucous Gull seen down on Kilnaghton Bay yesterday

This afternoon, Margaret had seen a male Blackcap out in the garden up here at home, initially on the garden wall before flying into a bush for some cover, great to watch, yes i saw it as well, no need for the bins!!! We also saw 5 Red Deer away out on top of the far crag as well...

Saturday 5th May

Sorry folks about not writing an entry last night, but by the time I got home last night  off the ferry, and got all our stuff emptied out and put away, well anothr day was done. tonight it is only 8pm, but already a 14  hour shift put in so far...

Gary, on Thursday, had watched an Osprey take a fish out of Loch Finlaggan. The same day, he had seen 30 Pale bellied Brent on the merse out from Whinpark, up close to Torrabus, he watched a Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits. Then up towards Bunnahabhain, Gary had a Golden Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard.

Last Sunday, Pauline Greenhalgh had seen a Short eared Owl when she was over on Jura. On Wednesday ,she had a dark phase Arctic Skua, just up from Feolin , a Fieldfare up past Lealt and on her way back down to the ferry back to Islay, a Kestrel was seen close to Feolin. On Thursday, a Merlin zipped across the road near Ardbeg. Close to Kildalton, an Osprey was seen on top of a telegraph pole eating its' prey. And in the woods around the Dower House, Chiffchaff and also Blackcap were heard.

James Butcher had seen a Pectoral Sandpiper and over 60 Whimbrel up at Ardnave around midday yesterday.

This morning, on the feeders here at home, we had a Yellowhammer and also a wee while later on a Greenfinch. Late afternoon, 2 Hooded Crows were mobbing a Raven forcing it down to the ground and then this evening, a Hooded crow forced a Buzzard to the ground...

George Newall is over from Dunoon for 3 weeks, he had a Glaucous Gull out from the old hide at Gruinart today.

Wednesday 27th July

Many thanks to James for writing the blog in my absence, so it is back to yours truly for a few days again...

Back on Monday, a visitor had reported to say that he had seen a Short eared Owl at the Sanaigmore turn off on a fence post. Some Manx Shearwaters and also Bonxies were seen off Portnahaven by a visitor on Monday as well, not sure if the visitors were the same folk or 2 different folk... The later visitor today had seen a Golden Eagle on the Rhinns.  Today, Gary had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier up at Sanaigmore, out quartering over the moorland. Gary also noted seeing several Wheatears on the moor as well as Gannets flying past both ways out on the sea. Down at Machir Bay, a Greenshank flew up off the bay, after being spoofed by a young Peregrine. Back in Gary's garden, he has had a good number of Warblers present today in his shrubbery. Last night, when we arrived home, there were 11 Song Thrushes probing around on the lawn....

Thursday 23rd June

Today Bob ventured to Loch Skerrols where he saw couple little grebes and in the woods around the loch he saw a spotted flycatcher. He also had 6 redpolls in his garden. Phil saw a buzzard interacting with hen harrier at Gruinart. James saw short-eared owl yesterday below his house and couple siskins on his bird feeder.

Wednesday 1st June

Another month in with the rainfall tallying through here at 2.6 inches... and just over 20 inches for the year so far, a third of the years' total so far, was in January alone!!!

Returning visitor, James Common sent some highlights of the birds seen so far from this visit. At Finlaggan, he saw the Ring necked Duck, a female Goldeneye, a male Hen Harrier and a Sedge Warbler. Over in the bay at Port Ellen, a GND in summer plumage, 2 Arctic Tern, and another male Hen Harrier. In the Port Askaig/ Coal Ila area, James had Chiffchaff, 3 Hen Harriers, Tystie out on the Sound of Islay, Whinchat, 2 Groppers, a Short eared Owl and a Barn Owl. At Gruinart, 2 Corncrakes, 3 Whooper Swan, a Barnie, and further along the road there were over 200 Rock Doves in a field and then a Sparrowhawk ! On Loch Indaal, 6 Arctic Tern were present with a male Hen Harrier seen closer to Bridgend, a great set of birds, thanks James. Forgot to mention the other day that Bob saw a Glaucous Gull when he was up here on Sunday. Gary today saw a couple of Kestrel over his house and while out walking the dog, he had seen a White tailed Eagle and then a an Osprey carrying a fish from Loch Finlaggan. Several Buzzards and also good numbers of Stonechats were also seen while out. Here at home, the were 25 Chough out over the crag mid afternoon and a wee while later a male Hen Harrier flew past. Earlier on, round at Ballinaby, we saw a ringtail out on the wing, a good day for Harriers!

Thursday 28th March

On Tuesday, on her way home, on Jura, Louise had a Short eared Owl down towards Ardfin, the first she has seen for a while. Yesterday, Dave mustered the troops from the Oa and Gruinart reserves plus Bob and Martin. Together, they carried out a cliff survey on the Oa reserve with the highlights being 3 Golden Eagle, 1 imm White tailed Sea Eagle, 1 Merlin, 3 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, pr Red Grouse, Snipe, Woodcock and  4 Chough. Offshore they had a pod of 6 Bottle nosed Dolphin. Today, through the office window on the Oa, Dave had a imm White tailed Sea Eagle, a Golden Eagle and also a Peregrine. This afternoon, out from smelly corner we had over 40 Whoopers resting up and at least 50 Shelduck to be seen there too. On one of the wee ponds nearby there was a pr of Moorhen present.

Tuesday 12th February

Our Hampshire birders yesterday had been up at Ardnave. In the dunes opposite Nave Island, they had a small flock of 20 Twite, out on the sea towards Nave Island, they saw 3 Black throated Divers and 1 Shag. Later on they counted over 40 Chough. On Ardnave Loch itself, 3 Whooper Swans were present. Down the road on the game crop close to Garra Eallabus, 2 Greenfiches were seen in the mixed flock of Reed Bunting, Brambling and Chaffinches. Finally down to Uisekentuie, they saw a Pied Wagtail on the fence at the side of the road. Yesterday Bob had 32 Greylags on Loch Gearach, also seen there were 1 Whooper Swan, 90 Teal, 20 Mallard and 45 Wigeon. Over towards Grimsay, Bob had 2 Snipe and later on a Short eared Owl. This morning, Jane Griffiths had a Golden Eagle fly past her house up towards Mulindry.

Tuesday 4th Sept

Another good here weather wise, most of the local farmers will be making the most of it with their combines out cutting the barley, and some will be taking the chance to make some more grass silage. The weather forecast for Thursday does not look too good, so make the most of this spell of weather, boys... Yesterday Bob had 4 Little Grebes and also 17 Mute Swans on Loch Skerrols. Today Bob had been round Ardnave with a visitor, their highlights included 11 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin, 150 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 6 Turnstone, 3 groups of Sanderling, 20, 34 & 60,  61 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 180 Curlew and 2 Black tailed Godwit. Over the other side of  Loch Gruinart, they had 2 Great Skuas, 2 Wheatear, 20 Twite, 45 Goldinches and a flock of 60 Chough. Bob this evening saw a Short eared Owl out of his kitchen window.  There has been a Chaffinch visiting the bird table of late that has several white tail feathers...no rings on it Euan! At midday, just past the memorial to the Kilchoman bards, there was a single Wheatear, and just along the road another 2 were present.

Tuesday 28th August

Louise phoned over today from Jura... on her journey down from her house at Gatehouse, up past Craighouse down to the ferry at Feolin, she had a "raptor road trip". 4 Buzzards, 5 Hen Harriers, 2 Peregrines, 2 Short eared Owls and then a White tailed Sea Eagle over the Sound of Islay while she was waiting for the ferry! One of the Peregrines flew from Jura over to Islay. John Lee, a visiting birder over here for the week had seen the following today. 40 Curlew at Port Charlotte, a Razorbill on Loch Indaal off Port Charlotte, around 60 Chough, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and a Buzzard all at Ardnave. Yesterday off Port Charlotte, John had several Kittiwakes.

Saturday 11th August

This morning, Margaret had a Pied Wagtail up on the bird table in the garden, we often have them down on the grass, but on the actual bird table was a first! Yesterday morning, Bob had a female Sparrowhawk  hunting over his hedge, in the afternoon in his garden, Bob had over 20 Whinchats and around 40 Redpolls flew over his house, while in the early evening there was a Short eared Owl flying out over the rushes in the fields close to home.

Thursday 5th July

A good day out here today. It was up to 20 degrees this morning, so the sheep were enticed into the shed and the stragglers got shorn. The big tup who is some size has his annual short back and sides!!! James came over after lunch and we soon had his sheep clipped too, another job off the "to do" list. Dave down on the Oa was in touch with a few birds, the mist or haar that has been keeping the Oa shrouded for a few days has gone with the rise in temperature. This afternoon, Dave had a Swift and earlier on had 3 Hen Harriers. At the weekend Dave saw a Short eared Owl on Saturday and again on Sunday on the reserve. Here at home, just after we finished clipping, a male Hen Harrier flew over the crag, and the young Swallows vacated their nest up in the shed.

Friday 29th June

Armin kindly sent this image of a male Hen Harrier, taken last week when we had blue skies, mind you the weather today has been a bit kinder!!! Still catching up with some sightings from when I was away, Carl had a Greenshank last Saturday down at Gortan, Mary had a family of Siskins on the bird feeders at Claddach down at Portnahaven last weekend. Bob & Lorna Young had a GND up at Sanaigmore, heard a Corncrake there too, as well as a Common Sandpiper were their highlights for last Saturday. On Sunday, up at Ardnave, their top birds were a White tailed Sea Eagle and later on a Shelduck with brood of ducklings. On Tuesday, down on the Oa, Michal saw a Short eared Owl.

Thursday 14th June

Some sightings in this evening through Peter, well seen by Peter's friends who are over here for a few days. Yesterday, over at Ardnahoe Loch, a full summer plumaged Black throated Diver flew in and landed. Up towards Bunnahabhain a Buzzard was being mobbed by a Short eared Owl. Over on Colonsay, they had seen a pair of Golden Eagles and late yesterday evening back on Islay, on the edge of Bridgend woods, close to the Market a Woodcock was seen roding. Today, over on Jura they had seen  2 Short eared Owls close to Craighouse.

Monday 14th May

2 of the RAFOS visitors had been out for an early walk at 6am and not only had they heard the Corncrake, but one decided to cross the road in front of them.... Later on rond Loch Gorm "tall John" had a Short eared Owl and later on he had a Golden Eagle out over the crag. Mid afternoon over the old water mill a Kestrel was hovering eyeing some prey up. The 2 different Corncrakes here were both heard calling through the afternoon when I was out painting as it was dry, making the most of it before Thursday with more rain forecast! There was a Gannet fishing in Loch Indaal off Port Charlotte this morning while the Whimbrels were still in the barley fields at Rockside.

Monday 9th April

Weather not so good over here today, although it had rained through the night, it started off not bad, but come mid afternoon, it had gone downhill with a few heavy showers around. George had 37 Black headed Gulls and 31 Common Gulls down on Loch Indaal this morning, up at his house there were 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Reed Bunting and a Goldfinch. Carl had been over on Jura today and on his way back from Craighouse had a pair of Hen Harriers and also a Short eared Owl. Dave had a Golden Eagle and a Sparrowhawk on the reserve on the Oa, and yesterday over beside Loch Gorm had seen a Hen Harrier and a Merlin. Today was the last day for our Manchester birder, and down on the Oa he had a Golden Eagle, not the same bird that Dave had, 50 Fulmar, 40 Twite and 2 Chough. At the airport, a ringtail Hen Harrier while at Bridgend, he saw a Sparrowhawk. Back at Bruichladdich, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Great Northern Divers, some Gannets and 5 Pale bellied Brent Geese were all on Loch Indaal.

Friday 9th March

It has been a funny old day with the weather over here today. It started off with heavy showers around, then later on it turned out misty, and mid afternoon, the mist lifted and it turned out a not bad day, blue skies with the sun shining. Earlier on this morning, the sea itself was roaring away. So as you may gather, not really a day for seeing birds, oops... One or two were seen, some Fulmars were out in this morning, and over the crag this afternoon a Buzzard was seeing a Raven off, or was it the other way round, I am not too sure! Down on Loch Indaal, below George's house there was a Great Nothern Diver. Bob this afternoon had 2 different Short eared Owls about 2 miles apart down on the Rhinns.

Sunday 8th January

What a difference a day makes, power back on, phone working, so there is no stopping me now, all the e mails up to date, and now on with the blog. Today George had a Buzzard eating the remains of Barnacle Goose along the shore towards the lighthouse at Port Charlotte. Along at Coultorsay, George saw a Glaucous Gull and returning home he had a different Glaucous along the shoreline. At home itself on the feeders there were 10 Greenfinches and a Reed Bunting while yesterday there was a Woodcock coming into roost just at the darkening. George commented on a few more Greenfinches at his feeders, 8 was his highest count prior to today. Jane Dawson saw a Short eared Owl out on the wing yesterday between Easter and Wester Ellister. Before heading home on Wednesday, Miriam Parkes had seen 2 Cackling Geese between Newton and Esknish along with the Barnies. Today, there were 2 Cackling Geese over at Neriby amongst the Barnies seen there by visitors. The same birders who have been over since Friday, had found 5 Glaucous Gulls , 2 adults near to Coull, 2, second winter and also a first winter at Uiskentuie yesterday. They also had 4 Iceland Gulls, a first winter gull with the Glaucous gulls at Uiskentuie, another first winter at Coull again with the Glaucous gulls, an adult bird at Bruichladdich and another first winter bird down on the Oa. They had a count of at least 8 Great Northern Divers between Port Ellen and Claggain Bay, while in Kilnaughton Bay, there were 2 Black throated Divers. Thanks folks for your sightings, now I am back in the groove...

Tuesday 17th May

It's like a back end day over here today, rather miserable in a nutshell, the post was early, by our standards that is.... so we will have to turn the clock back 24 hours for the blog...Forgot to mention that we saw a Cuckoo on the way over to Port Askaig, close to the Caol Ila road end! Jon and Angie Shutes from Norwich had seen a Short eared Owl, a male Hen Harrier and also an adder close to where they are staying here on Islay, up the back of Port Charlotte. On Sunday they had seen a pair of Yellowhammers when they were over at Ardbeg.

Friday 13th May

This is one of a series of images that was forwarded to the blog from Andy Robinson who works with RSPB. Andy was over here working last week, and has kindly allowed us to use his images, more from Andy over the next few days.

Mary had been out round Loch Gorm and sent some sightings through. 3 Pairs of Stonechats seen, a Short eared Owl, 2 different male Hen Harriers, numerous Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Linnet and Twite. A couple of Sedge Warblers were heard singing, but there seemed to a lot more along the road running around Loch Gorm. She also saw an Arctic Skua (pale form) which was following the coastline North up towards Sanaig.

For some reason or another I have just noticed that the entries for the last 2 days have disappeared into cyber space, lost in the far yonder....

Saturday 19th February

Last night for a while, it turned out to rather wet and windy, but today turned out a bit better, although the morning ferry was diverted up to Port Askaig. Even the birds were better...
This morning, here at home we had a Siskin on one of the bird feeders. Later on, after lunchtime we went round Loch Gorm and then up to Ardnave. Just past Coull, on the whins at the roadside was a Stonechat, and further on there was a large bird on top of a straining post, on looking through the bins it was a Golden Eagle. A few moments later on and another Eagle came into sight as it soared past. The first bird took off and both of them on the wing. We watched them for a while before they flew off out of sight. Ardnave Loch had 12 Whooper Swans, a pair of Mute Swans, some Tufted Duck, Wigeon and a few Teal. On the shoreline were 5 Lapwing, a pair of Oystercatcher, and later a pair of Curlew were seen too. Just before the darkening, a couple of Peregrine were sitting on the crag, here at home.
I was speaking with Steve Percival who this morning had seen a Barnacle Goose over at Craigens that was initially rung back as a juvenile bird in Iceland in 1983, so is now 27+ years old....
Another visitor was in touch this evening with their sightings. They had been watching a male Hen Harrier down towards Portnahaven for the best part of an hour, as it quartered back and forward. At same point, they had 3 Buzzard, a Kestrel and later a Peregrine. On their way home they had a Short eared Owl.