Wednesday 2nd April

The other day Mary got some stats back from BTO from the birds that she had found dead on the Beached bird survey back in February along with Emily. Both the birds were found at the top of Loch Indaal, both Razorbills and both rung as nestlings. One bird was rung on Fair Isle back in 1980, so it was almost 34 years old, the other was a mere younster rung on the the Isle of Sanda in 1998. Back to today, Bob had a Spotted Crake over on Bolsay Moor this morning. We saw 3 different Sparrowhaks today, one beside the lime kiln down below Foreland, another in the willows at Shorefield, George's home at Bruichladdich. Later this afternoon the final bird flew past the kitchen window here at home. In the garden this morning, a Wren was singing away good style, is Spring in the air?? There was a small flock of Redwings up beside the old church at the top of the hill here this morning as well. The Dumfries Birders had an adult WTSE fly ovrer the Sound of Islay towards Islay. They also flushed a Snipe. Last night, they saw a Merlin chase the Starlings along the front of their cottage. Danny had been down at the hide at Gruinart and had seen good numbers of Ducks present, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler and Shelduck a great selection! By the way the Vulture yesterday was not an April Fool's trick, it was 100% true, honest...

Thursday 3rd May

Another great day out here with the weather, and another early entry for you to read, got another meeting tonight... It was the Wader watch at Gruinart last night and it was well attended by folk. Top of the list was a Corncrake, further on Snipe were drumming, we had some Red Deer down off the hill too, Redshank, Pintail, a Mallard with her brood in line behind, a Whooper Swan, 5 Mutes including 3 juv., 2 Whitefronts, a few Greylags, pr of Shoveler. So not to be outdone, later last night I went with some of the birders from the cottages for our own trip out to hear if any more Corncrakes were around, the target was 5 seeing it was still early days, by the time we got home we were all well pleased with 7 calling males heard. Crystal had been out at Gruinart later on too, and heard 3 Corncrakes, plus a Water Rail on the flats , and also a Spotted Crake up at Coullabus. We all had seen quite a few Wheatears resting up along the roadside in the headlights, and certainly there apeared to be more around, so perhaps there had been a fall of them last night. Yesterday down on the Oa, Dave had a Bonxie fly over the reserve, and today Dave saw 17 Common Sandpipers, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Cuckoo and 3 Mistle Thrush.

Saturday 25th June

Gordon Yates took this Corncrake earlier on this week, just before 10 pm in the evening. Talking of Corncrakes, on Thursday night/ Friday morning in the wee small hours, James had been out around the reserve at Gruinart and had heard 10 Corncrakes, 1 Spotted Crake, a Grasshopper Warbler and also 5 Water Rails. Many thanks are due to Chris and Tony Johnson for their sightings last week.

Friday 3rd June

Another great day again, although this evening the haar (mist off the sea) came rolling in and with that the temperature has dropped!!! Last night some of us were out listening for the Corncrakes starting around midnight until you finished up. Michal had been out at Ardnave, down to the reserve at Gruinart, Craigens, Killinallan and finishing at Uiskentuie. He heard 9 Corncrakes calling, 18 Snipe drumming, 2 Water Rails calling, 5 Grasshopper Warblers and also a Spotted Crake. Bob on his patch had seen a Tawny Owl and also a Barn Owl as well as 2 Red Grouse. On our corner, we heard 11 Corncrakes, 3 Snipe, and 2 Grasshopper Warblers. Margaret saw the Cuckoo out over the crag again this afternoon, while James had 5 Black tailed Godwits on the flats at the reserve today. Peter had been over on Jura and up in the woods near to Lealt, he had 2 male Tree Pipits singing and displaying away.

Tues 8th June

Another great image through from Carl taken yesterday when he was out at Tormisdale. On his way out there he saw 2 different male Hen Harriers and going through the Gearach forestry there was a Mistle Thrush. At Port Mor last night, Carl had a Short eared Owl while at home today he had young Song Thrushes out, as well as a pair of Siskins on the nut feeders, the first for a few months.

Bob reported in seeing 3 Kestrel at different locations of late, and a visitor commented that there were not as many Wheatears around compared with just around a month ago.

This morning James had heard a Spotted Crake, and had 3 Water rail and also heard an Otter calling on its young all on the reserve at Gruinart.

Today, out past Ardbeg we were watching the Seals loafing about on the rocks on Seal Bay when there was a movement in one of the clumps of seaweed, and an Otter appeared and we were fortunate to watch it for a few minutes. Further on there was a pair of Bullfinch and 2 families of Long tailed Tits in the Hazel trees after the Gatehouse entering Ardtalla Estate.

Thurs 2nd July

It might not have come to much rain yesterday, but fortunately I remembered to empty the rain gauge which indicated we had 2.6" for June. That was just before 8 o'clock this morning, and in less than an hour we had 0.75" by 9am! Surprisingly, there was little sign of flooding, although someone told me that the Co-op in Bowmore had to shut because of the rain!

Back to birds, and Michal had heard a Spotted Crake calling on the reserve at Gruinart while he was out last night. Overall, there were not so many Corncrakes heard in the areas where he was compared to when he had covered the same run in June. Also, this morning, Malcolm had seen a Swift flying South over Bruichladdich.

Fri 22nd May

The Corncrake count was carried out last night as planned but when I speak with Michal, I will be able to update you on the numbers. Certainly the tally, on the patch we covered was up on last year, and a Spotted Crake was heard calling down towards Machir Bay. James did the reserve at Gruinart and also had 3 Barn Owls and 2 Water rails.

While doing his survey work this morning, James had 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 7 Whinchats and a Common Lizard out sunning itself, it's okay for some, loafing about in the sun that is!

A visitor was telling me earlier on this evening, that he had an Artic Skua up at Sanaigmore this afternoon, and yesterday they had been watching a male Hen Harrier attempting to catch a hare, obviously with no luck as they more often prey on Meadow Pipits.

Thurs 21st May

Well, Michal has been on the phone, requesting help for the Corncrake survey tonight, hence the reason for an early entry on the blog, as once I have finished this, I hope to put my feet up for a wee while before going out! A friend phoned me earlier this evening to say that he had one close to his house which will be a new bird for Michal.

Last night Michal had heard a Spotted Crake just up from Bridgend, and Jack Fleming from RSPB had seen an Osprey yesterday at the head of Loch Gruinart, is this the same bird that we saw often last year?

Mon 19th May

This is one of the Whinchats that we saw on Sunday evening whilst out on a run round Loch Gorm. Down at Blackrock today, there were 3 Whooper Swan, and further along the road 5 Whimbrel flew past us. MAB

Over at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve today, James had a single Whooper Swan, while on the floods, he had 4 Moorhen, a pair of Gadwall and also a male Garganey. Yesterday, 2 Spotted Crakes were heard calling while on Friday, James saw 2 Four Spotted Darter Dragonflies and also noted the first of the Flag Iris in bloom. JRH

Sun 27th - Mon 28th April

Once again, for some reason or another I was unable to access the web to do the blog, but better late than never!

Over the last 2 days, the migrants are starting to return and stay, rather than just passing through. The Cuckoo had been heard over at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve on Sunday morning, as had 2 Corncrake, with the Spotted Crake being heard on Sunday evening. A whinchat had been seen on the reserve also on Sunday. The Barn Owl had been seen out hunting in the dusk on Saturday night. A small group of 9 Whimbrel were up at Ardnave.

On Monday, another Cuckoo was heard over at Carnduncan, while in the afternoon, James heard 2 Grasshopper Warblers when he was at Ballygrant. Michal also heard one, in the evening beside Loch Gorm, he also had a flock of 120 Golden Plover again at Ballinaby. James reported in to say that he had done a count of the Rook nests being occupied on the reserve, with a total of 137 nest sites this year, a rise from 120 in 2007. Back here at home, there were 2 pairs of Swallow that were inspecting nests, possibly returning birds. JRH, MS & IKB

Friday 25th April

Breaking news....

The first Corncrake of the year was heard this morning, here at Kilchoman, and Michael Copleston had a Spotted Crake over on the Flats at Gruinart last night! I later heard that visitor had heard a Corncrake when they went over to Colonsay on Wednesday. This image was kindly sent to me by Gordon Yates, of a bird over here on Islay, the other year. IKB

Michal contacted me this evening of seeing 2 male Hen Harriers at different locations while returning home from working on the Oa. While going out this morning, after hearing the Corncrake, we ourselves had a ringtail (female) Hen Harrier at one place and then a male about 3 miles further on down the road. Certainly the number of sightings are on the up, compared with through the winter. MS

Sun 13th May 07

Some late entries from last week.
The Green Winged Teal was observed over at Gruinart on Friday. G.J.
Also on Friday, 3 Canada Geese and a single Black tailed Gowit were seen. C.F.
Late Friday evening at Gruinart, 2 Spotted Crake and 7 Corncrake were heard, and another single Black tailed Godwit was seen. J.R.H.
Today, several Gannets were fishing in Loch Indaal close to the rocky shore line below Port Charlotte. Later on 30 chough were flying in the Machir Bay area. On a previous occasion some of the chough were seen mobbing a Buzzard! I.K.B.
Also today, in Bruichladdich, there was the return of a "tame" Lesser Black-backed Gull which feeds off the bird table, absent for over a year at least! G.J.