Monday 11 July

 Today on Islay we enjoyed more cloud cover, mild temperatures and a good wind all day. I would complain, being July, however after watching the news with 'extreme hot weather warnings' across parts of the UK, I'll count my blessings.  

Not much in the way of sightings submitted today, though Michal reported swifts at both Kilchoman and Kilchiaran.  Sadly there have been further reports locally of more dead seabirds washing ashore on Jura and Islay.  

Todays photos of the active gannets in the Sound of Islay (Billy Stitchell) taken yesterday.

Mary

Wednesday 12th August

 George E. Jackson e mailed some sightings, all seen yesterday...

"This morning, driving down the road just below Foreland, a Wheatear flew across in front of me. Another sign that early Autumn passage is starting?

This evening at Traigh an Luig, again there were 10+ Turnstones, 6 Dunlin and an increase to about 20 Ringed Plovers."

Also yesterday, Alistair Hart had seen 2 Swifts flying past down at Port Wemyss.

This afternoon, David Barr dropped in for quick catch up and he told me that he had seen a Sparrowhawk take a Great spotted  Woodpecker, rather a noisy event by what David told me! Not sure of where it happened, certainly not on Islay, but either close to Lochearnhead or even down near to Jedburgh

Monday 10th August

Alistair Hart sent through the following e mail to me this morning ..

"First for me on Islay.

Swifts calling between Portnahaven and Port Wemyss.

Last night, a presumed Pipistrelle bat in Port Wemyss."

Another e mail just in from Alistair, saying that he had seen a male Hen Harrier, down close to Ballymeanach this afternoon.

Thursday 25th July

Yesterday, Peter and Mike had taken a walk along the track leading along to Bolsay. They had seen a Swift flying past them, heard a Grasshopper Warbler calling away, a distant Sparrowhawk was seen and at least 4 Buzzards were spotted as well...
Lesley, yesterday morning had seen a few small groups of Mistle Thrushes flying around down at McNicol's croft and then in the afternoon, she had 11 in total on the overhead wires beside her house.

Today, Allen Skinner  had seen an Osprey above the reed bed leading to Machir Bay, it continued to fly upwrds on a thermal from the dunes behind the bay before he lost sight of it.... Shortly afterwards, Allen saw a Merlin zip across one of the barley fields down at Sunderland Farm.
Up here at home, I looked down to the shed door and who was seen, yes, the 2 wee Swallows sitting on the sill, waiting to be fed, better that, than getting blown about in the strong winds I suppose..

Sunday 21st July

Around midday out here today, the weather has broken down with some dirty squally showers of rain in the mix. So, to put you out of your misery, not that great a time to be outside. I would have got weather beaten rather than a sun tan if I had ventured out..

Bob was up this afternoon, and gave me some birds for the blog...

On Friday, over at Saligo, he had a Swift. Yesterday, at Laggan Point, Bob had seen a Dabchick, and a female Peregrine. He also had a Cormorant there as well as over 100 Shags flying around, many with young. He counted 40 Fulmars on nests too. Also present were 6 Red breasted Merganser and a female Eider with 2 youngsters. Bob also had seen a possible Little Gull there as well. 

Thursday 27th June

Another class one day with the weather, but do not expect me to "spout lyrically" about it once we get the rain and it refuses to stop.

Yesterday, Gary had seen an Osprey out over Loch Gorm. Later on, he saw another one at Loch Finlaggan.

Today, James had a Swift over at Gruinart.

Tuesday 14th May

A glorious sunset again out here on the West of Islay, as I write this entry. I heard today that some of the Distilleries here on Islay are a bit concerned with the lack of water, with one or two of them have stop distilling any new spirit...

Today, down on the Oa reserve, David Wood had seen House Martins and also Swifts. David also told me that he has heard a Corncrake calling at Kinnabus as well.

Sunday 8th July

Back on Friday, Gary had been out on the Islay lifeboat of which he is one of the crew. Well after the shout and while returning to Port Askaig, he had seen 5 RTD flying North up the Sound of Islay. Yesterday, while out with some clients, Gary had seen 5 Swifts flying over Machir Bay. Yesterday, Peter had a Greater spotted Woodpecker in the trees over beside Red Lodge on the High road. This morning Peter, Mike and Ian, Peter's friend who is over for a few days birding, had seen a Whooper Swan resting up on one of the silage aftermaths at Rockside. Also this morning James had a Spotted Flycatcher in his garden. This afternoon, we had a female Hen Harrier out along the base of the crag.

Reading back the blog, I have just realised that I forgot to tell you our rainfall figure for June, well it only came to a mere 1.1 of an inch, not a lot.... I know it is early days for July, bit the rain gauge has got nothing in it yet apart from a heavy mist last night, nothing much else in it so far.

Saturday 2nd June

A big change in the weather today, with a low mist/ sea haar  in for most of the day. From here at home, we could not see the crag in one direction or the Cross out at the War Graves cemetery. James How had seen a Swift over the Reserve at Gruinart, yesterday. This evening, the low mist/ haar has lifted a bit, and lo and behold the midges came out... the first we have here this year at Kilchoman, so needless to say I did not stay outside for very long!!!

Friday 1st June

Yesterday, James Butcher, the long term "vol" at Gruinart had seen the Green winged Teal out in front of the South Hide. Today, James B. had seen 2 Swifts while he was up at Ardnave, the first Swifts that he has had this year. Just before lunch time today, Donald Jones had seen a Glaucous Gull when he was out checking the stock at Coull. Here at home, the House Sparrows have had some of their young out on the feeders, "begging" to be fed.

As we are now in another month, I emptied out the rain out of the rain gauge, with he tally for May coming to a mere 1.1". Come to think of it I forgot to mention that the figure for April was 3.1".

Friday 25th August

There was a VERY lot of rain last night, so I have been out on the reserve letting water away to the sea, so that we can prepare the wet grassland for the Autumn/ winter. Peregrine on the mud of Loch Gruinart, also Greenshank and a Wheatear on the shore. Yesterday a Swift was reported over Ardnave Loch.

Saturday 22nd July

Yesterday, Gary had seen 3 Little Terns and counted 30 Dunlin at Carnain while over at Gartmain, he saw over 70 Barwits. James, yesterday had seen 4 Swifts while he was up at Ardnave. Today, James saw a Greenshank on the reserve at Gruinart. Also today, Alistair Hart had an excellent sighting of a Whitethroat, between Port Wemyss and Portnahaven and later on great views of a Raven up behind Claddach. Today, while out and about, mainly from here at Kilchoman and over to Gruinart, we felt that were more Wheatears and also more Pied Wagtails around. On the way home this evening there were 3 Buzzards together below Carnduncan.

The monthly Islay Bird nerds meting will be held here at Shepherd's cottage at 7pm on Tuesday evening, so if you are around, feel free to come along.

Thursday 20th July

Yesterday, James had a Peregrine over the reserve at Gruinart, he also had a Swift. Yesterday too, Gary had scanning over the sands (tide out!) between Bridgend and Bowmore seeing over 100 Oystercatchers, 65 Curlew and 17 Barwits. Gary has also been spotting some Swifts as well while he has been out and about over the past few days. This morning, we saw an Osprey perched on a post down on the side of Loch Gorm . On our way home, we saw a ringtail Hen Harrier as it flew across the road in front of us below Coulererach. At home, mid afternoon I counted 47 House Sparrows on the fence below the hut... Been a not bad day with the weather here today, although it might be a different story tomorrow, with rain forecast from midday onwards, we will just take what comes...

Wednesday 19th July

Well, as predicted last night, the weather went downhill, almost spot on at 4pm, it has rained quite heavily since, with not much let up in the near future. Possibly just as well that we live at the top of a hill/ ridge... The windows look like the windows that Fishmongers used to have with the water streaming down them, showing my age now!!

Yesterday Thomas Miler, one of the young birders who are here for 3 weeks, had seen 2 Peregrines in a stoop in to the Choughs present behind Machir Bay, possibly young birds training up, as no doubt adult birds would have had a kill... Later on, Thomas and his friends, saw a juv Golden Eagle on the wing  at Carnain. Also yesterday, Mark spotted a Swift at Gruinart and also 40 House Martins. James later on saw 2 Swifts over the reserve. It was Mark's first Swift of the year.

Thursday 13th July

Yesterday, Gary had seen a White tailed Eagle fly over Keills and then up towards Bunnahabhain, he saw a pair of Bullfinches. Yesterday We saw a Red legged Partridge on our way to Bunnahabhain just after Ardnahoe. Today, Gary had been out with clients. They saw a male Hen Harrier at Finlaggan, later on, a ringtail was seen up towards Ardnave. At Ardnave Loch, they saw 4 Black tailed Godwits in summer plumage and while going over the Glen road 2 Swifts were spotted. Here at home on the feeders, earlier on, an adult Greenfinch plus 3 youngsters, proof that they must have bred!!!

One of the House Sparrows out behind the garage yesterday morning..

Thursday 25th May

Another great image through from Mike Boyes, this time of a pair of Lesser backed Gulls displaying on the water. One of them was often seen upside down as it is in Mike's image

Last night, was the first round of the Corncrake survey here on Islay when we all try to go out and hear how many Corncrakes are around. On the run that I do with Margaret, we had 5 Corncrakes in total and it will be a day or two before we get a tally up. In total we do 3 counts... We also saw a Barn Owl, heard Sedge Warblers, Grasshopper Warbler, and a Lapwing and a single ewe bleating for its "missing" lamb... So after all that we got off to bed after 1 am, oh to be young again...

Carl Reavey had seen a Swift down at Bruichladdich today

Monday 22nd May

Yesterday, Gary had seen an Osprey take a fish from Loch Finlaggan and the eat it.. Later on at Finlaggan, he had seen 2 Dabchick, 15 Tufted Duck and also the Ring necked Duck. Today, Gary had a ringtail Hen Harrier there. Bob today had seen a Blackwit from the old hide at Gruinart. Out from the new hide, Bob had the male Garganey and also a Swift further out on Gruinart. Bob was speaking to a visitor while he was there, who told Bob that there was a Little Egret present out from the new hide yesterday.

Saturday 6th May

Another glorious day and like a lot of places, I think some of us might like a wee shower of rain, to help the garden plants especially, as long as it remembers to stop, once it starts...

Back on Thursday, Paul Graham had seen a White tailed Eagle out on the wing, out past Ballygrant. Yesterday, Bonnie Wood, Dave's wife saw a Magpie between Mid and Upper Cragabus on the Oa, Dave saw it later on as well, does he not trust his wife's id skills?  Gary had seen a Swift over Loch Indaal yesterday. Today, down at Machir Bay, Mandy had seen 9 Whimbrel, 20 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin in summer plumage, 2 Wheatear and a Linnet on the fence wires. Along at Coull, a Sparrowhawk was seen and back home at Carnduncan, Mandy heard and then saw a Chiffchaff in a bush outside her window. She was also saying that the Cuckoo there is calling away non stop...

Monday 30th May

Sorry about the late entry this evening, but got held up doing other work, I may be retired but life still goes on...

Back on the 22nd Mary had seen a Red Kite down at Portnahaven. On Saturday, while out walking her young daughter, Mara. Out the Port Charlotte road from Portnahaven they had Stonechat, a Song Thrush, a pair of Mistle Thrush mobbing a Cuckoo, 2 Whitethroats, Sedge Warbler, Gropper, Wren, Robin and Chaffinch. Along at the old playing field, there was a "loose flock of 7 Swifts and 8 House Martins. A short time later, and a Peregrine was added to their list, Thanks Mary. Yesterday Martin had been out kayaking from Kintra towards Soldiers' Rock. He had seen a Bonxie and was telling me of having Razorbill on the water less than a couple of metres from them! Gary had seen Swifts fly over his house out of Ballygrant, while Sam had seen a Kestrel across the road. Yesterday, Gary had seen a Barnie down on the shore along from the Kilchoman turn off on Loch Indaal. Today, Bob had a Sparrowhawk just over his garden fence. New resident to Islay, Jenny had seen a Barn Owl up beside Ballygrant. Here at home, this morning one of the Greenfinches was at the feeders, showing the brood of 3 where to come for an easy meal.... This morning too, a pair of House Martins were inspecting the house and have put some spots of mud on the gable end!

Saturday 28th May

What can I say but briefly, it has been an glorious day with wall to wall sunshine... on Thursday, Dave had seen his first Swift for the year down on the coast at Upper Killeyan on the Oa. This evening, Dave saw a Turtle Dove at Kinnabus a new Islay tick for Dave. Here at home, I noticed that a pair of Swallows have taken up residence in one of the "artificial swallow nests" that we had put on our garage, with a pair of House Sparrows rearing a brood of youngsters in the "sparrow terrace" a few yards away!!!!