Sunday 16th May

 Some birds seen by Peter and also Roger Broad over on Jura the other day included "loads of Cuckoos, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Tree Pipits, the first reported Spotted Flycatcher of the year, White tailed Eagles, Golden Eagles and also Hen Harriers. Yesteday afternoon, they saw 5 Whooper Swans over at Gruinart.

On Friday, James had seen the 5 Ruff over at Gruinart with Gary spotting an Osprey flying over the merse at Bridgend.

Yesterday, David Dinsley had a Tree Pipit down at Kinnabus on the Oa with Ed Burrell's other half seeing an Osprey over at Laphroaig.

Monday 22nd April

Got the e mails through folks, thanks for being patient..

Arjun van Egmond who had been over last week on Islay, spending some time birding, as well as visiting  and possibly sampling some of the produce from the distilleries.. Coming over on the ferry the other day, he had counted 17 GNDs. He was well pleased to see the choughs at various places around Islay. When down at Ardbeg, he saw an adult White tailed Eagle fly over head.
David Wood had a flyover  by a Tree Pipit, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrest,  5 Sand Martin, 2 Swallows all on the Oa last Thursday,. Dave also commented on a noticeable influx of Wheatears and Willow Warblers.
Yesterday evening, Peter Gill had seen a male Hen Harrier, just out of Bruichladdich. Today, Peter had seen 4 Crossbills on the trees at Ballygrant. He also had heard a Cuckoo calling close by. 2 Dabchick were on Loch Ballygrant, with a Chiffchaff calling over at Port Askaig. On the feeders at The Woollen Mill, he saw Lesser Redpolls and Siskins, with a Grey Wagtail seen down on the River Sorn. He also saw a Dipper flying upstream there too.
Down close to Rockside road end, I saw a a male Hen Harrier, just after lunchtime.
Hopefully tomorrow, I will manage to get the sightings in from the others for you to read about!!!!

Friday 24th May

This spell of great weather continues, so rather than birding, I spent some of the day weeding and also putting another lick of wood stain on the gable end of the garage... Some birds seen at home included the Siskins as well as some Greenfinch, but no sign today of the Tree Sparrows....I hope that they have not moved on, but we will keep an eye out for them....

Yesterday, Derbyshire Bob had seen a male Hen Harrier flying towards Loch Gorm. Later on he had seen 2 Golden Eagles while driving along the "glen road" from Ballygrant over the hill down towards Mulindry. The Bowland Birders yesterday had ben over at Coal Ila where there were a lot of Tysties seen, a Yellowhammer was present up behind the distillery. They also had seen a distant Golden Eagle over Jura. A walk down to the Lily Loch and Loch Allen produced Tree Pipit, Blue Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Great spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warblers, Heron and Buzzard.

Sunday 28th April

Gary had been out for a walk down to the Lily Loch. His sightings included 2 Great spotted Woodpeckers, a Tree Pipit, a male and also a female Hen Harrier, a Whitethroat and also a Blackcap. Also some sightings from James Butcher,  a long term "vol" with the RSPB on Islay who will be with us over the summer. Today, James had seen 29 Whimbrel down at Claddach, 2 Cuckoos heard calling at Kelsay, a Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling away out of Portnahaven. Back on the reserve at Gruinart, he had a Ruff and also a count of 15 White Wagtails. Also today Distillery Dave had heard his first Cuckoo of the year this morning, up at behind Rockside...

Tuesday 9th May

Yesterday evening Bob had spotted the male Garganey out in front of the South hide, possibly the same duck that "the Olds" had seen earlier on. Today, James had watched an Osprey for some time over on Loch Gruinart itself. "The olds" today had seen 23 Whimbrel on the emerging barley field down at the Coastguards. Along at Coull, they saw a Sedge Warbler and then shortly afterwards a Collared Dove. Over, close to the airport they saw a cracking male Hen Harrier and finally 9 Pale bellied Brent geese at Blackrock. Up at Ardnave,Mark had seen 2 Great Skuas, 8 Comic Terns, 2 Barnies, 16 Whimbrel, 95 Dunlin, 57 Ringed Plover, a Hen Harrier, 17 Barwits and an Otter. The Bowland birders had been over out past Ardbeg today. In Kildalton Woods, they had Willow Warbler, Chifchaff, 3 Blackcap, Tree creeper, Siskin, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Redpoll, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and Wren. Along at Claggain Bay, they saw 2 Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, 4 GND, 16 Arctic Terns flying towards Port Ellen, many Redpoll, Common Sandpiper and a Sparrowhawk. On their way back to their holiday cottage, at Blackrock, they had the Brent Geese, House Martin and Raven. Here at home, this evening Margaret had a count of 33 Chough out on the machir. The birds have been busy again on the feeders, might try and get a count of them tomorrow for you...

Saturday 1st April

Another great day although there could be a slight edge to air, and before I forget, the tally for the rain for March was 5 inches exactly...

Jackie Fallows told me last night that along with her husband, and friends Ian and Margaret Haigh that they had seen 86 species during their stay, and yesterday, Ian and Margaret had seen 2 ringtail Hen Harrriers seen at different locations while going round the Rhinns. John and Kenny's top birds included a Velvet Scoter, the Green winged Teal and also they spotted a Dipper building a nest! Their tally for the week came to 102 species.. Today Richard had Chough and Wheatear at Sanaigmore, at Bruichladdich he had 6 GND and also 5 RTD. At Blackrock, Richard saw 5 Slavonian Grebes and finally up at Ardnave Loch, 2 Otters were present. Bob saw a Tree Pipit at Port Charlotte today and also 3 Greenfinches in the village. Back at his house, Bob had seen another 6 Greenfinches and also 4 Siskins. A short while later, Bob had a single Greenfinch along the road at Gearach. Carl Reavey today had seen a pair of Peregrines at Sanaigmore and on the cliffs thee were 30 Kittiwakes,  at Sanaig there were lots of Wheatears, down at Gortan, Carl had 2 Sandwich Terns. Here at home before breakfast, there was a pair of Shelduck, having a look around for a nest sight at the foot of the crag, fingers crossed...

Monday 9th May

Early this morning, Michal had a Ruff and also a single Barnacle Goose, both on the salt marsh, wonder if it was the same Barnie that we saw at Craigens last week? Mandy, this afternoon had seen 5 pr of Eider in the sea at Machir Bay. During a walk through the warren, Mandy counted 15 Chough while out at the duck pond behind the dunes, there were around 20 Sand Martin, as well as Lapwing, Skylarks and Mipits. Returning to the car park, she saw a Corncrake as it flew deeper into the reed bed! This morning round at Saligo, out over the sea, Mandy saw  a Curlew mobbing a Buzzard, also there were 20 Ringed Plover and a single Snipe. Along at Rockside she heard Snipe drumming, Sedge  Warbler and also saw a Cuckoo. The Bowland birders are back for another visit, hope they are not claiming to have brought the good weather! Yesterday, off Carn they saw Razorbills, 3 Arctic Tern, Raven and a raft of 20 Common Scoter. Whinchat at Cultoon, Cuckoo at Gearach and Fulmars on the nests at Kilchiaran were some of their highlight. They also had a small pod of around 6 B N Dolphins swimming out  of Loch Indaal. Today, in the Kildalton Woods, a pair of Bullfinches, Goldcrest, Siskin, Blackcap, Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff. Along at Claggain Bay, a Tree Pipit was carrying food, also seen there a BT Diver, M & F Hen Harrier, Grey Wagtail and Stonechat. On their way home to their accommodation, another male Hen Harrier was close to the airport and 2 Dunlin seen at Bruichladdich.

Friday 23rd May

There was a reported sighting of a Red necked Phalarope down in front of the hide at Gruinart yesterday. The Bowland birders yesterday had been down on the Oa, and had done a spot of sea watching from Port nan Gallan where they saw Manxies, Black Guillemots, and a passage of around 60 Gannets/ hour fly past. They also saw plenty of Fulmars nesting on the cliffs there, near the American monument a male Hen Harrier and back at the car park, a Kestrel on the overhead wires. On their way back, 2 Swifts were seen at Island Farm and prior to that another male Hen Harrier close to the Machrie Golf course. Ken and Sal headed over to Jura and had a good day there with the following birds seen, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit calling, Garden Warbler seen, 2 Siskins, Yellowhammer and a few Greenfinches all past the River Lussa. North of Tarbert 2 Common Buzzards wereseen, Red breasted Merganser just North of Craighouse, and they also had a possible Pied Flycatcher as well. They also heard and saw many Cuckoos on Jura. Graham and Jo had started their day around Loch Gorm with Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats and a male Hen Harrier seen. From the car park at Machir Bay, they had 8 Chough, 2 Buzzard and 2 Twite, they also heard a Corncrake calling there as well. Up the North end of Machir Bay they saw at least 70 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin and 50 Sanderling. Later on they saw a Peregrine over Kilchoman Distillery and then a ringtail Hen Harrier on their way over to Loch Gruinart. From the visitor centre there, a Spotted Flycatcher was seen and a Corncrake was heard.

Wednesday 14th May

Yesterday, Andy and Jane had headed over to the other side of Islay. While going along the "high road" they saw 2 ringtails and 2 Peregrines in a thermal and also a male Hen Harrier skydancing. Kildalton wood held Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, Treecreeper along with Great Tit, Blue Tit & Robins. Over at the Keeper's cottage at Ardtalla, a Yellowhammer was present as a Cuckoo. Another Cuckoo was at Balivivcar. Along at Claggain Bay, 6 Arctic Terns, 6 GND, 2 Common Sandpiper,3 Redpoll, a Tree Pipit carrying food, 4 Wheatear and 2 RTD in summer plumage were present. Another male Hen Harrier was seen at Island Farm at they headed home. Also yesterday, David Livingstone saw a Golden Eagle as he walked out to Soldier's rock. George heard a Cuckoo in the trees beside his house the other day, had a Mallard out with her young ducklings on his ponds and last night had heard a Corncrake down below his house between the road and the shore, while Paul Graham had another up behind An taigh Osda also at Bruichladdich. There was a late reported sighting in today of a Bee-Eater seen up at Ardnave back on the 18th of April.

Tuesday 7th May

A great day out here with the weather, the temperature got up to a heady 16degrees, mid afternoon. Only trouble is that the forecast is for some rain tomorrow...The Hammills returned to Glasgow but had a great weekend birding, highlights included seeing the large flock of Golden  Plover near to Rockside and also Whimbrels near to Port Charlotte and more at Bruichladdich before heading home. Bob yesterday had a Golden Eagle flying low behind Port Charlotte, could it have been hunting for hares? George yesterday counted 120 Pale bellied Brent flying South towards Port Charlotte. Today, he had a Wheatear at his pools, with 12 Swallows flying over the pools, his usual Swallows are back in residence in his garage. This evening 20 Whimbrel flew in to George's fields and on the shore George noticed an Oystercatcher sitting on a nest down on the shore. Today Bob had a single Fieldfare fly over his house around midday. James when he was out doing his surveys this morning at 6am had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the head of Loch Gruinart. On the floods, James had 11 Gadwall, he had a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Whinchat singing and also a Lizard out basking in the sun! Andrew and Jane had a Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit , Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Wren all in the woods around Kildalton. Claggain Bay and the surrounding trees held the following, Tree Pipit, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush & Cuckoo. The Bay had 1 GND, 2 Black throated Diver, 2 Red throated Diver, Black Guilliemot, a nesting Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher also sitting on a nest, Wheatear and 2 pr of Common Sandpiper. Back at Octomore they was a flock of Golden Plover and a Sparrowhawk nobbled a Starling. This afternoon, here at home we heard our first Cuckoo of the year, and on the bird table we counted 8 Redpolls.

Monday 1st May

A great day over here with plenty of different birds seen today. It all started off with the Argyll birder spotting this Little ringed Plover, only the second one ever here on Islay, we believe. Mary found a Ring necked Duck at Ardnave Loch as well as a Long billed Dowitcher there too. Not to be outdone, James had a Tree Pipit on the reserve at Gruinart. Peter and Pia had a male Yellow Wagtail beema sp also on the reserve, from the new hide this afternoon. Peter also had 15 Ringed Plover at Coull and then around 200 Golden Plover at Ballinaby, the Argyll birder counted a total of 212 Plovers present there. The Argyll birder also had a Whinchat at Grulinmore and several groups of Whimbrel, 11 at Ardnave, 18 at Bruichladdich and 98 down at Nerabus. Bob this evening counted 30 at Octomore. Peter also had 3 Grasshopper Warblers and a Whitethroat at Foreland. James had a Merlin at Ardnave this afternoon, and we had one at Coull this morning which put the flock of Golden Plovers up. Yesterday Michal had a male Hen Harrier displaying down on the Oa. He also had 2 Golden Eagles,a Red Grouse, a Sedge Warbler and several Willow Warblers. He also seen "loads" of Meadow Pipits and also Skylarks there too. Bob had a Golden Eagle yesterday up behind Sunderland. Bob's friend Chris had 95 species seen on his 2 day trip to Islay.

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.

Wednesday 23rd March

Another great Spring day again although the haar came in off the sea late afternoon.

David Formby, our resident dentist here on Islay and Jura had a Willow Warbler this morning. I have had 3 different locals in touch today saying that they had seen Chough at different locations carrying in nesting material. One of the cock Pheasants here at home was seen mating with one of the hen birds, so it is all starting to happen.

There were 2 Wheatears along at Saligo this afternoon and also a single bird behind Machir Bay. In the ploughed field beside the Coastguards 150 Golden Plover were counted. James had 16 Whooper Swans arriving from the South at Gruinart, they had been flying quite high, so possibly the first of them heading North again.

There was also a message through of good sightings of Crossbills at Avonvoggie, better still, from the car on the road....

138 Common Scoter were counted off Port Charlotte this morning as well as numerous Divers.

Steve Ash one of our visiting birders has headed home now, Steve saw the first Wheatear up at Persabus last week. On the ferry this morning Steve had "dozens of Guillemots, Razorbills and Black Guiilemots, 30 Great Northern, 10 Black throated and 10 Red thoated Divers, plus a pair of Common Scoter. Steve really enjoyed his stay and is already talking of a return visit! Many thanks for your sightings.

Bob had been over on Jura yesterday and in a brief 2 hour visit, just North of Craighouse, he had a count of 46 species including a Tree Pipit, a pair of Stonechats, a pair of Canada Geese as well as an Otter!

Tues 20th May

A friend phoned me up today to say that she had heard from a visiting birded that he had seen a Tree Pipit in the woods up from Bridgend. Here, at home the Swallows are definitely not back in the same numbers as last year, the nests at the front door are not being visited, and also the nest at the back door appears quiet, but on the positive side the one in the dog kennel/shed is being used, as is the nest in the garage, and there are definitely 2 different sites in use up in the sheep shed. House Martin numbers appear to similar to last year. I wonder if the 2 House Martins, that were reared by the Swallows last season, did they return? IKB

Tues 8th May 07

Many more Arctic Terns are around with two "colonies" already busy with display.
At a time when Lapwings are being overtly protective of their newly hatched young, it's a sobering thought to see increasing numbers of "high Arctic" waders arriving, such as Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Sanderling, which have yet to make the exhausting journey northwards to reach their breeding grounds and begin the process of mating, incubating eggs and nurturing young. Having said that, to see the emerging plumage of Dunlin and Turnstone is a real joy and, hopefully, refuelling here will ensure their safe journey to areas most of us will never have a chance of even seeing. J.S.A.
Ballygrant Woods produced a Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, and also 2 Blackcaps, the lone Whooper still remains, and a group of 25 Whimbrel were seen near Loch Gorm. R.G.B. & C.B.
Last weeks sightings over on Jura, included a Grasshopper Warbler, Snipe drumming, several sightings of Hen Harrier out quartering looking for prey. A Willow Wabler in full song, 6 Yellowhammers and a pair of Siskins at a bird table. L.G., G.M.