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."

Sunday 12th April

James was in touch today. Today, he saw 4 Wheatears seen out from Mill Cottage, and then yesterday in his garden he had 2 Willow Warbler, a Redpoll, a Goldcrest and also a Sparrowhawk.

Gary had sent me through some sightings
"Some birds from today, on Loch Finlaggan. 17 Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Red throated Diver.  7 Common Crossbill were present in trees at the house."

Friday10th April

Yesterday Mary Redman had seen her first Swallow of the year flying across the bay down at Portnahaven. Also yesterday in the early evening, Mary counted over 100 Redwing flying past, up behind the village.

Mandy has also sent some sightings seen by herself
"Tuesday, at dusk 200 white fronts and 300 barnies flying towards Loch Gruinart, then on Wednesday at dusk 50 white fronts, then last night nothing (apart from the usual 20 or so greylags in the fields).

Yesterday and the day before a calling chough flew over.

Last week, there was a flock of around 50 skylarks at the top of the track, some dust bathing.

Last night, I heard a mistle thrush singing at dusk."

Gary sent me through some birds seen and heard by him

"Willow Warblers arrived last night, loads singing today, male Hen Harrier quartering over the moorland behind house, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Goldfinch at the big bird table." 

David Barr who before was called Distillery Dave, but now living in  Lochearnhead reported in this evening with some birds..

"Rock Pipits , Kestrel and Wheatear, all seen while out for his walk (with Ted and Ella, his dogs) in Glen Kendrum."

Saturday 27thJuly

James forgot to include on his sightings from yesterday of a Sparrowhawk and also a Golden Eagle

as well.

Today, Al Hart had seen"plenty of Willow Warblers and Stonechats seen along the road to Claadach, out from Portnahaven".

Here at home today, the Peregrines were seen out over the crag, late afternoon. Looking out over the seed crop, and I felt that there were more WillowWarblers around and a few more Linnets around as well..

This coming Tuesday evening, it is that time again, the Islay Bird nerds will be meeting again, we will meet at 6.30pm for a look at the birds over at the estuary on Loch Gruinart. So if  you are coming, we will shall see you up at the wee quarry before the sheep pens at Bun an Uillt (NR294690), roughly a mile up past Craigens on the East side of the Loch. If the weather is in doubt, please give me shout on 01496 850 303 by 5.30pm for an update ....

Friday 19th July

Once again, the weather will take top line on the blog... This morning, it was great with quite a warmth in the air but mid afternoon, there were a few spots of rain, not a lot but...

Having said that, I took some time out in "our hut" this morning with my "bins". Apart from seeing numerous House Sparrows, Siskins were seen and then out from nowhere a juvenile Goldfinch was spotted down on the edge of the bird seed crop. But equally rewarding was seeing around a dozen or so Willow Warblers on the various seed heads. Out of the kitchen window, we had a Hooded Crow strutting around beside where the wee birds are fed, you could almost hear it say "Look at Me". Also this evening, I just saw a Rock Dove in a similar mode and again in the same place, if not a bit closer to the house... Out on the grass, there have been some Pied Wagtails as well as a few Blackbirds and Song Thrushes have a good howk looking for some grubs to eat.

Tuesday 16th July

The heavy rain which I thought that might have come last night did not materialise, although there was some dampness on the gravel outside when I got up this morning...

The weather has been good again although there was not much wind, the clegs were out, better I suppose than the dreaded midge, at least a good swipe at a cleg and it is no longer a living cleg, midges are harder to get rid of... Enough on that subject!!

This afternoon, I saw a beautiful male Linnet down on the bird seed crop, and then shortly afterwards a Willow Warbler was present on one of the seed/ flower heads on the other crop.. Still that is what the seed mixes were planted for....

Thursday 11th April

An right early entry for once, not even had an afternoon cupa yet, but here goes.. 'cos I am away out shortly for an evening meal with the family and friends!!!

Yesterday, Peter did a quick count of the Tysties seen at Bruichladdich Pier noting 8 birds in all. In the afternoon, Peter noted another feeding frenzy out on Loch Indaal with mainly Gulls seen , 5 RTD, and a Common Guillemot with 23 GNDs present there at the same time. Also yesterday, Mike had counted 4 Sandwich Terns between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte. Phill had the folowing birds down on the Oa, again yesterday, Sand Martin, Canada Goose, GND, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, 3 Eider, 43 Tysties and also 25 Twite. 

This morning, Mike had heard 3 Willow Warblers calling away, when he was walking along  the track leading out to Bolsay. Phill this morning had 25 Lapwing, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Sand Martin, 2 Curlew and also 9 Snipe, all down on the Oa reserve.

Monday 7th May

Yesterday, visitors Richard and Jean Fletcher, had seen a White tailed Eagle up behind Ballygrant, and then 2 Cuckoos were present as they drove along the road. Coming back down from Bunnahabhain , they had another Cuckoo. Finally, at The Woollen Mill, they saw a Dipper and also 2 Grey Wagtail.

Today, Andrew and Amanda had been over at Gruinart and then up to Ardnave. At Gruinart they had seen Snipe, Redshank, Sand Martin and numerous Lapwing, 2 Whooper Swan, 2 R B Merganser, Ringed Plover, also Dunlin, a Blackwit, and 2 Wigeon. On the moorland trail at Gruinart, they had Skylark and a Willow Warbler. A walk round Ardnave Point produced 4 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 3 Whimbrel, 8 R B Merganser, many Eider (too many to count), a GND in Summer plumage and then shortly afterwards, one in Winter plumage. They also saw 3 BN Dolphins.

Back here at home I have busy planting some Alders, watching the antics of the Chough and doing a bit of PR, speaking to 2 different sets of birders who are over this week on the back of the Bird Fair stand

Tuesday 17th April

Rather blustery, all over the country today, with a fair bit of rain thrown in for good measure...

Today, Mandy had heard a Willow Warbler at Carnduncan. Gary saw a Common Sandpiper up at Bunnahabhain and then he had seen some Swallows at Finlaggan. This morning, we had a female Blackcap out in the garden, so possibly a pair as a male has been seen here on Sunday and also yesterday. The Chiffchaff has been very vocal again outside today as well.

Friday 8th September

Another miserable sort of the weather, yet again...Mike got the stats back from BTO relating to the Manx Shearwater which he had found dead down on Machir Bay, on the 4th of Sept. It was rung as a first year bird at Bardsey Bird Observatory on the 5th of Sept 2004, a mere 4,747 days ago!!

Gary today had been down for a walk along the River Sorn from the Woollen Mill. On the River itself, he had seen a Dipper with Goldcrests and Long tailed Tits heard calling away in the trees. Mark and Phill had joined forces today and carried out the WeBS count on Loch Gruinart with their birds counted as follows: A Pale bellied Brent Goose, 2 Barnies, 234 Greylag, 380 Ringed Plover, 238 Dunlin, 16 Barwits, 2 Blackwits, 14 Knot, 121 Curlew, 29 Sanderling, 9 Turnstone and a Peregrine. They also reported through a possible sighting of 2 Little Stint up on the shore below Kilnave.

Jim Dickson arrived over for a week's birding, so here are some of Jim's birds seen today, 30 juv. Blackwits, an adult Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 House Martin, 1 Shelduck and 4 Knot all at Gruinart. 4 Greenfinch were at Kilnave with a Merlin at Ardnave also a male Hen Harrier at Coull. Finally Jim had a Willow Warbler along at Sunderland Farm. Here at home, I saw 3 families of Stonechats on the game crop this morning as well as one of the House Sparrows caught and rung by George E Jackson in the Spring. It was up close to the house and I managed take some images of the leg ring and matched the ring numbers.

Friday 21st July

Nothing much going on outside, out here today as it has been rather wet, but late afternoon, it did stop, the wind dropped too, so possibly a perfect night for the midges come out, but come to think on it, they go to bed too, you do not really hear of folk getting bitten by midges at night?? With being "stuck" indoors today, Mr D should be pleased with me, as the Islay sightings are bang up to date again!!  A quick walk round the garden proved fruitful with a family of Willow Warblers on the hemlock heads and a family of Great Tits present in the Willows. 

Wednesday 12th July

Another great day again, all day although there was a low hiugging mist which hid Loch Gorm at first light... I saw it at the back of 5am and got up and watched the day roll in, quite a spetacle watching the mist rolling away. They said on the weather forecast this evening that Islay was one of the coldest places in Scotland last night, down to a mere 5 degrees... so I managed to get some snaps of the morning..

Looking over to Rockside Farm and the old Pagoda on the right, with the new Pagoda surrounded by scaffold in the centre, with the mist shrouding Loch Gorm, a great sight...

Back to birds, there was a House Sparrow on the wooden fence beside the garage.. a Fulmar out on the wing, one of the few remaining Fulmars nesting here now on the crag. There were over 30 pairs nesting when we came here back in 2000, now only 3 pairs are there... Along the barbed wire fence, a Willow Warbler was out as well, with a Stonechat on a fence post. Along the march fence, a family of Linnets kept floating back and forward between the top wire and then down over on to the seed heads. Out on the Machir, a Hare was having a tidy up. And that was all seen by 6am, well worth getting up for, honest!!!

Friday 7th April

I have been "off Islay" for most of the day but still have some sightings for you. The other night, I heard that a visitor had a Corncrake at Gruinart, last Sunday. On Tuesday, Richard Belter had seen a Great spotted Woodpecker in Bridgend Woods and yesterday evening Alistair Hart had a Willow Warbler between Portnahaven and Claddach.

I received an e mail today to say that the blog was in the top 80 Bird blog sites in the world, so keep the sightings coming through folk and see if we can get up the rankings, currently we are at 69, against other international blogs.... if it had been last Saturday, it might have been a prank, mind you it still could be.... 

Monday 3rd April

What a rain there has been out here today, at least it did fair up late afternoon, and I managed to plant out some more willows, job done, great...

"Cockney" Dennis was in touch with some sightings he has had while visiting Islay. He met in with John and Kenny the other evening in the bar in the Bridgend Hotel.... Far out on the hills, Dennis had seen a pair of Golden Eagles talon grappling and mating immediately afterwards. He had heard a pair of Willow Warblers  at Gruinart, and saw 2 Sandwich Terns at Bowmore. He had Woodcock rodding at Bridgend on Friday evening, a great visit by all accounts. As ever, many thanks to the various birders who sent me through their sightings while they have been here, much appreciated. Marsali sent through her tally for the rain at Mulindry for March which came to 6 inches, wetter than here as usual!!!  Mandy had a Greenfinch this afternoon at Conisby and here at home we counted a total of 37 Goldfinch this morning at the feeders when the rain at its' peak!!!

Monday 24th October

Over the past few days Gary has been seeing groups of Long tailed Tit, Goldcrest and also Treecreeper in his garden. Yesterday, Lee and Aileen Thickett had seen a Peregrine spoofing the geese at the top of Loch Indaal, but with no success. Back out in the trees at their cottage, they saw a Treecreeper. Michal, along with James and his family had made the most of the great spell of weather and climbed up Bheinn Bheigier yesterday, they saw a Dipper on the stream close to where they parked their car, and other birds seen included 2 Peregrine, 12 Golden Plover and 3 Raven. Yesterday also, Mandy had seen a Pink footed Goose amongst the mixed flock of 800 Barnies and 75 Greenland Whitefronts at Rockside. In the early evening, at Rockside as well, Mandy spotted a Barn Owl perched on top of the stone wall beside the road. Bob was in touch today to say an increase in numbers of wee birds in his garden this morning. More House Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches with 6 Greenfinch, 12 Great Tit, Blue Tits all seen on his sunflower heads! Other birds present were Goldcrest and also a Willow Warbler. Phil Hampson saw the Long tailed Duck out on Loch Gruinart this morning again, a Greenshank too with a "tired looking" Wheatear on the shore.  While Phil was visiting here this afternoon, 30 Chough graced us with a flypast! Today, John Wilson had gone over to Jura. He had between 250 - 300 Fieldfare helping themselves to the plentiful Rowan berries present. Back on Loch Indaal, at Bowmore, John had 17 Pale bellied Brent Geese, and yesterday evening down on Machir Bay, he counted 39 Ringed Plover.

Wednesday 13th July

 

Another image taken yesterday, just along the wall from where the Corncrake was seen a few weeks ago. The birds are certainly making the most of the seed heads that are on offer at present, and also the abundant supply of insects around too... The Whitethroats and also the Willow Warblers are just great to see along with more Bumblebees around as well ...

Today over on the feeders at The Woollen Mill, we saw Siskins, Great Tits, young fledged Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, a fledgling Robin hopping around on the ground with a watchful parent on the fence nearby. On the treetops, 3 Collared Doves were present.

Thursday 30th June

Peter Donaldson reported hearing a corncrake at Portnahaven, later at Machair Bay he had couple ringed plovers and a common sandpiper. Gary had a loads of willow warblers in the wood at Lilly Loch, also wrens, treecreepers, robin, bullfinch and young heron.

Wednesday 13th April

Yesterday James saw a gadwall outside the hide at Gruinart. There were dozens of displaying waders in Ardnave today - lapwings and redshanks, several drumming snipe and a flock of 14 golden plover. Couple wheatears were seen at Kilnave. At Gruinart several willow warblers were heard, rooks in the rookery are busy feeding young and a sedge warbler was heard calling briefly.

Monday 11th April

It may have remained dry today but there was a lazy Easterly wind blowing, with the cold air going through you, rather than round you...Yesterday, Michal had hear his first Willow Warbler for the year, just outside the office at Bushmills. He also heard Treecreepers calling away along the woodland trail. He had also spotted a Stoat carrying a vole into a hole in a stone wall... Peter Roberts had also heard a Willow Warbler calling away at the rear of his house down at Bruichladdich. Later on, Peter had been on a quick return trip to Kennacraig on the ferry but reported a "totally birdless trip with not even a gull being seen". Visitors to the visitor centre at Gruinart had written in the diary of seeing 2 Sandwich Terns at Bruichladdich, 2 Pale bellied Brent amongst the Barnies at Kilchoman, and also 2 Pinkfoots amongst the flock of Whitefronts there as well. Bob Swann and Andrew Ramsay from Tain had seen 12 Sand Martin at Gruinart yesterday. Today at Ardnave, they saw an Iceland Gull. Arminreported through from the walking week and felt that there was a lack of birds seen because of the cold wind... All the same there were a few Skylarks, all flying quite low, 2 Buzzards were seen, one circling over Foreland with the other closer to hand as they walked back towards Bridgend, this one was being closely watched by 2 gulls.... Our Bob Davison, late afternoon, had seen the White tailed Eagle again, but this time it was really close, taking a Hare from the field adjacent to his house, wonder can Bob call it a "house bird" now??? 

Friday 10th April

There was a reported sighting of a Short eared Owl seen up behind Port Charlotte from earlier this week, but nobody else has seen it as of yet...Mary yesterday had seen a Sand Martin over the floods at Gruinart and had seen 2 Willow Warblers while on the Moorland trail. Visitors had written in the diary at the visitor centre at Gruinart of "lots of Wheatear and a Swallow up at Ardnave". Today, Mary was in touch to say that Willow Warblers were "singing everywhere". She also had seen a Swallow at the reserve, and earlier on this morning had a Sand Martin at Claddach. Around midday when coming back home, we had 4 Swallows up behind the coalyard at Gortan. Over the last few days the Lapwings here have been very noticeable with their aerial displays, often quite high up in the air, on the ground the male Pheasants are busy trying to woo their mates...there certainly appear to be more around here this Spring.