Mon 18th Aug

Another cracking image taken by Michal with his new camera.....

While it was dry yesterday, James had a quick look round the Gruinart reserve and counted 1048 Greylag Geese, a Peregrine, a Wheatear, 2660 Dunlin, 118 Knot, 309 Ringed Plover and 25 Sanderling. The Dunlin count was as high as James can remember for Gruinart. JRH

Over at Carnduncan, this afternoon there was a single Wheatear, while this morning there was a Sparrowhawk over the trees at home, this evening the House Martins and Swallows are out on the wing feeding on anything on the move over the same trees.

Sun 17th Aug

Michal got this Sedge Warbler with a Daddy long legs in its beak this afternoon. It was busy along with it's mate feeding their brood of hungry youngsters. Michal also saw 4 juvenile Hen Harriers, were they all out of the same clutch of originally 5 in total? There was also a flock of around 150 birds, mainly Linnnet, but with some Goldfinch and Twite along with them. MS

James had been out earlier on in the week, and had a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk at Gruinart, and while at Ardnave he saw a Merlin, some Knot, Bar tailed Godwit and Sanderling. JRH

Sat 16th Aug

No, not the overall Champion at our local show on Thursday, but certainly from the same farm, mainly Ardnave. This was not taken today, as excuse the pun, it has been a pig of a day. Still as the locals say, that after Show day, that the nights are drawing in already......

Somebody else, no names here, contacted me to say that I had forgotten to mention about the various Birds of Prey that were seen on Thursday, but these were one of the attractions at the Show!

Fri 15th Aug

Not much birding was done yesterday, as it was our annual local Agricultural show here on Islay. The weather held out, and although it was overcast with a few spots of rain at lunchtime, fortunately the midges kept away. The only bird reported on Thursday was the Kingfisher being seen on the Sorn again. The weather as forecast has broken down this afternoon, but there were 51 Swallows and House Martin flying around, just after breakfast, and later on there was a female Siskin on the feeders right beside the kitchen window. There were also several young Blue Tits there too, as well as some Great Tits. Talking of youngsters, we saw some young Goldfinches on Thistle heads on Wednesday when going into Finlaggan.

Wed 13th Aug

Malcolm e mailed in to say that somebody from Bowmore had contacted the Islay Natural History Trust to say that they had seen a Rose coloured Starling in their neighbour's garden yesterday, and it was still there today. MAO

I was speaking to Donald James MacPhee yesterday and he was telling me that a colleague of his had seen the Hoopoe over towards Keills one day last week.

After leaving here on Sunday evening, James and Michal had seen a Sparrowhawk, and then later on had a Whinchat and 5 Wheatear on the roadside. JRH

While down in the woods at Bridgend this morning, we were fortunate to see a family of 4 Spotted Flycatchers out on the wings catching their prey, several Coal tits could be heard and were also seen. There was no sign of either the Dipper or Kingfisher today although we were lower down on the Sorn. The Osprey was heard, but we were unfortunate not to see it due to the trees! A Peregrine Falcon was seen on the ground at the top of Loch Indaal, watching all that was around! There was also the odd Whimbrel and Godwit around, but all seemed rather uneasy, although the Redshank appeared to be more interested in feeding. IKB

Tues 12th Aug

There was a Grey Wagtail in the garden here at home yesterday, but as usual by the time I had got the camera to hand, it had flown on! Over at Ballygrant this afternoon, Susan had a Siskin on one of her feeders in her garden. As it is Show week over here, needless to say the weather has broken down, but going by the weather forecast tonight, we may be lucky and have a better day on Thursday, fingers crossed! There were 58 Greylag geese in a field down beside Loch Gorm.

Sun 10th Aug

Another image through from Michal, taken on the same day as yesterday's entry.

James has been out of the office and managed to get some birds on the move, through to me. On Wednesday, there was a Swift seen off the west coast of Islay, and at Gruinart reserve there were 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Up at Ardnave on Thursday, there was an Arctic Tern, and also an Arctic Skua while back on Loch Gruinart, Knot were seen in red plumage, as were Bar tailed Godwits. There were also 21 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Little Stints, and Sanderling along with Dunlin. On Saturday, up at Ardnave there were 37 Red breasted Merganser, 5 Turnstone, 5 Arctic Tern, 2 sandwich tern and another Swift. JRH