Fri 21st Nov

It's all change time over here at present. We are home now, and Catherine should have made a start to her return from work in St Helena, initially starting back on a 5 day trip to Cape Town. As she too heads home, 2 of our other contributors head South. Malcolm Ogilvie is off on 2 trips to Antarctica, back to back, so Carol is left holding the fort! Stacey Adlard who wrote some entries from Oronsay earlier on, has just left for a 2 year stint in Antarctica. Another move that took place while we were away was that Louise Gregory who used to work for SNH, has now taken a post up here on Islay with the RSPB.

Thurs 20th Nov

Michal has taken pity on me, and sent this image of a Coal Tit while I was without a camera! He was also commenting that he felt there were more of them around this Autumn than last year. Certainly, before we went on holiday there were 2 visiting the feeders, here at home, and they were the first that I could recall. I was glad to notice that they were still here on our return, in fact there are now 4 of them! Michal's feeding station is visited by over 10 birds. Certainly, our feeders were busy with birds this afternoon as the birds try to stoke up with food prior to the forecast of a cold snap coming in. Whilst out on Ardnave doing a Goose count earlier on this week, Michal had seen a group of 5 Snow Buntings, and today on RPSB Gruinart reserve, there was a flock of 40 Fieldfares. MS

This morning, as we were going over to Gruinart, we had a superb sighting of a young Golden Eagle on the ground, we were not more than 30 feet away when it took off, and no camera with us to show you it.... On our return home round Loch Gorm, there was a male Hen Harrier battling its way against the wind.

Wed 19th Nov

Well, that's it for another year, the holidays that is or rather that was. So Margaret and myself have just been sunning it up on The Seychelles, not bad going as it was our third attempt at going. The first time, I chickened out as I thought it might be too hot, then last year, it was me again, health problems, but this time, no stopping us. Apart from getting the cameras stolen, early on, and hence the reason for not many images, it was hot, right enough, not just the air temperature which was up to 34 degrees when we visited Aride, even the water was warm, just great for swimming in, but there again the blighter nicked my dookers too and I am not into skinny dipping so had to get a new pair! Right then, what birds did we see, well on Aride we had Magpie Robin, 6 at one point, and there are only 170 left. We also had the Seychelles Warbler there too, and on La Digue we were fortunate to see a pair of Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher. We had some other great sightings too but more of that tomorrow.

Many thanks to James for his entries while we were away.

Thurs 13th Nov

A big storm on Monday night has reduced many phones and Internet connections to molten plastic, and high winds and rain continued through Tuesday, but yesterday was a great day.
With the weather set fine, I managed a good day counting birds with Michal around Loch Gruinart. A count of the Loch revealed: 241 dunlin, 173 bar tailed godwits, 289 oystercatchers, 195 curlew, 32 sanderling, 141 wigeon, 33 turnstone, 1 grey plover, 3 greenshank, 26 red breasted mergansers and a long tailed duck. On the Floods areas by the hide there was: 1421 teal, 116 wigeon, 28 pintail, 53 shoveler, 3 gadwal and 4 black tailed godwits to name a few. Whilst out and about we had good views of golden eagle, peregrine, merlin, hen harrier and barn owl as well as a great view of an otter on the shore moving through the pools hunting for small fish and crabs.
The weather has closed in a bit today, but just had great views of a golden eagle on the way over here to Kilchoman.

Sun 9th Nov

Not so many records today, as after a fantastic spell of weather it finally broke on Fri. Today the wind is blowing hard and the rain showers are heavy.
On Fri 7th in between showers I spent a good hour in the hide at Gruinart. The wildfowl were showing well on the flooded fields. In addition to the regular ducks: teal, wigeon, mallard, good number of pintail and lots of shoveler there were 4 gadwall and 2 hen harriers.
Yesterday the 8th, there were 2 golden eagles over Gruinart. I had excellent views from my kitchen window. Later around Loch Indaal there appeared to be good numbers of scaup and a scattering of common scoter.

Thurs 6th Nov

A mid week update. I meant to post yesterday, but forgot it was bonfire night, so I was off to see the Port Charlotte fire works. I have had some good records for the first part of the week. On mon 3rd, a white tailed eagle, a goshawk thermalling, a lapland bunting and best of all a parrot crossbill all at the Oa (AS). On Jura a long tailed tit (not common on Jura), 40 greylags and 25 fieldfares (LG). On the hills above Port Askaig a red grouse and redpols (MS).
Today the 6th its been a canada goose morning. I have seen 3 different canada geese: 1 hutchinsii at Loch Gruinart and at Sunderland farm 1 hutchinsii and 1 taverneri (showing a clear throat strap) (JRH).

Sun 2nd Nov

Hello, well it has not been 33C on Islay, but it has been beautiful. Soft autumn air with no wind and fantastically clear. Great views of Mull from the north of Islay and Donegal from the west. With the air being so still the sound of the geese especially at the roosts, Gruinart and Bridgend has been awesome for want of a better word. Of birds: On Fri 31st Oct there were 2 red kites over the Oa one had a single blue wing tag on the left wing. We think these are Irish released birds. There was also a Lapland bunting over the Oa. (AS). It appears to be a good year for snow buntings with 40 reported at Ardnave and 2 at Killinallen. On Sat 1st Nov there was a jack snipe at Ardnave and at least 5 long tailed ducks visible on Loch Indaal. A tawny and barn owl showing well on a beautiful evening at Gruinart. Today a quick look over the Gruinart floods revealed a huge fall of snipe with loads visible from the hide. (JRH)