Thurs 17th Sept

This spell of great weather is still with us, so I made the most of it today and cut the grass.....

But, this morning it was the guided walk at Gruinart. There was a large flock of Greylags at the head of the estuary certainly several hundred in all, several large groups of waders, mainly Bar tailed Godwits, Curlew and Redshank. On the floods in front of the hide there were 18 Snipe in 2 groups, while the best find was when James spotted the first of this years Barnacle Geese arriving. There were only 7 in total, but this was the first of them. The other Barnacle goose was seen down at Blackrock this afternoon too.

Louise had seen 3 Golden Eagles on the guided walk on the Oa on Tuesday, so her folk that were with were well pleased too!

Wed 16th Sept

After a 3 day stint on Oronsay helping Eoin Brown (note the correct spelling this time), I have returned home again. We were both over there helping sort out the sheep on the RSPB reserve, lambs which were going for sale to the market immediately, others to retain as breeding sheep for 2011 and the rest to be sold at a sale over here on Islay later on. We also had to check out all the breeding ewes, so all in all we put in a power of work, more so Eoin rather than me, I was more of a "gofor". A good time was enjoyed by all, the weather held out and there were no midges at all!

I certainly did not have any time for any birdwatching, I took my bins and also the camera, but neither were used! Mike Peacock, the warden on Oronsay saw a Corncrake on Tuesday morning just we started to gather the sheep in. I noted a few Chough, both on Oronsay and later on Colonsay today as we waited for the ferry.

Sun 13th & Mon 14th September

Well Ian has gone off to Oronsay for a few days (to do some sheep work!!!)with Iain Brown from R.S.P.B.Gruinart Reserve and has left me do the blog, here goes.
James saw 2 pods of porpoises and lots of Manx Shearwaters from the ferry on Sat, and had a few Brent Geese on Loch Gruinart. On his way to work this morning he saw a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine. The following records were sent to us by Jim Dickson Argyll Bird Records Committee who was on Islay 5th to 12th Sept.
5th Gruinart Greenshank 4 (with upto 4 seen all week), Ruff1, Peregrine 2 ads (seen all week), Osprey 1 (seen all week and appeared to be unringed), Scaup 1 Ardnave, Tufted 10 Ardnave inc 1 very small juv.
6th Gruinart juv Black Tern flew up to the head of the loch at high tide and then inland in direction of Lyrabus/Loch Indaal, Black-tailed Godwit 24, Knot 22, Shoveler 3, Teal 22, House Martin 40 +, Whinchat 4 Craigens (seen most days), Pied Wagtail 40 + with 6 White Wagtail Craigens.
8th Gruinart Dunlin 580, Barn Owl 1 hunting Gruinart fields at 5.50pm landed on a fence post and was then struck by a Buzzard that carried it off with the owl hanging by its wing before being dropped about 70 metres away. The owl looked stunned/injured and the buzzard landed on the ground a few metres away but kept its distance (in field about 100m SE of the RSPB visitors centre barn therefor not easy for me to reach it... had a look 30mins later and the owl had gone so hopefully it got up and flew or possibly not? (It or another Barn Owl was seen in the fields hunting at 7pm.)
9th Gruinart 4 Whimbrel flying but did not settle, 1 Golden Eagle nr Couliabus.
10th Gruinart P B Brent Geese23, Lapwing 24, L Indaal C Scoter6, Shoveler 2.
11th Gruinart Golden Plover 2, Turnstone4, Ringed Plover 18, big increase in Bar-tailed Godwits, Pintail 1
12th L Gorm Tufted 29, Teal 9, C Scoter 1. Thanks for that Jim.

Sat 12th Sept

While helping to hang the washing out from the cottages this afternoon, we were graced with a juvenile Golden Eagle soaring overhead, and also 4 Buzzards over the big crag. I think that the Buzzards are the family group that reared their brood of 2 young close by. Yesterday the Buzzards were keeping a close eye on the 2 Peregrines which have around for the last few days.

This evening on our way back from Bowmore, we stopped off at "smelly corner" for a quick look around. Apart from numerous Greylag geese that were in at the top of Loch Indaal, on the edge of a group of Black backed Gulls was a single Barnacle Goose, probably the same goose that been seen at Blackrock and Uiskentuie through the summer. Also on the mudflats was a group of 16 Herons, all resting up, I had to double check as I do not recall seeing so many together in one place at the same time. Further on, after Uiskentuie and before the spit a total of 38 Mergansers were counted. On the shoreline, and also along the grass on the Strand were a lot of Pied Wagtails. On the spit itself were 27 Oystercatcher, 2 Bar tailed Godwits and a single Curlew.

Fri 11th Sept

A great day, weather wise, out here today, after a heavy dew the sun soon burnt it all away and the combines were out in the barley fields. The last of the silage was lifted today too. Catherine had seen a few more Pale bellied Brent geese in, not a lot though. Coming back from Port Ellen, on the High road, we had a great sighting of a male Hen harrier out hunting, needless to say the camera was at home, I never seem to learn! A visitor reported in to say that he had seen a pair of Red Grouse the other day.

Thurs 10th Sept

Catherine phoned in some entries for the blog this afternoon. She had an Osprey on the ground, at the top of Loch Gruinart yesterday, while one day last week there had been a count of 150 Twite up at Ardnave. Yesterday, on the reserve at Gruinart there had been 250 Linnets and over 200 Skylark, a couple of Peregrine and a Kestrel. Today on the guided walk, there were 12 Pale bellied Brent Geese, possibly the first this year. A female Hen Harrier was out hunting, and a Barn Owl was seen at 10.30 am close at hand from the viewing platform. Later on several Chough were seen too.

As I write tonight's entry, I notice that this is the 600th blog, many thanks to all of you out there who have contributed to make this possible. I have had some great comments back and met quite a few visitors who read the blog, thanks again folks.

Wed 9th Sept

While having a tidy up today, I noticed a young Fulmar down on the ground in the field, so I did my good deed for the day by catching it and taking it down to Loch Indaal to release it. It was most grateful as it never vomited at all which was a relief, as it can be rather pungent!

Some birds through from James, he had counted 504 Greylags, the other day between Loch Gorm and on the reserve at Gruinart. Today, round at Craigens he had 4 Whinchat, and a further 2 up at Killinallan. He had also seen quite a few Wheatear in, and commented on that there appeared to be a few more Swallows to be seen, possibly a combination of better weather, a few more youngsters fledged and also some birds passing through. From his house, he has seen 2 separate juvenile female Hen Harriers quite often of late, and today there was a Sparrowhawk catching a lbj on the game crop!