Wed 7th April

Last night, on the way home from Fiddlers' Bid concert down in Portnahaven, there was a Barn Owl sitting on top of a fence post below Octofad. It was quite unfazed by the traffic and all the headlights! The concert itself was great....

Today, whilst doing a Deer Count on the reserve at Gruinart, Catherine had seen a Swallow and later on while out on the moor, she had a Short eared Owl. Several Hen Harrier were also noted too. Back at home, as it was a good day, it was out with the ride on mower, and cut some more grass, before it gets out of hand!

Tues 6th April

A mixed day weather wise, out here today. Rain through the night and most of the morning, dry this afternoon, but this evening it is looking like some more rain.

On Sunday, (a better day) Carl Reavey had seen a Sand Martin down at Bridgend while attending the Pie & a Pint event hosted by Islay Ales. Also at the weekend a pair of Short eared Owls were seen and last night, we saw a male Hen Harrier getting blown along in the wind. I should not really complain about the weather but one does tend to have a short memory sometimes...

Mon 5th April

The ever present Little Egret was seen out in front of the hide at Gruinart as was a Little Grebe. On the way over to Gruinart this evening, there were 15 Red Deer close to the roadside, and they did not move off as we slowed down to look at them, further on was a Roe Deer.

This evening was the first Visitor Welcome Evening of the year, which was well attended by 42 visitors.

Sun 4th April

Looking out the kitchen window this morning, and Margaret saw the Shelduck return to their nest for the first time this year, so we will keep you updated when we have any more sightings of them.

I heard today that a Swallow had been seen on Friday. Earlier on this evening, I checked up on Tony the Whooper Swan, he is still going in the direction of Iceland, but rather slowly!

The rainfall total for March was just under 4", a total for the year of only 8" so far, dry for out here! Malcolm told me that the Airport had their wettest day, last Tuesday, since mid November!

Sat 3rd April

A visitor who had been round Ardnave this afternoon gave me in his sightings. The highlight was probably 3 pairs of Wheatear, he also had 9 Pale bellied Brent Geese in the lee of Nave Island, 3 Sanderling, 6 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Great Northern Diver. On Nave Island itself, there were 50 Grey Seals while on Ardnave Loch were some Tufted Duck and Mute Swan but no Whooper Swan present.

Another birder had counted 25 Pale bellied Brent Geese on Loch Indaal, as well as a male Hen Harrier out on the wing.

Fri 2nd April

I see that Tony the Whooper Swan has now left Islay and has headed off in the general direction of Iceland.

It was good to meet in with Michal over at Gruinart yesterday, after his 6 month stay in The Seychelles. Michal is to give a talk on his trip at a later date, so it will be great to see his images.

Visitors from Edinburgh have been well pleased this week with several sightings of Hen Harrier, also the Little Egret as well as the Geese. The Geese were not present during their previous visit a few years ago in May.

Thurs 1st April

Well, the weather here today has been a great improvement on the previous day, and more importantly, we have electricity again, thanks to James for writing the entry last night! It was odd how many times I came through and moved the "mouse" to see if there was any new e mails in, it took some time for the penny to drop there was still no electricity. Full marks to the lads who were out giving us power again, be it at just after midnight.

Tracey emailed the figures through for the Goose count carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, in all there were 30,032 Barnies and 4,359 Whitefronts. The figures are down quite a bit on last week, but Malcolm reckons this due to the weather rather than Geese moving North. Thanks again Tracey for the figures.

Talking of birds migrating, Tony the Whooper Swan, still is here on Islay, and possibly up on Ardnave, at least going by the map on the web, it appears to be Ardnave Loch.

The Daffodils up the drive took a battering with the wind and are looking a sorry state, as are the few Primroses that were out.