Wednesday 14th March

Forgot to mention last night that Bob had a count of 40 male Eider out on the Balach Rocks which are about 2 miles NNE of Ardnave Point. Bob reckons that there would probably be a similar number of females too, but proved difficult to see in their drab colours.

Here at home today, 10 Chough flew over the house at lunchtime, and later on the Raven and the Buzzard were having a set too again, wonder who end up top gun.....The Lapwings were displaying on territory quite unconcerned. Some of Margaret's frog spawn up the burn have now got tails on already... Changing the subject somewhat, I noticed back on Monday that someone has been cutting their grass down at Bruichladdich.

Tuesday 13th March

Thanks to James for putting last night's entry on the blog as the old computer here at base camp was playing up... Today Bob had gone up to Ardnave in the hope of seeing the white billed Diver, but no joy. Undeterred Bob sent through his birds. He covered from the mouth of Loch Gruinart round to Nave Island itself, and saw 23 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black throated Diver, 2 Black Guillemot, a few small groups of Razorbill totalling 30 birds. Ardnave Loch had 10 Mallard, 42 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 20 Tufted Duck, 9 Goldeneye and 11 Whooper Swan. A White tailed Sea Eagle was seen over towards Port Askaig this morning.

Monday 12th March

The mist swirled around, as the morning glow lightened the sky. Sparkling drizzle drifted in a breeze, until eventually the sun burned through the soft air, to reveal the high pressure skies. The first sign of spring this morning was 12 whooper swans sitting on the mud of Loch Gruinart ready to move North. Bob was out and about and had a 1st winter Glaucous gull at Gartbreck and a water rail at Pennycraig. Then latter in Bowmore harbour there was 4 Goldeneye the 2 males busy displaying. On the South Rinns there was a Short eared owl and 2 Red grouse.

An interesting report came through on the internet of a White Billed Diver off the North of Ardnave. So look out for that one!

Sunday 11th March

A funny old day over here today, yes it has been milder but the mist kept coming and going for most of the time... James saw a couple of Pink footed Geese amongst some Greylags along at Sunderland Farm this morning, earlier on he had a Merlin on the reserve at Gruinart. We had gone down round the loop from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven and returning back by Kilchiaran, in the hope of an early Wheatear. No joy, but at Cultoon, there were 3 different male Stonechats. Yesterday, Bob had a pair of Moorhens on the old Distillery pond up behind Port Charlotte, further on along the road he saw 3 Kestrel. Today between Bowmore and Gartbreck, he had a count of 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 34 Shag, 3 Cormorant, 3 Pale bellied Brent, 17 Shelduck, 11 Mallard, 56 Wigeon,80 Teal, 12 Red breasted Merganser, 6 Goldeneye, 160 Oystercatcher, 86 Curlew, 120 Bar tailed Godwit, 34 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 10 Redshank, 31 Turnstone, 2 Lapwing, 52 Ringed Plover, 12 Grey Plover and a female Peregine to finish the day off!!! The Lapwing were displaying away, great to see.

Saturday 10th March

Back to almost Spring again today, a nice comment on the weather for a change, and it is possibly here for a week, great! But, first thing this morning, there were some Fulmars out soaring about, back and forward along the front of the crag. Later on, there were some Lapwings displaying away too, out over the Machir. Down at Portnahaven, Mary saw the Snow Bunting at Claddach, it's been there for a while now. Further round by Claddach Loch, the Skylarks were in display flight and singing away. There were a few more small groups feeding the nearby fields as well. While driving into Bowmore, Mary and Crystal had a Glaucous Gull feeding in a field along with 2 Herring Gulls. Finally, they had 2 Golden Eagles up the North west coast of Islay.

Friday 9th March

It has been a funny old day with the weather over here today. It started off with heavy showers around, then later on it turned out misty, and mid afternoon, the mist lifted and it turned out a not bad day, blue skies with the sun shining. Earlier on this morning, the sea itself was roaring away. So as you may gather, not really a day for seeing birds, oops... One or two were seen, some Fulmars were out in this morning, and over the crag this afternoon a Buzzard was seeing a Raven off, or was it the other way round, I am not too sure! Down on Loch Indaal, below George's house there was a Great Nothern Diver. Bob this afternoon had 2 different Short eared Owls about 2 miles apart down on the Rhinns.

Thursday 8th March

There were a couple of Stonechats on the bushes round at Ballinaby this morning. This afternoon, down at the breakwater beside Bowmore Harbour, 23 Turnstone were huddling up, sheltering away from the wind, in the "harbour" itself there were 2 pairs of Goldeneye present too. Apart from the odd bird seen not a lot was done today on that front, but James and myself were discussing plans through for the Islay stand at the forthcoming Scottish Bird Fair which is to be held at Hopetoun House at South Queensferry on 19th & 20th May. By the looks of things it is to be run along similar lines to the Bird Fair held at Rutland Water. Obviously, it is not as large an event with only around 60 exhibitors and an expected gate of over 5,000 visitors. Our stand again will be a joint venture between Islay & Jura Tourism & Marketing Group, RSPB Islay reserves and Islay Natural History Trust, and we hope to build on last year's success at Rutland, so watch this space for more information nearer the time.