Monday 7th May

One of the set of images sent through this evening taken by Tony Matthews who was over on Islay last week. Don't think the Curlew would have cast a shadow today, as it has not been that great weather, damp but not pouring down, miserable all the same! Thanks Tony, and we will have some more of his images to share with you over the next few days. The "Scouser birder" aka Chris Arnold left on Friday, but had seen a pair of Black Guiilemots off the Oa at the start of the week. Chris was well pleased hearing the Corncrakes calling last Wednesday night, he headed off today to Hungary on another birding trip on the search of Woodpeckers. On Saturday, Dave had counted a total of 21 Black Guiilemots off the Oa. Yesterday, Carl had a Cuckoo and had also seen the White tailed Sea Eagle over towards Port Askaig, earlier on he had counted 63Whimbrel at Braibruaich, heard Sedge Warblers at Gruinart House and at Coulerarach. On his travels, Carl also commented on more Wheatears being around. George, in his fields, had a total count of 79 Whimbrel, out on Loch Indaal, he had a GND. At home, he had 3 Swallows and also a House Martin. Michal had counted 62 Whimbrel at Saligo yesterday.

Sunday 6th May

The boy is back in town, yes, Michal is back with his camera. He took this Ringed Plover  up at Ardnave Point  yesterday along with a further 25 and also 15 Dunlin. Down the East side there were another  20 Plover counted. Michal had also noted 35 Whimbrel round at Saligo too. On Friday, Mary had a Ruff in summer plumage at Ardnave, also present was a large Canada Goose amongst some Greylags, along the loch edges 18 Whimbrel were counted. 25 Dunlin were in flight and 11 Golden Plover were over the fields there. Down at the new hide Mary had a fledgling Pied Wagtail being buffeted along by the wind on the path to the hide itself. Along at Coulabus there was a Mistle Thrush carrying food for its' young. Yesterday Carl had a Merlin and also a Glaucous Gull at Rockside, with 11 Whimbrel pesent at Ballinaby. Between Gortan and Bruichladdich there some Turnstone, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Whimbrel noted. Visitors had a Peregrine and also a Merlin up at Ardnave. Coming home last night, we had a Barn Owl just at the darkening. It was pity last night that the moon was not fully visible to we could see the moon, what we saw of it through the cloud, yes, it was massive. Many thanks to the Hampshire birders over the past fortnight, Peter and Linda Jackson have now headed home.

Saturday 5th May

Time moves on, almost forgot, yes, it was the birthady of the blog the other day, it was "born" on the 1st of May back in 2007...I might even raise a glass to celebrate, later this evening!!! Thanks to all the folk who have contributed over that time and also all the followers and other readers too...
Michal had been down on the Oa yesterday and had seen 2 Dipper, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Stonechat families, a Buzzard on its' nest, some Willow Warblers, later on Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were seen as well. Bob had seen a pr of Stonechats out with their fledglings close to his house, a Short eared Owl out on the Rhinns, he was also commenting on the fall of Wheatears earlier this week with 12 to 15 up beside home. This morning we counted 10 between "The hedges" and Len's house with peats outside. Bob also had 40 Whimbrel down between Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich. Bob also had a Ringed Plover fly over his house, and that is about 1 mile inland from the sea! Today, visitors had 50 Barnies up towards Ardnave.

Friday 4th May 2012

James yesterday on the reserve at Gruinart had a great day, with a lot of new birds in. His sightings included 3 Sedge Warblers, 5 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Whinchats, 7 Pr of Stonechats (3 with broods), pr of Lesser Redpoll, 1 Bullfinch, 2 calling Water Rail, 2 Cuckoo and loads of Green Haitstreaks.The Hampshire birders yesterday had a Red legged Partridge over at Ardnahoe, in the wood at Mulindry, close to the bridge there were, 6 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and a Willow Warbler. Going up to Dun Nosebridge, they had another Great Tit and a further Willow Warbler. Later on at Port Charlotte they saw 3 Common Terns. Today they had 27 Barnies at Garra Eallabus which is up towards Ardnave while down on Machir Bay there was a solitary Sanderling. In Port Charlotte bay, Carl yesterday saw a Red throated Diverand also a G ND both in summer plumage, along at Port Bhan 5 Sandwich Terns while at Coutorsay  40 Whimbrel were present and on Wednesday Carl had 2 Sandwich Terns along at Bruichladdich. Twice through the week, there has been the probable hybrid Greylag seen along at Rockside, it has a large white collar. Coming home last night, we never heard a Corncrake, it was quite windy. Another visitor had heard one calling down towards Gartbreck yesterday.

Thursday 3rd May

Another great day out here with the weather, and another early entry for you to read, got another meeting tonight... It was the Wader watch at Gruinart last night and it was well attended by folk. Top of the list was a Corncrake, further on Snipe were drumming, we had some Red Deer down off the hill too, Redshank, Pintail, a Mallard with her brood in line behind, a Whooper Swan, 5 Mutes including 3 juv., 2 Whitefronts, a few Greylags, pr of Shoveler. So not to be outdone, later last night I went with some of the birders from the cottages for our own trip out to hear if any more Corncrakes were around, the target was 5 seeing it was still early days, by the time we got home we were all well pleased with 7 calling males heard. Crystal had been out at Gruinart later on too, and heard 3 Corncrakes, plus a Water Rail on the flats , and also a Spotted Crake up at Coullabus. We all had seen quite a few Wheatears resting up along the roadside in the headlights, and certainly there apeared to be more around, so perhaps there had been a fall of them last night. Yesterday down on the Oa, Dave had a Bonxie fly over the reserve, and today Dave saw 17 Common Sandpipers, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Cuckoo and 3 Mistle Thrush.

Wednesday 2nd May

An early entry from here today, possibly better early rather than a late entry! To start off with, we welcome back Michal to Islay again, Michal came over to Islay way back in 2006 and has been a regular summer migrant to these shores, it's great to see you back. Michal had returned from his third winter spell on The Seychelles, okay for some...Michal was off to a good start this morning with a Wood Warbler in the wee wood opposite the office at Gruinart. He also heard a couple of Blackcaps calling away there too. Mary yesterday heard her first Corncrake of the year down at Portnahaven, last night from here at the cottages, another was heard by the Hampshire birders while this morning Eoin Brown heard one calling out in front of the Visitor centre at Gruinart, more summer migrants back!!!Mary is now into the survey season. Yesterday up at Ardnave, she had a Willow Warbler in song at the loch and a second just beyond the farm. Futher on, Mary had a pair of Peregrine out over the sea, flying over a huge dog Otter. She saw a pr of Stonechats with their 2 fledglings while out over the moorand she counted 9 Swallows flying North. Back in the fields around the steading, there were 68 Golden Plover, as well as a Lapwing protecting her 4 young from a Greylag which was a bit too close! Today, Mary had a juv Golden Eagle out at Ardnave Point, at the lobster ponds 5 Whimbrel were seen and also 10 Twite. Back at Tayvoulin there were 3 Dunlin, 65 Barwits, 2 Little Terns and also 12 Turnstone nearby. Off Nave Island, there were 7 GND and 2 Red throated Divers, all in summer plumage. Flying past were 3 Sandwich Terns, one of which was being hassled by a young Herrin Gull, hoping to get the sand eel off the Tern! Mary commented on seeing more Swallows around, and that one of the Portnaven Starlings has already started to mimick the Swallows!!!

Tuesday 1st May

Yesterday, Dave down on the Oa had 1 House Martin, 2 Dippers, 3 Swallows, 4 White Wagtails as well as a Peregrine, a Kestrel and also a Hen Harrier. Mary had from the hides at Gruinart had 5 broods of Mallard of differing ages, 5 pairs of Shoveler, 5 Moorhen, 4 Snipe (some drumming), 18 White Wagtails, she had another 14 Wagtails along at the new hide, 3 Whoopers and also 5 Black tailed Godwit in summer plumage. The Hampshire birders today had 2 Yellowhammer out at Gortantoid. Other birders had a Goosander, but forgot to say where! George had 4 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch as well as 8 House Sparrows on his feeders at Shorefield. Back here at home, the rain gauge tallied out at just over 3 inches for the month, and today the temperature was up to 18 degrees, what a change from the cold weather of late, even cut some grass after tea tonight...