Saturday 7th July

A few sightings through from Mary. Yesterday, she had a count of 350 Greylag geese over on Nave Island, off Ardnave Point she had 3 GND, 2 of which were in full summer plumage. At Ardnave itself she counted at least 72 Chough. Visitors who left this morning had seen 5 Corncrake chicks and this morning we saw 3 youngsters skulking about in the edge of the long grass. The visitors had also seen a pair of Red legged Partridges in the garden as well as many rabbits in different shapes and sizes...

Friday 6th July

After the thunder and lightning that we had last night, today turned out a great day again. The rain last night down at Bridgend and Bowmore was really heavy, while up here it was just the edge of the shower... Down at Upper Cragabus on the Oa today, Clive had a male Hobby. Further on down on the Oa, Dave had 3 Siskins on the reserve today. This evening, here at home there were a couple of House Martins, the first that I have seen here this year. Visitors from Bearsden in Glasgow had seen a Corncrake over at the reserve at Gruinart yesterday.

Thursday 5th July

A good day out here today. It was up to 20 degrees this morning, so the sheep were enticed into the shed and the stragglers got shorn. The big tup who is some size has his annual short back and sides!!! James came over after lunch and we soon had his sheep clipped too, another job off the "to do" list. Dave down on the Oa was in touch with a few birds, the mist or haar that has been keeping the Oa shrouded for a few days has gone with the rise in temperature. This afternoon, Dave had a Swift and earlier on had 3 Hen Harriers. At the weekend Dave saw a Short eared Owl on Saturday and again on Sunday on the reserve. Here at home, just after we finished clipping, a male Hen Harrier flew over the crag, and the young Swallows vacated their nest up in the shed.

Wednesday 4th July

Not much birding done today, as I have been busy doing other jobs. This morning was taken up for most of the time finalising plans for the visit to the British Bird Fair at Rutland Water, only 43 days to go, starting on Friday 17th  August for 3 days. Accommodation all finalised, spoken with Calmac regarding ferry tickets, only got to finalise some details with Mark at Islay Studios about the layout for our posters. All the whisky and gin are to hand, so think the job is almost done and dusted, great. By the looks of things we are in the same Marquee as last year and with the same exhibitors round about us, so if you are at the Bird fair, look us up, Marquee 1 stand 14 and enjoy some hospitality from Islay and enter our free holiday draw for a cottage for 4 to come and see our geese. This afternoon, as it was dry, was taken up with cutting the grass and later on clipping some sheep, only the few that refused to come in to the shed are left to be shorn, if only they had come in the job would be done..... sheep can be really stupid at times!!!

Tuesday 3rd July

Donald James MacPhee, or DJ as many of us call him, had seen an Osprey take a fish out of the Lily Loch over behind Port Askaig, last Wednesday. Adam the "vol" from Gruinart had been out with Bob on Sunday.  They had a young Cuckoo over at Ardtalla, a Kestrel up at Loch Cam, and on the Rhinns they saw Hen Harriers and Short eared Owls. Adam is away home now to his day job, back in London after spending the last fortnight or so as a "vol" with RSPB here on Islay.

Monday 2nd July

I managed to get this Yellowhammer on camera last week when I was away. We were at Scott's view in the Scottish Borders overlooking the River Tweed and the Eildon hills when we saw this Yellowhammer on the top of the dyke just across from where we were parked up! Back at home the bird table has been busy with plenty of fledglings to the fore. There were 3 young Blue Tits, the Great Tit young from the nest box, young Greenfiches and Starlings too, even young Jackdaws trying their luck too!! The young Swallows have flown from their nest in the garage, but the young are still on the nest in the back porch, but not long before they too take off! There are a few Pheasants around with young, the largest brood is only 5, I am not sure if they are from the nest of 22 from the poly tunnel, but I have not seen any larger brood than that...There was a ringtail Hen Harrier at Lyrabus on the edge of Gruinart reserve just before midday, and a male later on at the far end of the reserve. No sign of any Greylags with young of late.

Sunday 1st July

The other day Armin sent through a male Hen Harrier, well today it was the turn of Michal for a female Hen Harrier taken over at Gruinart. These folk with with their Nikon cameras....Yesterday when Michal was here, he heard a Blackcap in the trees. The other day on the reserve at Gruinart James saw a Barn Owl in the evening, and earlier on over the moor he had a Short eared Owl as well. The rainfall here at home for the month was 4.8" not a lot compared to some other areas in the UK no doubt!!!