Tuesday 7th May

A great day out here with the weather, the temperature got up to a heady 16degrees, mid afternoon. Only trouble is that the forecast is for some rain tomorrow...The Hammills returned to Glasgow but had a great weekend birding, highlights included seeing the large flock of Golden  Plover near to Rockside and also Whimbrels near to Port Charlotte and more at Bruichladdich before heading home. Bob yesterday had a Golden Eagle flying low behind Port Charlotte, could it have been hunting for hares? George yesterday counted 120 Pale bellied Brent flying South towards Port Charlotte. Today, he had a Wheatear at his pools, with 12 Swallows flying over the pools, his usual Swallows are back in residence in his garage. This evening 20 Whimbrel flew in to George's fields and on the shore George noticed an Oystercatcher sitting on a nest down on the shore. Today Bob had a single Fieldfare fly over his house around midday. James when he was out doing his surveys this morning at 6am had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the head of Loch Gruinart. On the floods, James had 11 Gadwall, he had a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Whinchat singing and also a Lizard out basking in the sun! Andrew and Jane had a Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit , Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Wren all in the woods around Kildalton. Claggain Bay and the surrounding trees held the following, Tree Pipit, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush & Cuckoo. The Bay had 1 GND, 2 Black throated Diver, 2 Red throated Diver, Black Guilliemot, a nesting Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher also sitting on a nest, Wheatear and 2 pr of Common Sandpiper. Back at Octomore they was a flock of Golden Plover and a Sparrowhawk nobbled a Starling. This afternoon, here at home we heard our first Cuckoo of the year, and on the bird table we counted 8 Redpolls.

Monday 6th May

Running late and with a deadline to meet to get a comfortable seat before 9pm in front of the TV, here we go...Colin and Mandy  who have been over for a few days, left today but had seen a male Hen Harrier  on the Rhinns on Saturday. Down at Portnahaven they heard and then saw a Corncrake. Yesterday over on Jura, they had 2 female Hen Harriers and also a male too. They also had a male Yellowhammer and saw a White tailed Sea Eagle while on Jura. Over their stay they had seen a total of 6 Otters, 5 on Islay and 1 on Jura. Martin today had been down at Loch Allan and saw 4 pr of Tufted Duck, a Whitethroat was seen, lots of Willow Warblers around, 2 Grasshopper Warblers heard and seen, plenty of both Wheatear and Swallows about too. Over that way, they had 2 White tailed Sea Eagles. Down at Bruichladdich this morning, Andrew and Jane had 5 Purple Sandpipers, 1 House Martin, a Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, pr of Common Sandpiper and also Rock Pipits all along the shore opposite the Distillery. Along the shore, opposite Bruichladdich Hall, 2 Sanderling were present. Out on Loch Indaal, 3 Long tailed Duck, 4 Scaup were seen, at up at Gortan, 19 Pale bellied Brent were counted. Later on up at Killinallan, a male Hen Harrier was seen and also a White tailed Sea Eagle being chased by a Raven. There appears to be no further sightings of the Shorelarks today, none that I have heard of anyway yet.

Sunday 5th May

Another image sent through by the Argyll birder, Jim Dickson of a Ringed Plover which he saw in the rain this morning before heading home. Between the entrance and sailing up West Loch Tarbert, Jim had 26 Black throated Divers, 32 GND, 12 Red Throated Divers and 12 Sandwich Terns. Thanks to Jim for his input and also sharing his images with us.Yesterday, George had 4 Hares running around close to his house, certainly there appear to be more of them out and about, just counted 10 down at Rockside! Back to birds, The Hammils from  Glasgow had seen 3 Shorelarks up past Killinallan today, the last sighting as far as I know was by Gus Keys when he worked with RSPB on the Oa. Bob and Martin today had been down past Ardbeg and had seen 4 Herons, 10 pr Greylags, pr of Canada Geese, 1 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 1 drake Wigeon, 3 pr Shelduck, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Sandwich Tern and heard 2 Cuckoos. Round at Ballinaby today, Peter counted 45 Golden Plover, 20 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin. He also reported through that the Black Guillemots are back at Bruichladdich Pier. Emily had 10 Whimbrel and 3 Barnies fly over Moulin at Gruinart today. Up past Moulin on the verge side there were 5 Goldfinches. She was also complaining of a Cuckoo calling from 4 am the last 2 mornings....Andrew and Jane today had a Black throated Diver and over 50 Scoter on Loch Indaal down between the Airport and Carn. Off Port Wemyss, they had a Bonxie and also Manx Shearwater, round Claddach a fall of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff, finally a male Hen Harrier towards Gearach. Round Loch Gorm this evening, we had 32 Greylags up on the barley field behind Machrie, many Wheatears all the way round, a Reed Bunting at Saligo. At Ballinaby, there were 101 Golden Plover and 27 Dunlin, no sign of any Ringed Plover, further on there was a Golden Eagle and another 39 Greylags.
Finally , in case you have forgotten, if you spare an hour tomorrow night , watch the TV, BBC1 Scotland at 9 pm for the first of 4 programs called "Hebrides, Islands on the edge". See if you can spot some humans that you may know as well as the abundant wildlife on show..... 

Saturday 4th May

A cracking wee Linnet taken today over at Gartbreck by the Argyll birder. Yesterday, Mary had a Whinchat over at Claddach Loch at Portnahaven, closer to the village she also had 2 Common Sandpiper. Mary had a phone call earlier from her folks who live on Kerrera, which is one of the islands just off Oban and they had just had a Nuthatch on their feeders! New visitors in, Andrew and Jane had seen a pr of White tailed Sea Eagle from the ferry. The Argyll birder had been out and about today, starting off with a male Hen Harrier at Foreland. He had 3 good flocks of Golden Plover, one of around 200 at Machrie beside Machir Bay, another 200 at Ballinaby along with 16 Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin. Up at Ardnave there was a count of 365 Golden Plover. The Ring necked Duck was still present on Ardnave Loch with 21 Tufted Duck there too. At Gruinart, a White tailed Sea Eagle , 1 Blackwit, 11 Dunlin, 70 Barnies, 1 Greenland Whitefront, 25 House Martins, 150 Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, 8 White Wagtails and a male Hen Harrier were present. Gartbreck held 58 Blackwits and Loch Indaal, Bowmore 56 Barwits, 3 Little Tern, 6 Sandwich Tern and 4 Arctic Tern were noted. this evening Bob counted 80 Shelduck on Loch Gruinart

Friday 3rd May

James took this Snipe earlier on this week over at Gruinart. I do not think that many images would have been taken today unless you wanted some of the rain and all the pools of water left behind, still it was the forecast! Colin and Mandy stayed over at Kintra last night and had a Merlin and a Sparrowhawk there. This morning, before the heavens opened, they were up early and counted 13 Little Terns, 8 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone and saw plenty of  Fulmars, Razorbills, Black and Common Guillemots. Later on, past Bowmore they had 68 Blackwits.

The tally for the rain last month came to 3.25", slightly drier than last April, but tonight the ground is soaking with the heavy rainfall with most of it going down the burns as surface run off, and not getting into the ground.

Thursday 2nd May

James sent through last night this image taken earlier on of the Long billed Dowitcher up at Ardnave. It flew off early afternoon yesterday, and as far as I know has not been seen again. The same story for the Little ringed Plover and the Yellow Wagtail, they could still be out there somewhere! New birders, over on their honeymoon, Colin and Mandy had 31 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Port Ellen when they arrived yesterday, today they had a good day on the Oa with their top birds including Hen Harrier, Buzzard, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away, Whinchat, Stonechat and Raven. The Argyll birder had been over early am at Gruinart and was rewarded with a White tailed Sea Eagle. In one of the fields he had 14 White Wagtails. There, this afternoon he had a Golden Eagle on a carcase with another  Goldie nearby. He has not seen so many Blackwits today, 28 at Gruinart and just 14 at Ardnave. Whimbrels not so numerous either, 41 at Craigfad and 56 at Nerabus, could that be the flock of 98 seen at Nerabus yesterday, split into 2 groups today? At Ballinaby there were 235 Golden Plover and along at Coull, a Peregrine was seen. At Bruichladdich, 38 Pale bellied Brent Geese were counted while over at Gartbreck a single Little Tern was seen. Back on Monday, Bob and Lorna Young had a couple of Little Terns at Ardnave, heard a Cuckoo, seen a Sedge Warbler and witnessed a male Hen Harrier being mobbed by 2 Hooded Crows and they noticed more Swallows and Martins arriving. Another frequent Islay visitor, Ron had heard a Cuckoo at Glenegedale and seen a male Hen Harrier down that way too yesterday . Up at Ardnave today, Mary heard a Corncrake. Dave down on the Oa had 2 Goldcrest and 2 White Wagtails and also a Whimbrel, yesterday he had 3 Whinchat, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo all on the reserve, possibly some of the same birds that Colin and Mandy had today! On her way home last night Louise had seen 3 Owls between the 3 arch bridge and Gatehouse, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl and also a Short eared Owl.  Here at home, on the feeders apart from the many finches present, the Siskins are still present, as is the Redpoll.

Monday 1st May

A great day over here with plenty of different birds seen today. It all started off with the Argyll birder spotting this Little ringed Plover, only the second one ever here on Islay, we believe. Mary found a Ring necked Duck at Ardnave Loch as well as a Long billed Dowitcher there too. Not to be outdone, James had a Tree Pipit on the reserve at Gruinart. Peter and Pia had a male Yellow Wagtail beema sp also on the reserve, from the new hide this afternoon. Peter also had 15 Ringed Plover at Coull and then around 200 Golden Plover at Ballinaby, the Argyll birder counted a total of 212 Plovers present there. The Argyll birder also had a Whinchat at Grulinmore and several groups of Whimbrel, 11 at Ardnave, 18 at Bruichladdich and 98 down at Nerabus. Bob this evening counted 30 at Octomore. Peter also had 3 Grasshopper Warblers and a Whitethroat at Foreland. James had a Merlin at Ardnave this afternoon, and we had one at Coull this morning which put the flock of Golden Plovers up. Yesterday Michal had a male Hen Harrier displaying down on the Oa. He also had 2 Golden Eagles,a Red Grouse, a Sedge Warbler and several Willow Warblers. He also seen "loads" of Meadow Pipits and also Skylarks there too. Bob had a Golden Eagle yesterday up behind Sunderland. Bob's friend Chris had 95 species seen on his 2 day trip to Islay.