Monday 14th October

Another glorious day out on sunny Islay, and what a great sunset to finish the day off with... Lots of birds for you all to ogle at, better still you all say!! Last Thursday, Emily at Loch Gruinart had seen a Barn Owl along the flats at Gruinart, on Friday over on Jura, she had 2 Dippers on the Corran river. Yesterday she had been watching the White tailed Sea Eagle out over Loch Gruinart. Today it has still been around there all day, and taking 2 geese for eats....Emily had seen the leucistic Barwit out on the Loch, think that could be the same returning bird that has been seen in previous years! David and Brenda along with Peter Donaldson had seen a Raven over on Orsay island. Large flocks of Goldfinches, Twite and Chafiinches were seen at Gruinart, up at Ardnave they had 71 Golden Plover and on Ardnave Loch there were a pr of Dabchicks. Andrew and Jane yesterday had 12 Stonechats between Port Charlotte and Portnahaven. In Ballimony forest, Coal Tits, Goldcrest, Woodcock and Kestrel were seen.  Today on Loch Indaal from Blackrock, 10 Slavonian Grebe, 134 Golden plover, 12 Knot, Blackwits and over 350 Wigeon. River Sorn held a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail, Claggain strip Long tailed Tits were present and finally on Loch Skerrols, over 40 Mute Swan and a Dabchick. Today, James had a Golden Eagle over the reserve at Gruinart. A female Sparrowhawk was seen to take a Teal from in front of the hide. Later on out over the flats a male Hen Harrier was seen and from the hide 3 Blackwits, 2 Ruff and a Greenshank were seen.

Sunday 13th October

Last night just at the darkening before the light faded completely, Armin had an Otter over at Saligo Bay. Moments later, when it was dark he saw a shooting star in the sky, needless to say the camera was packed away.  Andrew and Jane are back over and had seen a couple of Whooper Swans along with some Whitefronts at Octomore, out on Loch Indaal they had seen 3 RTD. Also yesterday, David and Brenda from Yorkshire had been over on Jura and saw 2 Grey Wagtails up at Lagg. Back on Friday, James had seen a White tailed Sea Eagle over towards Port Askaig. Today, James had a Golden Eagle down on the Oa, back home later on, he had a Merlin and a Sparrowhawk. This morning, I went out to help Bob on his count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck with our tally being as follows, 6 Cormorant, 76 Shag, 6 Heron, 1500 Barnies, 400 Greylag, 8 Pale bellied Brent, 2 Whooper Swan, 27 Mallard, 36 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 3 Eider, 30 Red breasted Merganser, 25 GBB Gull, 80 Herring Gull, 100 Common Gull, 3 BH Gull, 25 Snipe, 51 Oystercatcher, 12 Curlew, 4 Barwits, 4 Redshank, 5 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover, 440 Golden Plover, 69 Lapwing. Bob counted 520 Wigeon all together at Gartmain and also 18 RB Merganser at Uiskentuie prior to meeting up. Also further out on Loch Indaal, there was a Black Guillemot. Peter had been up at Gruinart and the sky was full of Barnies. Other geese seen were a Canada hutchuinsii sp., 4 Pinkies and also 2 Whitefronts with collars. He also reported seeing some Swallows today. 

Saturday 12th October

Been a great day with the weather out here today, good for time of year, dry and sunny although still an edge to the air, time of year I suppose! Peter had seen the immature Sea Eagle "worrying" the Greylags on Loch Gorm again this morning! Earlier on, on the Rowans down at Foreland, Peter had 20 Redwings, some Fieldares, some Song Thrushes and a few Mistle Thrushes, all making the most of the berries on offer. Armin had a Buzzard being worried by some crows on his way over from the ferry at Port Askaig this afternoon.

Friday 11th October

Yesterday, Peter had  stunning  male Hen Harrier out  over Loch Indaal near Bowmore. Then a wee bit further on, an immature White tailed Sea Eagle at the head of Loch Indaal. James had count of the geese at Gruinart yesterday as well, the scores on the doors were 36,040 Barnies, 474 Whitefronts, 5 Pinkfoots and a Canada hutchinsii sp. Other birds of note included 11 Blackwits, 14 Whoopers and a Golden Eagle. Today, visitors had seen a White tailed Sea Eagle having a go at the Geese on Loch Gorm. It tried several times but no joy. Earlier on, this morning a low flying jet flew over....On their way back to the cottages our visitors had a Merlin and above the wood, a Sparrowhawk flew past with a Peregrine sitting atop the crag late afternoon. At Gruinart this afternoon, Mary had a small flock of 15 Fieldfares. Yes, it's that time of year with it all kicking in.  

Thursday 10th October

Not so windy today and better still, it remained dry, all the same it was not as warm as the start of the week when I was out cutting the grass in short sleeves... As you might have gathered I have not heard much from anyone today, but at Rockside this morning amongst the Greylags there were some Barnies and a few Whitefronts as well. There were 4 Whoopers down there too the back of 8 o'clock this morning before they headed off to Ireland!

Before I forget, on the TV later this month on BBC1 on the 23rd of October at 9pm, the program, "The Great British Year" has some footage taken on Islay. The camera work on last night was first class... so try and remember to watch it when it comes on and I will try to remind you to tune in as well!

Wednesday 10th October

Yes, as predicted, the geese arrived in numbers today.... James did a count at Gruinart at 5pm with his tally coming out at 31,570 Barnies, 300 Whitefronts, 9 Pink footed Geese and 2 Canada Geese hucthinsii sp. There also had been 17 Whooper Swans there today. From the old hide at Gruinart, Bob and George had 3 Hen Harriers, with the ringtail trying its best to get a duck, but with not much luck. They also had seen 3 Blackwits, a Pintail and a Pale bellied Brent Goose there as well. There were also around 4,000 Barnies present at the top of Loch Indaal. Malcolm had 7 Whoopers fly South down Loch Indaal, late afternoon.

Tuesday 8th October

Forgot to mention last night that Bob had seen Stonechats and Whinchats the other day when he was over on Jura. Also last Saturday, Martin and Helen from Liverpool had stayed overnight on Jura in their camper van and commented on the noise with the Red Deer now all calling away, as they are now starting to rut. Today the wind has started to move round a point or two, net result is that some more geese are to be seen. Mid afternnon, at Gruinart, Mary had counted 601 Barnies, 24 Pale bellied Brents and 3 Whitefronts. There had also been 23 Whoopers but they only touched down for an hour before heading on to Ireland! Bob just at daylight had heard Fieldfares flying overhead, later on down at Octomore there was a flock of over 200 Skylarks on the barley stubbles. Down at the lighthouse on Loch Indaal at Port Charlotte, a Sparrowhawk was out flying above the whin bushes there.

If you are around tomorrow afternoon at 4pm from the Visitor centre at Gruinart, there is a "Wader walk", no doubt there will be the odd goose and some ducks to be seen at the same time.....If the geese are coming in, it is a sight to be seen, a bit like Heathrow with all the planes coming in to land!