Thursday 8th May

Dave sent this image through of an adult Iceland Gull that he had seen down on the reserve on the Oa today. Dave also had sen a Collared Dove, 6 Whinchats as well as 5 Whitethroats. Today, James had a count of 1450 Dunlin, 2 Little Tern, an Arctic Tern at Gruinart. Here at home the 3 Redpolls and 3 Siskins were present on the bird table, the dreaded Cuckoo was also heard, luckily around midday rather than at first light! Yesterday there was a reported sighting of a Hawfinch at Gruinart, also yesterday, Michal heard a Cuckoo down at Easter Ellister.

Wednesday 7th May

This image is of a Greenland White fronted Goose taken on the 1st of May in Iceland, as you may be able to see it is wearing a neck collar with number 22 on it. It is infact one of the geese "collared" by Ed, Carl and Larry back in November at Gruinart. Good to see that it is alive and looking well, and hopefully we will see it in the Autumn back here on Islay, with a few tales to tell us off its' transponder too... Yesterday James had 5 Groppers, 5 Redpoll, 1 Whitethroat and 2 Whinchat on the reserve at Gruinart. Today it has been miserable for most of the time, but a Siskin visited the bird table as did the Redpolls. More rain already this month than the total for April!

Tuesday 6th May

This morning Michal had heard a Chiffchaff singing outside the Visitor centre at the reserve at Gruinart. Later on down at Easter Ellister, he had 2 Grasshopper Warblers, a Whinchat and also a Stonechat. On my way over to Bowmore this morning, there were 15 Whimbrel seen flying off Loch Indaal at Uiskentuie, and onthe way home a further 20 were seen Flying inland from Machir Bay towards Loch Gorm. This afternoon a Heron flew off from the burn here at home.

Sunday 4th May

Martin sent me through this image which he took of Bob while the 2 of them were out this morning on a walk from The Woolen Mill along the River Sorn to Loch Indaal. The birds which they saw were as follows, 6 Mallards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Corncrake heard in the fields, 6 Woodpigeon, 2 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Dipper,5 Treecreeper, 15 Blackcap, 18 Willow Warbler, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch, 12 Robin,5 Mistle Thrush, 14 Song Thrush and 16 Blackbirds. Here at home as well as the 3 Redpolls at the bird table, 3 Greenfinches were there too.

Saturday 3rd May

Yesterday was Phil Espin's last day on his week long trip to Islay and he walked back from the Oa to Port Ellen along the coastline. Phil's birds included a Golden Eagle, 1 Peregrine, 2 Chough, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Whinchat a Cuckoo and also 2 Black Guillemots, thanks Phil for your birds and all going well we will see you in August at the Birdfair, if not before...Emily was saying that the Corncrake at reserve at Gruinart was calling away yesterday, infact it was actually seen as he called from a nettle patch, Barnies now down to only 3 and there were some Shelduck out in front of the hide. This afternoon, Alistair did a "sea watch" from Portnahaven, rather than going to Frenchman's rock... His tally was as follows, 1 Arctic Skua flying N, 73 N Gannets and 322 flying S, 4 Manxies N, 1S, 3 Kittiwake S, "Awks unidentified" 18 N 46 S, 5 Black Guiilemot, 8 Fulmar, 5 Shag, 7 GBB Gul, 18 H Gull. Around the bay, 4 Eider, 2 Common sandpiper, 4 Chough, 6 Swallow were present. Here at home, around mid afternoon, the dreaded Cuckoo was calling/ singing/ making a noise in the wood, but thankfully I think it has headed away, fingers crossed! The 3 Redpolls are still coming to the bird table...

Friday 2nd May

Yesterday, Emily had seen around 30 Barnies still present on the flats at Gruinart, there were also many Shelduck there too, possibly sheltering from the wind! She saw a young leveret at the side of the road, and while on the woodland walk there was a pr of Song Thrushes along with their 3 fledglings. A Blckcap and also a Linnet were heard singing away there too. Later on once the wind had died down, Snipe were drumming away, but no Corncrake was heard! Over at Machir bay, Sand artin, Oystercatcher Dunlin and Ringed Plover were there. A White tailed Sea Eagle had been reported on the reserve on Tuesday and again yesterday.Also yesterday, Carl had seen a pr of Canada Geese along with a pr of Greylags up behind Bruichladdich. Today, Bob had a count of 126 Whimbrel at the top of Loch Indaal, over at the tip at Gartbreck this afternoon, we heard a Corncrake calling quite close to us! Alistair from Portnahaven had been up in the woods at Bridgend and heard at least 8 singing Blackcap, a Goldcrest, plenty of Willow Warblers, several Chiffchaff. He also had heard a Corncrake calling in the fields there as well.

Thursday 1st of May

That is April past now, the tally for the rain did not even come to an inch, just around 0.8 of inch, a really dry month for here. The farmers will all be well pleased with them all having their Spring barley sown by now, last year with a really wet Spring the last few fields were sown as late as the 22nd of May.. Back to the birds then, Phil from Lincs, one of Wally's friends is over this week and well pleased with his birding and possibly the Distilleries too! Yesterday they had spent some time on the Rhinns and up to Ardnave. His highlights included 50 Whimbrel at Traig an Luig, 60 at Nerabus and a further 3 at Claddach.They also saw a Peregrine, several Chough on their travels. They had an immature Golden Eagle flying less than 50 m overhead, no need for the bins! Good sightings of 3 different male Hen Harriers and also a ringtail. A Whitethroat was seen at Port Charlotte and 3 Little Terns were at Traigh an Luig. Dave Wood today had 15 Knot, 70 Barwits, 80 Dunlin and 9 Shelduck between Bowmore and "smelly corner". Alastair from Portnahaven had a Cuckoo at Blackrock while I heard a distant one calling here around midday