Wednesday 9th September

There appears to be more Sparrowhawks seen on Islay of late, Bob was telling me of Jimmy Roy who lives at Port Charlotte. Jimmy was sitting outside with a welcome cuppa when a Sparrowhawk flew in and land on the table where Jimmy was sitting. The bird sat and had a good look at Jimmy before flying off... yesterday when Jimmy was telling Bob about the event, up at Bob's house a Sparrowhawk flew past.. Today, George was up here for a blether and had seen a Sparrowhawk flying ahead of him up above Foreland, and we had one spoofing the birds in the garden around breakfast time! Yesterday, James had an Osprey over on Loch Gruinart. Mary had been out and about today. At Corsapol, she started her trip with a male Hen Harrier, on the salt marsh a large female Peregrine was being watched closely by 2 Herons... Another 5 Herons were present there. Further on below Gruinart Farm, on the Loch, 3 Ravens were harassing a Sparrowhawk, while another was flying along the road between the old Kilchoman Schoolhouse and Culbuie roadend. At Bun an Uillt, a Wheatear was spotted while at Killinallan, a light coloured Kestrel was present. Out on Loch Gruinart, an Osprey was seen. More from Mary's round up tomorrow night...

Tuesday 8th September

Many thanks to James and the team from RSPB for writing the blog while I was away down South in the big smoke... Some sightings through from visiting birders, Dan Brown had spotted the elusive Rose coloured Starling amongst other Starlings on the overhead wires at Kilchoman yesterday.. Ken and Karen Graham had been house sitting in our absence, on Saturday they saw a Merlin down at Coastguards and another close to Foreland, in between the 2 locations they counted 6 Buzzards. At Port Charlotte, there were 6 Goldfinches with a fledgling begging to get fed...At the house here on Sunday morning, 41 Starlings, 3 Swallows, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin and 18 Pied Wagtail on the lawn or flying directly over it. On the seedheads of the wild flowers, there was a mixed flock of Chaffinches, House Sparrows and Linnets. Finally, over at Laphroaig on Monday, they had a Treecreeper.

Monday 7th September

Another sunny day in paradise and as a bonus a few birds about too- Dave had a Pied Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtailat the Oa and I saw 3 Golden Eagles playing in the thermals over Leorin.

Sunday 6th September

Well the forecast was for a grey day, but good old Islay bucked the forecast and gave us sunshine with the odd shower. Not too much to report, had to mow the lawn, however did have a group of 4 Whinchats in the garden.

Saturday 5th September

Sorry been a bit busy at work so no posts for last couple of days. Garry was out on Friday at Frenchmans rocks and reported 300 Gannets, 65 Fulmars, 42 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Kittiwakes, 2 Great Black Back Gulls, 51 Shags, 17 Pied Wagtails and 2 Wheatears. For the last few days it has been cold with a North wind, the weather had a geese feel to it and I believe the first small group of Pink Feet arrived on the Solway yesterday!

Wednesday 2nd September

Birds of prey featured today at Gruinart, with the Osprey still using the Loch, a Peregrine also hunting over the salt marsh and a ringtail Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk over the Floods.

Tuesday 1st September

Ian tells me that the August rainfall at Kilchoman was 3.8inches. Also at Kichoman 27 Pied Wagtails and a Sparrowhawk. Elsewhere on the Island a White Tailed Eagle was spotted over the Machrie road and a Peregrine on the Gruinart salt marsh.