Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th February

Not a lot of bird news to report over the past two days of blustery, sunny weather with sometimes heavy rain showers. Yesterday Gary Turnbull noted flocks of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits  enjoying the sun in the fields and pasture up at Finlaggan, making it sound almost spring-like. Today Malcolm Ogilvie passed on a Facebook message that John Cameron saw a Kingfisher on the pier at Bowmore this morning. This prompted a response from another Islay resident saying that they had seen one at Port Askaig pier last August!

Sunday 11th February

Mostly dry and sunny today, with occasional showers - not too bad for winter.

The Red-breasted Goose rediscovered yesterday was seen again at Loch Gruinart today by Steve Percival. Other than that, I noted 18 or more Brent Geese along the coast of Loch Indaal this afternoon from Uiskentuie down to Bruichladdich.

Thursday 8th - Saturday 10th February

Back from my travels to a very wintery Islay - strong winds, cold and occasionally rainy, which by all accounts has what the weather has been like for much of the time I've been away. No surprise then that there is not a lot of bird news to report.

On Thursday, Martin Armstrong saw 3 White-tailed Eagles down at Easter Ellister, while yesterday, James how saw 3, probably different White-tailed Eagles up at Gruinart along with a Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and 3 Woodcock.

Today Ella Simpson had another White-tailed Eagle at Gruinart, plus a Barn Owl hunting followed by a much more exciting find - the Red-breasted Goose on Gruinart flats.

But there is plenty going on for anyone interested in birds at all levels. The latest edition of our local newspaper "The Ileach" out today tells all! The front page covers recent workshops, some of it in the Gaelic medium, run by the RSPB at Gruinart for primary school children. Inside pages have articles on Jura's Primary School taking part in the RSPB's "Big Schools Birdwatch"; a fairly detailed report by NatureScot on the status of the Chough on Islay and another piece promoting Islay's Winter Birdlife Festival. The latter being a series of events organised partly in Gaelic, by the RSPB, BTO and ICCI and running between 21 - 23 February.

Wednesday 7th February

 A beautiful winter's day today on Islay.

Mary Redman was treated to a Short-eared Owl this morning at Octofad, followed by a White-tailed Eagle at Claddach. She also had a pair of Chough hanging around all day and a flock of around 20 Curlew. 

In Bruichladdich, Sam watched an otter eating it's catch - Malcolm has been seeing a number in this spot frequently including a female and two well-grown cubs and, separately, a dog otter. 

Thanks all!

Tuesday 6th February

 Hip Hip Hip Hooray. The sun most definitely had his hat on for (most) of today! 

Thanks to Louise Muir for her sightings today. First a Little Egret at Craigens and after a few reports we've had in of Snow Buntings the last few weeks, Louise managed to spy a Lapland Bunting at Killinallan!

Sunday 4th and Monday 5th February

The tap has been turned on full the last two days on Islay. Rain, rain and yet more rain. A walk down the road at Gruinart on Monday evening through endless puddles did mean spying a host of frogs. 

Thanks to Dave Wood who reported seeing a snow bunting on the Oa on Monday.

Wednesday 31st January - Saturday 3rd February

The dreich weather continues on Islay. On Thursday I had a ringtail cruising the flats at Gruinart, and two White-tailed Eagles sat at the top of Loch Indaal, admiring the admittedly very cloudy view. 

Saturday saw a break in the weather and some welcome rays of sun between the showers. Iolo who's visiting from Orkney, took a trip up to the hills beyond Killinallan, and was rewarded with two White-tailed Eagles close to the beach and two Golden Eagles close to Sgarbh Dubh.