Mon 31st Dec

Just an image of a Robin over at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, to keep you all in festive spirit!Another misty morning again, but once the mist had lifted there were good sightings of Shoveler, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, as well as the usual Geese. We also saw a female Hen harrier out quartering, looking for prey, all on the reserve. Down on the shoreline at Loch Indaal there were a few Turnstone, and further along 12 Pale bellied Brent Geese, I thought that they were all through by now as I had not seen any for a few days. In at the lochans beside Loch Gorm there were 8 Whooper Swans, and on the hedgerow on the roadside there was a male Stonechat. The birds in the garden at home are fairly polishing off the food on the table and from the feeders. I forgot to mention yesterday that there were 16 Chough flying here at the house late afternoon.

At this point as I sign off for 2007, I would like to thank everyone, including visiting birders who have contributed their sightings to me, as without their help, it would not have been possible to keep this blog going. I would like to especially thank James How (JRH) for his help when I was stuck off Islay as your Paisley correspondent, and also when I was on Jersey soaking up the sun in November. To all of you out there, have a great New Year and we will try to keep you up to speed with what's going on, here on Islay. IKB

A late entry from James, who had quick walk round Ardnave Point this afternoon, turning up a Snow bunting, 4 Purple Sandpipers, and a single Red throated Diver off Ardnave Point. Common seal at the mouth of Loch Gruinart with Grey seals round towards Nave Island. On the shore, some dead Triggerfish were seen. Back on the reserve at Loch Gruinart there was a Sparrowhawk and also a Merlin. JRH

Sun 30th Dec

Once the early morning mist had cleared it turned to be not too bad a day, weather wise that is!

The conditions later on, gave a good chance to do a quick count on Loch Indaal of 850 Scaup, which is a normal count for time of year, along with 19 Slavonian Grebe and a pair of Long tailed Duck, all far out in the Loch. MAO

Wed.26th Dec - Sat.29th Dec.

Over at R.S.P.B. Gruinart Reserve there were 67 Twite, a high count, normally only in single figures. J.R.H.

A trip to the south east of the island produced several good sightings of Red Deer stags close to the road, a few Fallow and Roe deer were also seen. On the bird front some Long Tailed Tits were seen in the woodland at Kildalton, 2 male Goosanders were at Claggain Bay along with a Great Northern Diver was also present. On the way back to Port Ellen, a Golden Eagle was seen soaring over the hills and a Sparrowhawk flew across the road in the woodlands. On returning to Kilchoman, 2 Buzzards and another Golden Eagle were soaring over the cragg. On the lochans there were 8 Whooper Swans. M.A.B.

The Yellowhammer is still present on the R.S.P.B. Oa Reserve. A.K.

Fri 21st- Xmas Day

Well, I am sorry to report that not much has been reported, as we have all been busy doing other things with the run up to Christmas rather than being out with the bins trying to see birds for the blog. I had meant to put this up for to wish you all a Happy Christmas, but I could not get online to do so yesterday, so bettere late than never. I hope that you did not eat and drink too much and are now feeling the side effects....
Over here this morning it is rather windy, mind you the fulmars were in the last 2 mornings, will the ferry come in later on is doubtful, could be a bouncy crossing!

Wed 19th - Thurs 20th Dec

Yes, the Bar headed Goose ( or the Braehead Goose as some call it), that was initially seen back on the 8th of October has been spotted again today, Thursday. It was in amongst a field of around 2,000 Barnacle Geese over at Cornabus at Port Ellen, grazing away quite contentedly! It was good to hear that it was still around as I had recently asked through the blog if anyone had seen it lately. The last sighting was at Finlaggan by Steve Percival at the end of October, so where has it been for the last 2 months? Also seen yesterday were the Crossbills , 1 Red and 3 Green, over at Avonvogie in the Pine trees, only 4 this time whereas there were 5 earlier on in early November, or were they different birds? MAO

The Goose count at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve on Tuesday, gave us the following figures, 6,059 Barnacle Geese and 412 Whitefronts which is a high figure for the reserve. Also seen were 31 Meadow Pipit, 76 Sanderling (another high count), 1 Sparrowhawk and a single Black tailed Godwit. 4 Hen Harriers were also seen on Monday, while this afternoon there were 2 Greenshank down at the hide, and 20 Twite were noted, again a high figure for the reserve. JRH

A Short eared Owl was seen over the moorland at Gruinart, a late bird as they are not normally here at this time of year. A Golden Eagle and a female Hen Harrier was also also noted at the same time as was a single Jack Snipe. CF

I have just received a copy of "Birds of Argyll" written by the Argyll Bird Club, a well written book by several contributors which will keep me reading for a wee while. IKB

Sat 15th - Tues 18th Dec

No, not an Islay Sparrowhawk, but this bird was one that we had the good fortune to observe close at hand when visiting the London Wetland Centre in early November.

Back home here on Islay, we are getting cold easterly winds, in fact there was a hoar frost on the grass this morning which is quite rare here! As it is cold, the feeders are being visited by numerous birds. Out and about yesterday, Monday, produced a total of 12 Buzzards, on a trip down round the Rhinns and back up to Bridgend, quite a lot in a small area really. We also had a Kestrel at the roadside, 50 Lapwing alongside the football pitch at Portnahaven, with 16 Curlew in a field closeby. 7 Whooper Swan were noted flying over Orsay Island en route to Ireland. Up at the top of Loch Indaal there were 34 Pale bellied Brent Geese.

Today, Tuesday morning, on Loch Indaal there were several small groups of Pale bellied Brent, totalling about 50 geese. Down at the lime kiln there was a female Hen Harrier, while at Gartontoid there was a Sparrowhawk. On the way home a Merlin was seen as well as a couple of Buzzards. IKB

On the Goose count last week, the Canada Goose (Parvipes sp.) was noted along with its 2 hybrid goslings, of Barnacle goose parentage. This particular goose has been seen here regularly during the winter over the last 6- 7 years, and hybrid young for possibly the last 4- 5 years. It has always been seen along with Barnacle Geese. MAO

Thur 13th - Fri 14th Dec

On Thursday, this was one of a pair of Yellowhammer that were down feeding in the barley stubbles at the Coastguard cottages at Kilchoman. They were difficult to locate, let alone photoraph, as they were well hidden in the stubble itself. IKB

Friday, and a WeBS was carried out over at Loch Gruinart. On the floods, in front of the hide on the reserve, the following birds were seen, 1085 Teal, 265 Wigeon, 50 Shoveler, 49 Pintail, 105 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 1 black tailed Godwit and 44 Curlew. Out on Loch Gruinart itself, there were 15 Red Breated Merganser, 194 Bar tailed Godwit, 130 Curlew, 85 Turnstone, 81 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 39 Sanderling, 210 Dunlin, 19 Grey Plover, 80 Shelduck, 2 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Peregrine Falcon. High figures for Turnstone and Sanderling. JRH, CF, RAS