Mon 31st May

Yesterday George had been over at Claggain Bay and had seen a Common Sandpiper carrying a piece of broken egg shell away from it's nest site to the sea shore, a distance of around 100 metres. This was repeated a second time, probably a defensive effort so that predators would not pick up the nest site. He had also seen an Eider with 5 young ducklings, 4 Red breasted Merganser as well as some Arctic Terns. In one of the former Swallow nests at George's house, a Wren has taken the nest over this year!

A visitor told me of hearing a Chiffchaff in a garden in Port Charlotte this morning at 5.30, Michal had heard it too, and then Carl also heard it, and confirmed the Chiffchaff as being in his garden! Carl's first for 2010 in Port Charlotte! The visitor also told me of seeing 6 different male Hen Harrier while he was out and about today.

Carl today saw that the Mute Swan at Crosshouses has hatched 6 cygnets, along with a female Shoveler. At "Smelly corner" there was a count of 22 Drake Mallard, Gartmain had 110 Bar tailed Godwit and a male Greenfinch, while below the Power station outside Bowmore 14 Drake Eider were counted.

There was a Kestrel below Carn on Loch Indaal this afternoon, but each time I tried to get an image, it peeled off and flew on, rather annoying to put it politely! At Rockside there was a total of 43 Greylag in 2 groups, and back at home the Ravens have got the 3 youngsters out on the wing and vocal with it too!

Sun 30th May

Today over at Gruinart, James had seen 3 broods of Eider ducklings strung along behind their parents. He also had a Redpoll, and heard a Grasshopper Warbler.

Carl had gone down from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven via Kilchiaran and Cultoon rather than going by Ellister and following Loch Indaal. The Sand Martin colony at Kilchiaran is occupied again, but possibly not as many birds as in previous years, and also juvenile Wheatears were seen close by. At Cultoon itself was a Curlew with young. During a short 20 minute sea watch from Frenchman's Rocks, 1 Red throated Diver, Arctic Terns, Fulmars, Guillemots, Kittiwake, Shag, Rock Pipits, Oystercatcher, Greater black backed Gull, Common gull and also 72 Gannet were counted. On the small lochan just before Claddach was a Canada Goose and also 35 Greylag. Lapwing with chicks were seen at Portnahaven, with a Corncrake calling beside the former Coastguard tower. Cuckoos were heard at Kelsay and later on at Wester Ellister.

Back here at home today a Wren was singing away as loud as ever, not to be outdone by the Chiffchaff and the ever present Cuckoo. Coming back from Gruinart there were 2 different Cuckoo on the wing ahead of us at different points, and down at Rockside there were 21 Greylag. With the recent dry spell, the causeway leading to one of the small islands has reappeared on Loch Gorm along with some of the large stones/ boulders showing now too.

Sat 29th May

Must have spoken too soon yesterday about "the good weather" as today is not so good, glad to have another layer on to keep warm. The tumble drier has been on to dry the sheets etc from the cottages!

A double entry from Carl today, as I had just written the entry last night when his sightings came through. On Friday, Carl had Kittiwake off Port Charlotte pier, a Grey Wagtail also at Port Charlotte. On his way to Bunnahabhain, he had 10 Jackdaws at Blackrock, I do not think that I have mentioned them on the blog before, and further on he had Cuckoo, Great Tit, both Rock and Meadow Pipit and also Wheatear. Today at Port Sgioba at Port Charlotte, there were Grey Wagtails juveniles to be seen, Greylags with goslings at Easter Ellister while at Wester Ellister, Whinchat, Stonechat, Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler were present. A pair of Chough were at Octofad and from Craigfad, 12 Guillemot, 1 Black Guillemot and a Razorbill were seen on Loch Indaal.

On the reserve at Gruinart, James had 4 Redpoll, a Sparrowhawk, and 5 Woodpigeon. Woodpigeon are not that common a bird on Islay!

Here at home today the wood was aloud with bird song especially this morning. The Cuckoo was to the fore followed by Starling, and Michal picked out a Chiffchaff. On the grass there were several juvenile Starling out getting fed by their parents. Earlier this week a Spotted Flycatcher had been seen in the wood by one of our visitors.

Friday 28th May

Another good day out here, weather wise that is, although sunny and bright there is an edge to the air. The grass does not appear to be growing like what it has in previous years, the grass round the cottages certainly has not been cut as frequently, and the grass cuttings are not as plentiful as before. I had been speaking to one of the Distillery workers this evening and he reckons that in a fortnight's time some of the Distilleries will be short of water!

As you may have gathered there are not many bird entries for today, but one of our friends had seen a juvenile Dipper on the River Sorn today. Another visitor was well pleased with seeing a Golden Eagle yesterday.

Back at home, the Pheasant was out with her brood again this afternoon but with only 3 chicks present, what has happened to the other 5? Were the others still hidden in the undergrowth, or was it a different bird with only 3? I will try to keep you posted of any further sightings.

Thurs 27th May

Yesterday's entry about the Crossbill image was incorrect, I had misread the e mail through from Tony Johnson, the image was taken on last Tuesday, 18th May at Loch Allan, not on Saturday at Bunnahabhain, my mistake!

Carl heard a Cuckoo at Foreland today. At Bruichladdich there was a flock of 20 Ringed Plover with small flocks of Dunlin on the shoreline along with a single Turnstone. From Carl's house, looking across Loch Indaal to the cliffs at Laggan, Carl reckons that there around 25 Fulmar there on the ledges.

Yet again as I write this evening, the Cuckoo is calling away outside. It can be a bit annoying, especially first thing in the morning.... Today there were 3 Collared Doves out on the grass out the front. Over at Gartmain, there was a large group of Oystercatcher and Godwits, but they were grouped together as the tide was coming in so hard to get a right count of them.

Wed 26th May

This image of a Crossbill was taken last Saturday by Tony Johnson up at Bunnahabhain, while he was putting off time while waiting on the afternoon ferry! Thanks Tony.

The Ravens up on the cragg have fledged their young today. There appeared to be 3 youngsters out, with great consternation by the Lapwing trying to move them on. The Rock Doves were agitated too as were some of the Fulmars. James commented this evening about the young Ravens also fledging on the reserve today as well, and with 3 young too.

Looking from his house today across Loch Indaal, Carl had Fulmar, 3 Red throated Diver, a few distant Auks and small numbers of male Eider. Off Uiskentuie Strand, 12 Red breasted Merganser and 1 Great northern Diver in summer plumage, with Little Tern, Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover present on the shoreline.

Bruichladdich held small groups of Dunlin and 5 Turnstone, while on the rocks 2 Arctic Terns were noted.

A Barn Owl was seen late last night by one of our friends on their way home. Earlier on this week they had seen a couple of Pink footed Geese amongst some Greylags round at Ballinaby.

Tues 25th May

2 late entries for last week, just heard about them today.... A visitor had seen a Magpie last week, a rarity over here! The other was an Osprey seen flying over at Bunnahabhain.

Today, James saw that one of the Mute Swans has hatched her brood and has 6 young on the floods at Gruinart, also out in front of the hide was a Moorhen with 2 youngsters. Other birds seen today on the reserve included a Red Grouse, pair of Redpoll, male Wigeon (probably the only one left!), 2 Black tailed Godwit and only 1 Whooper Swan, there was no sign of the other 2. James saw a Four spotted Chaser, (a dragonfly) and also a Green Hairstreak.

Carl had all 3 hirundines on the wing over the Bridgend Merse this afternoon, a few Rock Pipits were rooting around and little else apart from Shelduck, Mallard and 50 Oystercatcher at the low tide mark. 30 Dunlin, 5 Sanderling and 20 Ringed Plover were at Blackrock and the Little Tern were on the Uiskentuie Strand. At present there is no sign of the Arctic Terns nesting.

Back here at home, and one of the hen Pheasants had her brood of 8 out on the grass this afternoon. This evening, down at Rockside there were 3 pairs of Greylag together with their respective broods.