Sat 31st July

Well, almost another month in, but you will just have to wait until tomorrow night for the rainfall figures, not as dry as the last 2 months but...

Yesterday, Carl had 18 Shelduck at Carnain with the usual flock of Bar tailed Godwit were present at Gartmain. Back over at Gortan were 46 Eider in eclipse plumage along with 7 Redshank. Along at Bruichladdich were 12 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone and 1 Dunlin.

Early this morning, up on the trusses of the former Kilchoman Church, there were a big number of Jackdaws all perched up, a bit like something out of the film "Birds", a bit spooky for a moment or two! Up round the crag, a female Hen Harrier flew past and a Whitethroat was on the fence wire. Back down in the garden here at the house were a couple of Wheatear, the first I can remember in the garden itself rather than out in the actual fields or on the Machir.

Fri 30th July

I received an interesting e mail through from James today which had been forwarded through from Rory who was here on Islay last year. It had been forwarded to Rory through the RSPB grapevine. The long and the short of this e mail, is that during 3 different archaeological digs carried out on the Outer Hebrides, here on Islay and on Rousay in Orkney that bones had been found of a Gadfly Petrel spp dating back to the first millennium AD. It is not only the present birds on Islay that we let you know about...

Back to today, and I noticed that one of the Swallows up in the shed has hatched her second brood with 5 youngsters looking to be fed!

Thurs 29th July

Forgot to mention yesterday that there was a large flock of Greylags over on the flats at Gruinart, I never managed to count them as I was in too big a hurry......

This afternoon at home, the tame dark hen Pheasant that comes to get fed every day, proudly presented her 4 young for us to admire. 1 of them is dark while the others are light in colour, will try to have camera handy tomorrow if they show up again!

Wed 28th July

Here at home today, on the bird table, it has been a day of the young fledglings having a look and sampling the food on offer. There were some Blue tits, House Sparrows, Chaffinches and also a young Greenfinch too. Along in the "sparrow terrace", there is a new nest with another 4 eggs, whether it is the same parents that laid the first brood I am not sure.
The Redpolls that George has been watching have fledged their young.

Tues 27th July

A Mute Swan taken by Carl. Today Carl had seen 3 Chough down on the Uiskentuie strand, at Blackrock there was a charm of Goldfinches, while at Gartmain there were 50 Oystercatcher and 10 Mute swan. Later on on his way home, Carl had 5 Curlew and a Common sandpiper at Gortan.

Down the rocks on the foreshore below George's house at Bruichladdich, George counted 72 Common Gulls, of which only 6 were young birds. He also had 12 Redshank there too.

Bob reported in to say that he had seen 3 young Hen Harriers on the wing when he was out the other day. He also had a count of 300 Greylag Geese over on Nave Island.

Coming back home this evening, and there were a pair of Roe deer just after Sunderland, and just before Rockside were 12 Pied wagtails.

Mon 26th July

As Carl put it, imagine having to that every time that you felt like some food. I thought that dooking for apples was bad enough!

Day 3 of the dank weather, but Carl was out and about. The flock of Bar tailed Godwits were roosting up at Gartmain again. In the wind there were a few hardy Sand and House Martins out hunting for food along with some, mostly immature Pied Wagtails and a Rock Pipit. 8 immature Shelduck were feeding with an adult out on the sandbank.

A Buzzard was enjoying the breeze above Bridgend Woods.

Over at Gortan there was a flock of 36 Eider in eclipse plumage and 6 Dunlin, 2 immature Lapwing and Curlew flew off as Carl approached Bruichladdich.

Sun 25th July

An image of a Skylark taken up at Killinallan last month by Imke Grewe, Armin's sister, Armin of www.islayblog.com . It was obviously taken in the better weather, as we have had another miserable day again, had to come sometime!!!!

Having said that we were fortunate to see the 3 young Kestrel out on the wing this morning. Needless to say that they were still being very vocal and demanding food from their parents.

Forgot to say that last night was birthday night, the 900th entry for the blog, should make the 1,000 before the end of the year, if I do not get too lazy...