Sunday 31st July

Rather a miserable day over here, not a lot of rain but enough to keep you inside, although some folks over on holiday no doubt would just enjoy the stress free, away from the day job and no mobile phone......Net result is that I have done no birdwatching today, although I did see some 3 Stonechats at different places round Loch Gorm. I went over to catch up with James instead and got some more bits and pieces in place ready for the Bird Fair, just think 3 weeks time and it will be all over, so will get some pieces of the jigsaw in place over the next couple of days, rather than a mad rush in the final few days! Oh, by the way, James had a count of 115 Greylags in a grass field just below his house this afternoon.

Saturday 30th July

Another month almost in, not quite but not far away.... This morning Mark had a Bullfinch over on the reserve at Gruinart, and he thought there were more Wheatears around, is this the first of them moving South already? Down on one of the lochans beside Loch Gorm, this afternoon there was a count of 60 Greylags, we also saw a ringtail Hen Harrier further on, again beside Loch Gorm. Over one of the barley fields, the Sand Martins were swooping low, busy catching the insects.

Friday 29th July

Yes, summer is back again right enough. George had 10 Greylags in one of his field this morning, in a field next to his was a single Raven, back at his house the House Martins have been busy feeding their brood, as have the Swallows in his garage. James saw a Corncrake on the track down to the hide at Gruinart, out in front of the hide were 2 Greenshank, and down beside the hide there were 2 Roe bucks having a bit of a go at each other, finally up at his road end there was a Sparrowhawk. My contribution for today was a Golden Eagle sitting on top of a dyke above Loch Gorm catching the evening sun, unfortunately too far for a decent image for to share with you all, sorry folks....

Thursday 28th July

Yes, the weather turned better again today, not a scorcher but it was still quite acceptable.... Up towards Ardnave this morning there were a couple of families of Meadow Pipits flitting between the fence posts on the roadside. Further on a Buzzard took off from where it was perched on a straining post and on the road round Ardnave Loch there were 28 Sand Martins on the track itself. No sign of the Rosy coloured Starling today, but it is quite mobile, in fact there was no sign of any Starlings around. On the guided walk at Gruinart this morning Mark had a ringtail Hen Harrier, Sedge Warbler and commented that there were more Greylags to be seen. Coming home we saw a male Hen Harrier close to Loch Gorm while round at Ballinaby, in some of the fields there were several small groups of up to 10 Greylags.

Wednesday 27th July

It had to happen sometime, yes the weather has broken down, but "normal service" could restart as early as tomorrow. It is damp outside, enough to lay the dust down and that's about it, although the top of the crag is shrouded in a low mist. I have been doing other things today rather than thinking about birds here on Islay, cutting the grass, outside painting (before the weather went awol), checking out some odds and ends for the Bird Fair....not a lot but getting there, wherever that is! Looking outside to the trees round about, and hey presto most of them are all green again. The Rowans have some blossom on them, so will we get some berries later on? Similarly the Brambles have got blossom too, so again we may get some brambles in the Autumn, usually I think of early to mid September in a normal year, will keep you posted on that front later on. The old Apple tree which had so much blossom the first time round, has no sign of any blossom this time round.

Tuesday 26th July

A late entry I know, but just back in from an very interesting talk down at INHT given by Brian Nelson on Dragonflies and Damselflies. Apologies for my entry last night to Andrew and Bob, as I misunderstood the message about the Manx Shearwater, there were quite a few flying past while they were there, but Andrew's first! Mary on her way home this evening to Portnahaven had seen 9 Golden Plover in a flock of between 70 - 80 Lapwings at Lossit Farm. Earlier on, she had a good sighting of a Short eared Owl with a vole on top of a fence post, before it flew off with its' prey. Mark on the guided walk down on the Oa today saw the following, Red throated Diver, Kestrel, ringtail Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, Chough, Twite, Linnet, Wheatear and Gannet out over the sea.

Monday 25th July

The sky was overcast this morning, but the sun broke though and it turned out a not bad day, so I should not complain! Bob had been down at Frenchman's Rocks yesterday with Andrew Stirrat who has been visiting Islay over the last few days. They had a Manx Shearwater pass by while they were there. Later on, Andrew had a Short eared Owl and also a Hen Harrier. Today, Bob had a Treecreeper over at Ardtalla and at Ardistillery Bay he had a Greenshank. Andrew had been down at Gartbreck and saw a Whimbrel. Another visitor over for the week had heard a Corncrake calling in the dunes behind Machir Bay yesterday