Thursday 2nd August

This morning down on mudflats at Bridgend, at the top of Loch Indaal, Mike had a count of over 250 Dunlin, along with 40 Sanderling. He also had a pair of RTDs flew over in from the moorland to feed out on Loch Indaal. This afternoon, at around 15.00 hrs Mike saw a pod of 7 Bottle nosed Dolphins off Port Charlotte  which then swam along the coast towards Nerabus.

Also today, Al Hart had walked from Ballygrant along to the Lily Loch. He saw a flock of 50 + Siskins, a Spotted Flycatcher. He also saw a group of 8 Mistle Thrush and wondered if they could possibly be a family together? Over on the far side of the Loch, Al saw a Dabchick feeding. He also commented on the amount of Buzzards being around as well.

Allen and Fiona Skinner saw a Merlin fly close past them as they walked up from the Coastguards to the former  Rockside school around lunch time.

This morning, first thing around 6.30am I saw a Goldfinch, a Lesser Redpoll, an adult and also a juv. Siskin on the niger feeder, and that was before filling it with any new seed...Later on, after filling the feeder up, the mix of birds on it was changed, up to 2 Goldfinches and a whopping 18 Siskins while on another small feeder there were another 4 Siskins...

Wednesday 4th May

Did not manage to write the blog last night, so here goes with it. On Tuesday, Michal had heard 2 Cuckoos, a Sedge Warbler and also a Grasshopper Warbler he walked between Moulin and the Office along at Bushmills. Mandy was in touch to say that she had heard 2 Corncrakes calling down  between the road and Loch Gorm, just along from the cottages at Rockside roadend. She too has seen the Lesser Yellowlegs as has Fiona back on Monday evening. Gary had been over at the hide and saw the Yellowlegs too. On his way along he flats at Gruinart, he saw a Peregrine trying to flush a Snipe out of the reedbed at the roadside. On his way home Gary had a flock of around 100 Meadow Pipits fly across the road close to Carnain. Mary now reports that  there were a couple of calling Corncrakes, one beside the Church at Portnahaven, the other was heard along towards Port Wemyss. Peter too had seen the Yellowlegs yesterday afternoon again present at the North hide, also there 42 Dunlin and 2 White Wagtails. From the old hide/ South Hide 2 Pr of Wigeon, 1 Pr of Tufted Duck and 29 Blackwits. Louise had a count of 19 Pale bellied Brent Geese over Jura

Thursday 8th May

Dave sent this image through of an adult Iceland Gull that he had seen down on the reserve on the Oa today. Dave also had sen a Collared Dove, 6 Whinchats as well as 5 Whitethroats. Today, James had a count of 1450 Dunlin, 2 Little Tern, an Arctic Tern at Gruinart. Here at home the 3 Redpolls and 3 Siskins were present on the bird table, the dreaded Cuckoo was also heard, luckily around midday rather than at first light! Yesterday there was a reported sighting of a Hawfinch at Gruinart, also yesterday, Michal heard a Cuckoo down at Easter Ellister.

Thurs 15th May

Another sunny day, here on Islay made even better by the arrival of this Wood Sandpiper on a friend's pond, where it stayed all day feeding. This was the first record of one this year.

A Curlew with young was seen on one of the barley fields at Rockside this morning. MAB.

Over at Loch Gruinart reserve James had a Water Rail and also saw a pair of Gadwall. On the moor Catherine saw a pair of Dunlin displaying . JRH & CF.