Tuesday 17 May

 Not a very nice day here altogether, though there are one or two sightings in...

4 corncrakes calling at RSPB Loch Gruinart, while on the flats a peregrine was mobbing a WTE (Mark).  From the South Hide, the male Garganey was spotted by Andy R. At Balinaby there is a lone barnacle goose still hanging on.  And Lauren spotted an osprey over Loch Gorm.

Ed over at Cornabus found a 2cy Iceland gull among the flock there. Apparently been there for a couple of days, but keeping its distance.

At Currie sands, a pair of chough by the bay, 2 turnstone and a common sandpiper feeding in a mound of fresh kelp.  While back at Portnahaven an other pair of chough were in flight over the village hall.

New visitor Vicci Johnstone has been in touch with the following from her day at RSPB Loch Gruinart:

"Good views of a black tailed Godwit from Taigh Tuath [North Hide] and two Teal and Shoveler. Plenty of lapwing, meadow pipit, sand martin, sedge warbler, black headed gull. Willow warbler, chaffinch  and wren vocal in the hedgerows on both woodland and moorland walk from RSPB car park. Swallows in large numbers on the road by Gruinart Farm and feeding young in the lean to by Bushmill. Several song thrush and starling as well as loud Corvids by the car park.

Coal tit, chaffinch, Blue and Great tits and Siskin on the feeders at the Woollen mill, but no redpoll."

Thank you Vicci!

The highlight of the day was a report of a common crane in flight to the north of Portnahaven. Seen on Saturday though only reported by the visitor today.

No photos submitted today, so I've raided my sister on Kerreras collection again, this time of a pair of hen harriers hunting over the heather.

Thanks to all for their contributions.

Mary

Wednesday 15 September

Bit quite on the birding front today. Just the usual customers about the village and croft down this south-west corner of the island. 

Gary had 2 white tailed eagles on the wreck at the head of Loch Indaal, while at Loch Gruinart James spotted the regular osprey as well as noting ruff present.

Ed reported hearing red deer stags roaring for the first time this autumn, in the forestry at Cornabus. 

Tuesday 14 September

 Bit of a blowy day here today, but still mild. A huge swell off the west coast which stopped local fisherman getting a good day in.  There was a cruise ships passing the west coast this evening, lit up like a floating city. Hope the swell had died down a bit for the passengers! The 'Anthem of the Seas' was heading up to Kirkwall. It could take all of the Ileachs on board with room to spare - 4,180 passengers over 16 decks, and cost $940million to build, apparently on the worlds most expensive cruise ships....makes me feel a bit small... and bewildered! Having a swimming pool on a boat (or 3 in this case) feels a bit like having a treadmill on the roof of the car.

Anyway, birds!  There is still a few wheatear about - 2 at the old school in Portnahaven, 1 up at Claddach loch, and 2 off the coastal path at Port Wemyss. 

Ed noted some fresh pale bellied Brent in the bay at Port Ellen last night and they were still there this morning. Gary had a male merlin on the road at the Ardnahoe pump house. David Dinsley spotted 2 osprey and a peregrine at Bridgend merse.  He watched as the osprey "drifted off towards Bowmore" where David Wood was at the right place at the right time! He watched as one of the osprey caught a fish, just in front of the Gaelic college. 

At Loch Gruinart, James spotted a white-tailed eagle.

Monday 13 September

Mark and Lauren carried out the monthly WeBS count on Loch Gruinart. Walking each side of the loch at the same time, trying to keep opposite one an other to avoid double counting.  Once they got back to the office and changed their socks, they can compare notes and tally up the overall count:

6 red breasted merganser, 230 oystercatcher, 266 ringed plover, 10 Knot, 201 sanderling, 741 dunlin, 89 bar tailed godwit, 195 curlew, 27 redshank, 5 turnstone, 61 common gull, 2 osprey, 3 whimbrel, 1 black tailed godwit, 22 pale bellied brent geese and 1 greenshank.

At Claddach yesterday there was a great norther diver off the beach, a wheatear on the wall there. Up at the loch a small flock of around 12 meadow pipits plus one rock pipit (that I could see) which one meadow pipit seemed to take a real dislike to! Busy chasing it along the length of a nearby wall in the field. Driving towards Kilchiaran this morning from Portnahaven, I saw a pair of chough sat hunched in the wind, back to sea.  It was a wet morning but dried up this afternoon, though the wind didn't drop much. 

Mary-Ann spotted 20 eider off Port Ellen.

David (not sure which one!) had a great northern diver and a juvenile white-tailed eagle off Kintra.

Ed caught a sighting of 2 osprey on the sand at Bridgend.

Friday 10 September

 Better late than never! Mobile network was down on the island most of yesterday and through the night. Appears to be better for now although I can't seem to upload photos. Perhaps Pete will have more luck today.

Yesterday was quite a still day with rolling fog but there was some activity with 11 wheatears feeding on the track near Claddach Loch. Jim had a count of 18 on there drive round Loch Gorm.

More pale-bellied brents appeared: a flock of 57 on Loch Gruinart with potentially an other 53, a further count today will confirm. The curlew sandpiper was still present, and the osprey still in attendance. Must be getting plenty fish! James had peregrine as well as 33 meadow pipits in the fields about his home. 

Jim had some lovely views of the Octofad carrion crow, showing a "touch of grey hybrid features".  Louise then reported a carrion crow in Port Ellen.

Sunday 16th May

 Some birds seen by Peter and also Roger Broad over on Jura the other day included "loads of Cuckoos, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Tree Pipits, the first reported Spotted Flycatcher of the year, White tailed Eagles, Golden Eagles and also Hen Harriers. Yesteday afternoon, they saw 5 Whooper Swans over at Gruinart.

On Friday, James had seen the 5 Ruff over at Gruinart with Gary spotting an Osprey flying over the merse at Bridgend.

Yesterday, David Dinsley had a Tree Pipit down at Kinnabus on the Oa with Ed Burrell's other half seeing an Osprey over at Laphroaig.

Friday 11th September

 Not much to report from Islay today, but Gary had seen a Greenshank in the creeks at the top of  Loch Indaal beside Donald Bell's house. He also watched  an Osprey perched on top of the wreck out in Loch Indaal as the tide was going out.

Karen Graham who is still up North reported through say that there were not many birds around today, but the weather was great, nice blue skies etc..."Only 3 Oystercatcher which have been on same rocks for last two months, 2 Redshank and  a Curlew there too. Several House Martins still around." 

Tuesday 8th September

The Rose coloured Starling was seen in Bowmore today by Samara Johnson who is one of our local vets, so needless to say we all now are asking the question, is it the same bird that we have had all summer???

Gary sent me the following birds seen today by himself...

"Some birds from Bridgend merse. There has been at least one Osprey fishing the shallows and larger creeks on the merse the last few days. There has been two WTE also frequently on the sand out from the merse scavenging any debris left when the tide goes out.

Loads of wader movement, Curlew, Whimbrel, Black tailed & Bar tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover.

Small flocks of Meadow Pipit & Twite on the grass on the edge of the merse.

A regular Peregrine hunting small waders"

Jim Dickson sent through his birds as well

"A Carrion Crow at Octofad, female Sparrowhawk at Lyrabus, 1 Osprey, 2 Peregrine's, 121 Pale bellied Brent's, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Golden Plover at Gruinart, 1 Osprey, 2 White tailed Eagles, 1 Grey Plover, 40 alba wagtails at Bridgend flats, 1 Greenfinch at Portnahaven.."

 

Thursday 3rd September

 Some birds seen by Gary today...

Carnain 9 Sanderling, on sand between Whin Park & Springbank,  two adult WTE hassling the gulls and scavenging their prey. Two Osprey on sand when tide out and the hunting the shallows as tide rose. 49 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff from lay-by at Donald Bell's. He had been watching the Ospreys for over 3 hours. Mid afternoon, and he e mailed me through to say that over 20 Wigeon had just flown in, and then just after 4pm, he contacted me to say that there were now 3 Ospreys present....

Thursday 20th August

Richard How, James's brother is over enjoying his Islay fix of the year. Yesterday he saw an Osprey fishing on Loch Gorm and later on he saw a Golden Eagle fly along the front of the crag up at Kilchoman.

Andrew Kelly had been out and about yesterday as well... "Trip up to Ardnave Point today. Highlight however was on road between Nerabus and Port Charlotte: 2 eagles overhead being mobbed by 4 buzzard. At time reaction was that too big ( especially wing width) for golden, and looking at photos having got back, beaks look enormous. Tails both dark though. Both had tertiaries missing, and one part of tail. Could we have seen 2 immature WTEs? Hesitant because I haven't seen one for 40 years, and only seen golden at distance."

Later on round Ardnave point Andrew recorded the following birds. "It was quiet on estuary side, but quite rewarding along west coast: 3 razorbills off Nave Island, 30+ redshank, 15+ sanderling, 12 golden plover, ringed plover in most +bays, some Turnstones also seen, a dozen wigeon, 3 chough, pair of raven. He also saw 6 Tufted Ducks out on the loch as well."

Karen Graham who is still "up North" recorded the following birds for us... "Pair of Linnet on gorse bushes. Stonechat too. On shore were large numbers of herring gulls with young. In the midst were 2 heron and 3 Lapwing on sandy shore. Whilst watching a group of sparrows landed on bushes speedily followed by a Sparrow Hawk. It ended up flying out to sea without catching any of the birds." 

 

Thursday 13th August

Some sightings in for us all to ogle at, mainly referring to yesterday....

Alistair Hart had been out on his bike, with the following comments through from himself..  "Cycled up to Lossit and back over the Octofad road. Highlight was an Islay experience of cycling alongside a hunting ringtail Hen Harrier from Cladville to Airigh Sgallaidh. Also juvenile Buzzard calling vociferously just before Wester Ellister on my way home to Portnahaven."

George E. Jackson e mailed some sightings through to me as well... "This morning down at Machir Bay, an imm. Peregrine sitting atop an eroded sand dune in the field across from the parking area, ignoring little birds flitting past and contemplating the world. This evening, about fifteen Swallows zooming round the house at Rockside, closely examining the artificial House Martin box (unused) and the rest of the roofline - perhaps looking for sites for next year?"

Christine Menzies had seen a White tailed Eagle when she was out along the High road yesterday. evening..

Peter had some birds through from Tuesday (11th) there was an Osprey fishing in Loch Gruinart and yesterday an hour watching off Frenchman's Rocks produced  a range of the usual seabirds - 50+ Manxies, and a lots of Gannets plus a few Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots.

Thursday 2nd July

Good friend, Marsali was in touch this morning to tell me about her rain fall which tallied out at 5.08 inches for the month....

Meanwhile, James had seen an Osprey flying over Loch Gruinart, the first he has seen for some time. Along at the RSPB office at Bushmills, he  had seen a Chiffchaff and also a cracking male Bullfinch.

Another good friend Armin Grewe emailed some sightings seen while out for his early walk along the canal, close to where he lives...
"First I saw a pair of Green Woodpeckers in small trees/bushes right next to the towpath, maybe 20-30 feet ahead of me. They then flew off, across the canal where they disappeared into the trees on the other side of the canal.

Walking on may be another 30-40 feet I look up into one of the small trees on the verge of the canal, between the towpath and the canal, and what did I see? A Great Spotted Woodpecker, pecking away at the tree. It didn't seem to be bothered by me standing on the towpath, so I watched it for a minute before having to move on as work was calling.

Maybe 1/4 of a mile down the canal I then saw and heard two Jays. As mentioned previously, there seem to be quite a few around of them this year."

Finally, Chris and Tony Johnson sent their tally for the month, a mere 5.75 inches, so top of the class to them...

Tuesday 16th JUne

Louise was in touch earlier on today, to tell me that an Osprey had been seen over on Jura.

Monday 8th June

Bob was on the phone earlier on this evening, and like many others, he managed to carry out his WeBS count today from Port Charlotte back round to Blackrock. So here is the tally for his birds...
4 GND, 3 Gannets, 5 Razorbill, 3 Tysties, 4 Shag, 2 Cormorant, 2 Gbb Gull, 25 H Gull, 30 C Gull,
35 Greylags, 3 Shelduck, 38 Eider plus 13 ducklings, 6 RBM, 1 Curlew, 2 Common Sandpiper,  2 Ringed Plover, 30 Oystercatcher and 4 Grey Heron. Great speaking to you Bob...


Matt Jackson, on his way to work this morning saw an Osprey carrying a trout perched on top of a telegraph pole on the side of Loch Gorm..

Wednesday 3rd June

On Monday evening, Sarah Bedford had an Osprey sitting on a telegraph pole over at Loch Gorm, with very close views. Wonderful bird. And I had a Grasshopper Warbler calling outside the former school at Portnahaven. 

James was in touch saying that his rain gauge at Mill cottage came to 1.4 inches for May, more or less the same as up at Shepherd's cottage...  

Sunday 31st May

Lesley kindly sent an e mail through with some sightings seen by her yesterday...

"Just briefly - this morning’s walk round Foreland - Loads of Small Heaths on the wing, plus a Small Copper and both male and female Orange tips- then at last I had good views of a pair of Whinchats, a Whitethroat singing from the top of a bush - followed by the Osprey flying over towards Loch Gorm, carrying a very large fish (salmon?) and coming from the direction of Loch Gruinart. Then a Green Hairstreak and a smallish ? Fritillary to finish off. Not bad when I wasn’t expecting anything new."


At present I am watching a program on the TV, called  "Highlands, Scotland's wild heart" I realise that the program has just started, but so far it has certainly got some great photography.

Thursday 21st May

Speaking to Peter earlier on, and he saw an Osprey overfly his garden in Bruichladdich yesterday while sitting outside having a cup of coffee. It was being mobbed by a bunch of Common Gulls. Peter, like me, wonders how long will it be before we have a pair of Ospreys breeding on Islay???Another interesting piece of information that came out during the conversation was that Peter reckons that the Dave Wood's Common Rosefinch was only the fourth recorded sighting of one on Islay...

Sunday 17th May

Karen Graham sent an e mail through to me today and had attached an image taken by her friend Morag Sinclair which hopefully I am going to share with you...
Apologies, you will just have to wait until tomorrow to see Morag's image folks as I have gone and put it somewhere that is so safe I can't find it!!!!

Gary was in touch to say that this morning he went through to his kitchen to make a cuppa, and what did he see out of his kitchen window, an Osprey flying overhead.

While carrying out my hour's stint doing a garden birdwatch, I too was well pleased, a new bird noted a Magpie, now 35 species seen in the garden. Today's total for the hour was a grand total of 215 different birds seen in the garden. I am becoming quite hooked on this idea now, say no more.

Monday 11th May

Mandy was in touch by e mail earlier on today...
Finally, I have seen the Osprey this morning, on it was on its usual perch in Loch Gorm, preening. 👍 Then later on I watched a male Hen Harrier quartering.

Saturday 9th May

James was in touch by e mail..

"Probably 5 Corncrakes calling at Gruinart. Lots of whitethroats and whinchats about now and I had an Osprey fly over the loch on Thursday."

Mandy e mailed the following to me last night.. 
"Yesterday, I saw a Whitethroat, lots of Sedge Warblers and heard Groppers. This morning, I saw 2 Snipe drumming, and this evening I'm listening to 2 Cuckoos."