saturday 23rd November

Today, when he was  out for a round of golf over at the Machrie, Distillery Dave had counted 26 Snow Bunting.

Monday 21st October

Quite a few sightings from various sources, so better try to make a start....

Dave Pierce was in touch to say that on their travels between Islay and Jura on Saturday, the Naturetrek group had seen 3 pairs of White tailed Eagles. Yesterday up at Cruach, they had counted around 84 Whitefronts (Cruach is behind Bowmore on the road leading to the High road). Further along the road down close to Leorin, they had a single Pink footed Goose. Down on the Oa, thy had a Merlin, a male Hen Harrier,  4 different Golden Eagles (3 adult +a juv)  and also a flock of over 100 Twite were present as well.

Dave Pullan who is leading a different group from Heatherlea had been over on Jura, nothing much to report from there... but they had seen a Todd's Canada goose amongst the Barnies on the flats at Gruinart.

Returning birder, Graeme Buchanan, had this morning seen an immature White tailed Eagle along at Sunderland, around 15 Snow Buntings were present at Ardnave with the G W  Teal seen at the reserve at Gruinart.. 

Straight, hot off my other wee pc, another correspondent, Distillery Dave had seen a Barn Owl ghost through the buildings as he went round last thing last night, checking that all was locked up for the night...

Another set of returning birders had seen 200 Pinkies down on Loch Indaal yesterday. Today, they had seen 2 White tailed Eagles down looking for something to eat at the head of Loch Indaal. They also saw a Cackling goose spotted there as well. Up at Gruinart, they had seen a Golden Eagle having a look at the Barnies on the mud.. They too had seen the Todd's Canada Goose, with Snow Bunting, 2 Greenshank and Sanderling up the Killallan side of Loch Gruinart also seen. 

Friday 10th October

It was great to meet in with visitor Wally along with his wife Jude who have been visiting Islay for a good number of years. Yesterday, up behind Loch Skerrols they had 16 species of birds, Linnet, Twite, Skylark, Dunnock, Wren, Pheasant, Red legged Partridge, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Long tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail and Robin, all in a stretch of around 300 - 400 yards along the road! This afternoon, they had a Sparrowhawk and also a Merlin just after Grainel, on their way over to here. So far they have had 84 species seen this trip, and they only arrived on Tuesday!!! James this morning had a count of 11,905 Barnies and 30 Whitefronts on the reserve. This afternoon, Mary had over 100 Whitefronts. The Barnies were arriving around 200 per hour, in small groups. There were also 5 Pintails arriving behind one of the smaller skeins of 20 Barnies. Up at Ardnave, on the tideline up at the Point there were 5 Snow Buntings eating away. There were also 34 Ravens seen between Ardnave Point and Nave Island. Over on Nave Island, 79 Seal pups were counted. Back on Ardnave Loch, there were 6 Whoopers and 8 adult Mute Swans and also 6 cygnets. Late afternoon, while Wally was here, we saw 20 Whoopers heading out from Loch Gorm out over Machir Bay and then heading South, no doubt they will be in Ireland by now!

Tuesday 24th September

On Friday, over on Jura a Great spotted Woodpecker was seen at Tarbert and Gordon Muir, Louise's other half had 3 Snow Buntings on the West coast of Jura. Yesterday, James had a White tailed Sea Eagle flying over at Keills.Also yesterday, late afternoon, Frank Warren had a Kingfisher on the River Laagan up at the bridge overthe "High road". Today, on the overhead wires up beside his house James had a mixed flock of 115 Linnet and Twite. At the birds nerds tonight, we had 13 folk along a mix of visitors and locals, the craic was good, good to catch up with each other.... birds not so good but a Ruff was seen amongst the waders. A Hen Harrier spoofed the ducks as well, and a Peregrine was on the straining post in the fence line, just watching all around...Carl was in contact today saying that there had been a large number of Swallows around Port Charlotte yesterday and there appeared to be none today, and James was saying that at Gruinart yesterday a good number were present but very few today, so perhaps they have headed South, certainly none here at home today either...

Saturday 20th October

A great day out here, but this evening the temperature is dropping, could we be in for a touch of frost? Highlight for today must certainly be the sighting briefly of a flock of over 20 Snow Buntings up in the dunes behind Killinallan by the Bolton Birders. On Traigh an Aonghais they had 85 Sanderling and also 64 Ringed Plover, back towards the Killinallan gate there were 20 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank along with Oystercatcher and Curlew. Also behind the dunes was a ringtail Hen Harrier being mobbed by 2 Buzzards. The Whoopers were still in the same field down at Sunderland, but not so many, along with a large number of Barnacle Geese. Danny from the Teme Valley arrived yesterday for the week and had a Barn Owl in the car headlights over at Erasaid, this morning over at Ballinaby he watched a Golden Eagle fly along beside above only 50 metres or so up! Tonight, another Barn Owl but over at the former Kilchoman School towards Gruinart. Other new visitors in for the week this afternoon counted 103 Whoopers down at Sunderland, with other birds round Loch Gorm seen were 9 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 female Sparrowhawk and 15 Redwing. James last night had a Stoat cross the road at theGaelic college just outside Bowmore, and today he had 3 Siskins on the reserve at Gruinart. Peter today was commenting on the large group of Greylags loitering around at Gortan at the head of Loch Indaal.  Peter counted 520 in all and wondered whether they were just grouping up  before heading off.. He also had a single red legged Partridge at Killinallan. Yesterday Andrew G from Lancashire had a pr of Pintail at Gartmain, pr of Dipper at The Woolen Mill and a Kestrel at Gearach. Martin had seen a Barn Owl the other night as he was walking his dog down close to the airport at Glenegedale and has seen several small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare passing through as well as 20 Whoopers flying on towards Ireland. He has also had a Brambling on his feeders! The Stewartry SOC group yesterday had 20 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrushes close to Finlaggan, a female Kestrel up towards Bunnahabhain with a flock of 60 Fieldfare being flushed by a Sparrowhawk at Cattadale. On Thursday, over on Jura, they saw 2 Golden Eagle, 2 Hen Harrier (1 male and 1 ringtail), 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 11 Buzzards, "large numbers of Redwing and some Fieldfare passing through", 1 Otter, many Red Deer. One of their group had kept a list of wild flowers in bloom, 37 in all, not bad for late October...Yesterday The Leigh birders had 1 male Brambling along with a female Reed Bunting amongst a flock of Chaffinch up past Avonvogie, with a Coal Tit shortly afterwards. Continuing on along the "Glen road" they had several groups of both Fieldfare and Redwing along the fields on the roadside. A male Kestrel was seen past Heatherhouse on the way to Bunnahabhain where they had some more Redwing and also 5 Mistle Thrushes. Back overlooking Loch Indaal from the power station, 2 GND and 3 RTD were seen as well as 40 Whoopers out on Loch Indaal.

Wednesday 11th January

I forgot to mention that Neil Glenn had seen 3 Snow Buntings on Monday on his way out to the monument down on the Oa. David had 5 Whoopers on Loch Kinnabus yesterday, and today had 2 Bullfinches, 2 Golden Eagles and a female Hen Harrier on the reserve at the Oa. Bob had a female Hen Harrier at Gartbreck yesterday, and at home this morning Bob saw a small flock of Redpolls and this afternoon a female Merlin was present. Here at the crag behind the house at Kilchoman, 12 Fulmar were counted this morning, but all away this afternoon, there was a female Merlin down at Rockside road end at lunchtime.

Friday 16th December

Today down on the Oa, David had seen 2 Hen Harriers, 5 Skylarks, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Mistle Thrush. Earlier this week, he had 4 Golden Eagles, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel all on the same day on the reserve. Today George had 2 Herons, 1 Moorhen and 4 Mallards on his ponds, out on Loch Indaal a Great Northern Diver was present. On the bird table George had his first Reed Bunting for the winter, 5 Goldfinches, 15 Chaffinches, 4 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock and yesterday a Coal Tit was present too. At present Bird Quest have a tour over Islay, based at Port Charlotte. Down on the Oa they had a Golden Eagle, around 30 Fulmar were on the sea. Back on land, 5 Snow Buntings were present, along with around 100 Twite, 3 Skylarks and a Great Tit. Down the low road, a ringtail Hen Harrier was noted. 25 Great Northern Diver were counted between Loch Indaal and Port Ellen Bay, and between Bowmore and Bridgend 15 Pale bellied Brent. Over at Bruichladdich, the 8 Purple Sandpipers were still there along with some Ringed Plover.

Friday 14th October

Another not bad day for time of year, even managed to cut most of the grass this afternoon, net result, I did not do much birding for the blog. Peter turned up trumps this afternoon with a drake American Wigeon over at Gartmain. There was also a Cackling goose present there too, as was a Pink footed goose. Peter had a count of 65 Whoopers on Loch Skerrols along with 25 Mute, he also had a further 70 Whoopers in a stubble field up at Cruach, up behind Bowmore. Also seen today by Peter was a small flock of 20 Fieldfare between Mulindry and Knochlearach, and also a pair of Dippers at the Woolen Mill. Yesterday, late afternoon, the Whoopers at Sunderland joined with the Rockside birds with Peter having a count of 303 including 49 young birds. This morning, the swans were split back into their 2 different groups again! All in all there is well in excess of 450 Whoopers on Islay at present. Yesterday Peter also had 5 Snow Buntings on Machir Bay along with 35 Ringed Plover, 15 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin. Up at Ardnave Peter had a count of 45 Chough. Carl had seen the large flock of Swans too as well as 80 Scaup off Blackrock. George also had been over to see the Swans and had a Sparrowhawk up beside McNicol's croft on his way home. The visiting birders from Durham had been over on Jura yesterday and had seen the following birds, 16 Twite on the shore of Small Isles Bay, 2 flocks of Goldfinch, one of 105, the other of 23 near to Craighouse. There was also a large flock of over 400 Fieldfare moving through. James phoned through an update for Gruinart today with a tally of 35,665 Barnies present, 349 Whitefronts, 76 Pale bellied Brent, 13 Whoopers, 326 Lapwing, 7 Canada consisting of 3 hutchinsii sp, 2 parvipes sp., 1 taverna and 1 Cackling sp.

Sat 17th September 2011

Ian has got internet problems, so a quick blog from Grainel tonite. A showery day with the hen harriers and sparrowhawk again showing at Gruinart. David phoned in with 2 snow buntings in the Sanaig area.

Sun 10th October

Another good day, weather wise here on Islay. The only problem is that the wind is blowing from the wrong direction which not helpful to the Geese who need the wind to swing round behind them for their trip to Islay. It will happen soon......

We went up to Ardnave this morning and there were still 4 Whooper Swans on the Loch itself, along with the resident family of Mute Swans. On the way back there were a pair of Chough on an old ruin, as well as some Stonechats on some bushes at the side of the road. Mary also had been up at Ardnave too, but had ventured off road and saw 5 Lapland Bunting and 4 Snow Bunting. She also saw a Grey seal pup on the shoreline as well as 2 Great Northern Diver on the water. This afternoon, on a dyke at Coultorsay was a Wheatear, Michal had seen 2 yesterday at Saligo. Coming home later on and we had a Merlin down beside Loch Gorm, possibly the same bird that we saw the other day as it was close in location to where we saw it.

Michal had 50 Redwing in the field next to his house today.

Sat 25th Sept

Many thanks to James for writing the blog over the last few days while we were down in London. We managed to see some wildlife not resident on Islay, a "suburban"fox the first night there, a few Grey squirrels and needless to say Magpies, 9 together in one park in Tonbridge Wells, as well as Coots on the River Thames, some Great crested Grebes and a few Parakeets overhead. On our return here this morning, we saw 19 Barnacle Geese amongst the Greylags down on the stubble at Sunderland.

At Gruinart this afternoon, James had 4 Black tailed Godwit and 110 Bar tailed Godwit, later on up at Ardnave he saw 3 groups of Twite totalling 115 and 2 Snow Bunting. Over on Nave Island a lot of Grey seals were present, including 44 pups.

This afternoon on Loch Gorm, Bob counted 190 Tufted Duck, 5 Scaup, 45 Wigeon and 50 Teal. Back on Thursday, Bob had 80 Pink footed Geese fly over his house heading over Loch Indaal towards Port Ellen. Earlier on in the week he saw a couple of Golden Eagles tucking into a Hare!

Tues 5th Jan

Today, James saw an adult Golden eagle when he was up round Ardnave Point, and he also had 10 Snow Buntings up there as well. Back on the reserve at Gruinart and he had seen 2 separate ( 1 Male and 1 female) Hen Harriers. An really early sighting was that of a pair of boxing Hares, it is usually well into February before we normally see them boxing!

Another interesting piece of information from James was about Oran, a 2009 White tailed Sea eagle that was satellite tagged. It has been here on Islay quite a lot of late, it was down on the Oa for 4 days prior to Xmas. From there it was over the centre of Islay for a couple days, up at Gruinart on the 28th, over to Jura on the 29th and 30th. Next stop was Arran on the 31st, and then on the 1st it was on the Mull of Kintyre, could it possibly be the same bird that was on the ice on Loch Gorm on the 29th?

Another piece of interesting news was that Loch Kinnabus is now frozen over, the first time in over 40 years according to one of the locals!

Fri 1st Jan

A Happy New Year to all you folk out there. To start with we have just heard that the bird blog was second in its' category in the ForArgyll 2009 Awards, great... Between Islay and Jura there were 4 winners and 4 runners up in all the categories, which speaks for itself, many thanks to all of you who voted.

I was looking back at 2009, and noticed that we had done 315 entries through the year, not bad going considering that there were only 365 days in the year!

Today, James had seen 9 Snow Buntings while on a walk round Ardnave Point. He also had an Otter, a Grey plover, a male Hen Harrier and several Chough.

Yesterday afternoon, Donald James MacPhee had seen a couple of White tailed Sea Eagles over on the other side of Islay, and commented on how large they are.

Sun 18th Oct

I thought that I was doing okay with my sightings from the hide on Friday evening, but I think that James capped it all yesterday, with the following raptors seen through the day, all in the same field below his house. He had a Merlin, a Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, 2 Buzzards and a male Hen Harrier, not bad going!

Also yesterday afternoon, some you may have noticed on the comments that Carl Reavey had 6 Snow Buntings up at Saligo. Thanks Carl.