Glorious weather again, though there were a few clouds in the middle of the day. The weather makes it feel as if spring is over and we are in midsummer and the birding doldrums. I spent mid-morning through to mid-afternoon around both sides of Loch Gruinart. from Killinallan to the hides and saw nothing out of ordinary. Of course, in reality it was a splendid time that any birder from southern UK would kill for: just the "same old" White-tailed Eagles, displaying Hen Harriers, masses of nesting waders on the RSPB reserve and a sprinkling of Choughs here and there - all in a magnificent setting ..read more

The heat-wave continues. Should we be pleased at this lovely weather or be worried it is a clear sign of global warming and shouldn't be happening? Margaret Brooke up at Kilchoman saves the day with the only bit of bird news: "Just disturbed a Sparrowhawk in the garden eating what looked like a young Starling. Corncrake still calling and the Chough still on the Machir ..read more

The glorious warm, dry sunny weather continues. Not much to report today - and all the action was on Loch Indaal between Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich. This morning at about 9am there were 2-3 dolphins making their way up the loch from Port Charlotte, nicely close inshore for an appreciative audience of Feis-goers. There seems to be a build-up of loafing male Eiders, still in fine breeding plumage, on the loch - at least 20 this afternoon off Bruichladdich in small groups. The pier at Bruichladdich doesn't seem to have as many Black Guillemots nesting in it this year. I could only see 1-2 p ..read more

Another day of lovely late spring, warm sunny weather. Well - it would be wouldn't it - because today is the start of Feis Ile and Bruichladdich Distillery's Open Day - and they always have great weather. This of course is a preamble to say that the island is full of visitors concentrating on visiting whisky distilleries and not bird-watching. Hence no bird news today.  Slainte Mhath ..read more

The high pressure system with its light NW winds and dry and sunny conditions persists.  Needless to say, the Grey-headed Lapwing hasn't arrived yet, but meanwhile David Dinsley reports another Spotted Flycatcher on The Oa at Kinnabus, while up at Kilchoman Margaret Brooke continues to see flocks of Choughs (30 today) and male Hen Harriers ..read more

A lovely day with clear skies, light winds and sunshine - but very little new to tell you: James How found a Little Stint at the North Hide at Gruinart and Steve & Lyn Rogers had 3 dolphins in Kilnaughton Bay. Meanwhile, Jim Dickson our birding friend and colleague on the Argyll mainland is obviously suffering from a severe lack of rare birds and sent this map of the hoped-for trajectory of Britain's first ever Grey-headed Lapwing. It first appeared in Northumberland, then went north to NE Scotland and has now just turned up on N. Uist - a remarkable journey for a very lost Asiatic wader ..read more

 Another pleasant dry, warmish day with sunny spells, though very little bird news to impart. After I failed to see any skua passage yesterday, Gary Turnbull had a Great Skua in Loch Indaal by the Port Charlotte lighthouse this morning attacking a tern. This afternoon on my way down to Kilchoman there were 4 Whimbrel and 3 Canada Geese on the fields at Ballinaby and a fine male Hen Harrier - another male Harrier was seen by Margaret Brooke at Kilchoman at the same time. Choughs were active at Kilchoman and Michal, back on Islay doing his Chough survey work noted a non-breeding flock of c ..read more

 A dry day of mostly grey skies and light westerly winds. The Glasgow group sent in their report from their day's birding yesterday: "We had a driving day hoping for short eared owls, covering the back road from Bridgend to Ballygrant to begin with. No owls but Red-legged Partridge seen. We then drove to the end of the road at Bunnahabhain and got Great Northern Diver, Common Sandpipers and Black Guillemot. At Bridgend were Arctic Terns and Bar tailed Godwit amongst the usual waders. We then drove round the Rhinns of Islay. Plenty of thrushes, chats and Hooded Crows, but no owls. We heard ..read more

Firstly, some notes from the Glasgow RSPB group from yesterday, clearly enjoying their time on the island: "Had another great day on Monday. Went to the Oa and got a pair of Golden Eagles, Kestrel, Peregrine, Fulmar, a couple of Chough and a Rock Pipit at the American Monument. At the car park we got a single Twite on the feeders and when we arrived there was a baby Adder, about 6 inches long being very feisty making its way across the gravel. Heading back to Port Ellen we got Stonechat, Whinchat and a Whitethroat along the roadside. At Kildalton, we walked to the boat house and got Great ..read more

Another dry and sunny day with light winds - quite warm too. Some further bird news for yesterday from the Glasgow RSPB group who are visiting and clearly enjoying themselves: "We had a fabulous day at Loch Gruinart and Ardnave today. Highlights were really good views of a White-tailed Eagle from the hide and viewpoints and on the woodland trail, Sedge Warbler, Lapwings, Shoveler. On the Moorland trail we had excellent views of Wheatear, Linnets, Skylark, Whitethroat and Stonechat. On the way to Ardnave, cracking views of a male Hen Harrier hunting along a gorse hedge. At Ardnave we saw a pair ..read more