The day started out fairly sunny and dry, but clouded over in the afternoon and began to rain, becoming quite persistent by evening with an increase in the wind from a westerly direction. Some additional records for yesterday from Andrew Whitehouse included: 6 Sanderling, 8 Black Guillemots, 6 Great Northern Divers, 1 Redwing, 2 Stonechats at Machir Bay/Kilchoman. Up at Ardnave were 4 Wheatears, 4 Canada Geese, single Golden and White-tailed Eagles, a pair of Hen Harriers, 16 Choughs. Back at Gruinart he found 3 Little Egrets, 1 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 15 Whooper Swa ..read more

 Back to pleasant sunny weather with a light breeze again today. John and Wendy Mattingley, over on Islay for another visit, found our first Sandwich Terns of the year - two this morning in Kilnaughton Bay ..read more

Cloudier with a moderate northerly breeze and light rain a lot of the time from late morning onwards. The Hoopoe was present again in the same area of the road between Gruinart and Ardnave - Martin Armstrong taking some better photos. The bird is still keenly feeding a lot of the time on the grass growing down the middle of the road - a dangerous thing to do, but apparently productive, with Clive McK. identifying Cranefly larvae and pupae in its diet. Other news: A total of 6 Coal Tits seen by Louise Muir at Craighouse on Jura this morning, apparently rallying round another that had flown a ..read more

The fine weather continued on Thursday - dry, sunny, light breeze from the SE. This continued into Friday morning, but, as predicted, the clouds came in, the wind increased and began turning to come from the NW and it became colder. For yesterday there were two reports, both from Jura - a Wheatear seen by Louise M. and a flock of 45 Skylarks at Ardfin golf course noted by Malcolm O. On Islay, Billy Stitchell had a drumming Great spotted Woodpecker at Lily Loch up at Dunlossit - the site where breeding was first proven in 2013. The first posting today was from Clive McK. in mid-morning who was ..read more

 Another two days of dry, sunny weather with light winds and cool temperatures. Just two notes from yesterday: Clive McK. watched a White-tailed Eagle that had an Adder in its talons, and David Killick watched a Dipper nest-building on the Sorn near the Woollen Mill along with a couple of Grey Wagtails. Today there were three reports of summer migrants: Shona Isla had a Wheatear at Portnahaven and Dave Killick had another at Kilchiaran. Ed B. found Islay's first sand Martin of 2025 at Cornabus. Other good news was of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the woods at Laphroaig, heard by ..read more

 Two further fairly pleasant if cold days with plenty of sunshine on Sunday, a but less on Monday, but dry and quite calm. Yesterday Ed B. had a flock of 33 Whooper Swans heading north through Cornabus and commented on the start of nesting for Redshank and Lapwing on his patch. At Gruinart James H. had a further 43 Whoopers and noted the Barnacle Geese gathering more on the reserve - further suggestion that the winter birds are thinking of heading up to their arctic breeding grounds. James also saw the Red-breasted Goose, a flock of 100 Skylarks and 2 Black-tailed Godwits on the floods. D ..read more

Continuing lovely sunny weather today with clear skies and calm seas. Reports of other wildlife include a Red Admiral seen yesterday afternoon by George Jackson, and fish jumping in Loch Indaal. Steve & Lyn Rogers did a WeBS count at Loch an t-Sailean, near Ardbeg today, finding a good variety of the regular species with a high count of 160 Dunlin along with a report of 2 Great Crested Grebes - the latter quite rarity for Islay. Jim Wells was over on a day trip by boat from N. Ireland with birding friends and managed to find the Red-breasted Goose up at Gruinart and had a high total count ..read more

Very little to report over the past two days other than the lovely weather - bright, cool, clear sunny and dry. Nick Webb has kept us going with reports yesterday of a couple of Red-throated Divers (one in winter plumage, the other in breeding plumage) at Bowmore, followed by a Dipper on the River Corran on Jura. Today Nick counted 70 Fieldfares near Loch Gorm. There must be some summer migrants on their way soon ..read more

Two days of bright, sunny, mostly dry weather, but with a cold nip from the light to moderate northerly winds. Nick Webb enjoyed a good day out yesterday in the decent weather up at Ardnave and Gruinart. He doubled the Wheatear tally from one on 10th March to two birds up around Craigens. At Ardnave were the usual Whooper Swans on the loch, a flock of 14 Choughs milling about and a group of 5 eagles that looked to be 3-4 White-tailed in aerial display joined/investigated by 1-2 Golden Eagles. Later he was delighted to watch a Kingfisher fishing in the shallows at Bowmore. Dave & Jean Killi ..read more

The day started out fine and sunny, but by the afternoon had clouded over and become a bit breezier and colder, with winds going round towards the north - but no rain at all. The only bird news came from Nick Webb who was pleased to see plenty of Twite at the feeders in the RSPB The Oa car park, and from newly returning visitors Dave & Jean Killick who found the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens and our first summer migrant of 2025 - a Wheatear just a bit further north ..read more