Sat 19th July

After a mixed week of weather, it has now picked up, although on a different tack there was minor excitement at lunchtime when the power supply failed from the mainland, it also affected Jura too, but after an hour or so we were all re-connected.

Gordon and Pauline Yates have returned home, after a short trip over and managed to put some hours in to get some more images and new footage for his video. Pauline had heard 2 different Corncrake calling down close to Port Charlotte. While out in the hide, Gordon had been watching a nest site of a pair of Hen Harriers, with the male bird kindly obliging by coming in with 9 feed passes in just under 4 hours! Gordon had seen 10 Black Guillemot off Bruichladdich Pier, and also noted 3 young Kestrel fledge from one of the few successful nest sites here on the island. In an Owl nest box there were 3 youngsters, but obviously a late clutch as there were quite a bit of leaving the nest. Gordon and Pauline also had a male Sparrowhawk at 2 different places through the week. GDY

Fri 18th July

While in visiting a friend the other day, and over a cup of tea, one tale led to another. One which may be of interest, was that one day last week they had seen an Eagle down on the ground with what appeared to be an Adder. Nothing unusual about that, but the next part was of interest. As the Eagle was on the ground, a Hare appeared, and boldly made up to the bird, and there and then squared up to it and gave it a few jabs. Needless to say the Eagle had had enough and flew off. The whole episode was over in a matter of seconds!

Our visitors down from Shetland commented on Islay's birds and were glad to watch our many finches on the feeders and also the various birds of prey, compared with their population of mainly sea birds. The misty weather that we have had through the week did not deter them!

Thurs 17th July

After another misty start to the day, the mist was burnt off by mid morning giving us all a good day after that.

Over at Gruinart and on the road up to Ardnave, I had a really close viewing of a Peregrine on a fence post, but it was all to aware of me as it had flown off before I managed to get my camera out! Not to be outdone there was a Buzzard on top of a Telephone pole just round the corner. There were quite a few Stonechat out with young looking to be fed, and also some Linnet and Twite to be seen as well. Up at Ardnave itself there were 2 separate hen Pheasant with their own broods, while on the Loch there were 4 Mute Swan and also a few Tufted Duck. There were some Sand Martin out on the wing both over the water and also over the dunes and several Skylark could be heard singing overhead with great gusto. On the guided walk at the RSPB reserve the Ringtail Hen Harrier was out on show. On our way home from Port Charlotte in the early afternoon, a male Hen Harrier swooped down across the road from the moor, how it missed the car I am not sure!

Wed 16th July

After waiting all day, the weather has now broken down, although it is just a heavy drizzle, just what the midges ordered!

Catherine contacted Margaret this morning, to say that she had seen 47 Chough over at Ardnave. A visitor spoke with us this afternoon, saying that they had had 40 Goldfinch and 10 Siskin on the road between Carnain and Corsapol, coming up over the hill past Carrabus.

When we were out and about briefly at lunchtime, we had a Kestrel, a female Hen Harrier, Buzzard carrying prey in it's talons and later on a Peregrine.

Mon 14th July

Apologies for the misunderstanding that I may have caused with yesterday's entry relating to the Peregrine, but I have now corrected it and hopefully it now makes sense!

Back to today, well there was certainly not a lot to be seen here this morning, not even the crag was visible as a low mist kept swirling around, and eerily through it all you could hear the roar of the sea quite clearly. Out in the garage, in the Swallow nest there are now 5 eggs there, although not in the same nest, but in the other half of the semi detached nest which they cleverly built the other year. Out in the dog shed, so far there has been no new eggs laid yet, but there has been some interest in the old nest from previous years in at the back door. This nest was not used, first time round this year. As I write, at present the mist has gone, only to be replaced by a fine smurry rain, so that will probably mean the clippers having an off day tomorrow I would think.

Down at the burn entering Loch Indaal at Glenburn this afternoon, there was a pair of Mute Swan along with a single cygnet, is this the same pair that hatched 7 along at the pool at Carnain, and were down to only 4 young, the last time I saw them?

Sun 13th July

Another great day over here, but for how long as the forecast for Monday is not looking too hot, perhaps the midges will come out for a visit to haunt us...

Down on the Strand at Uiskentuie, we spotted 4 Chough down on the shore, somewhere we had not seen them before. On Saturday evening, while showing in folk from Shetland into their cottage, the Chough were out doing their aerobatics, much to the amusements of the visitors, especially as it was their first time of seeing Chough.

I see that a Peregrine on Fair Isle has fledged young for the first time since 1969!

Fri 11th July

Just a brief entry tonight to say that I was woken this morning with the sound of a Peregrine Falcon calling. Weather wise, another sunny day here today, although there was an edge to the wind. With this spell of better weather, all the farmers are getting on with the silage and getting the sheep clipped.