Monday 10th February

A few squally showers sped past today, but not enough to deter our birders....Mary and Amy from RSPB had been round Ardnave between the showers. They had a total of 41 GND as well as 1 Red throated Diver, 1 Black Guillemot, 12 Red breasted Merganser, 9 Shag, 4 Eider and also 9 GBB Gulls. Down at Tayovullin 3 Redshank, 21 Curlew (including 1 with colour rings on), 116 Lapwing, 21 Turnstone and 2 Ringed Plover. Later on Amy had 2 Bullfinches whilst along the woodland trail at Gruinart. Today, the Rochdale birders had a female Sparrowhawk in at Loch Skerrols, a really dark ringtail Hen Harrier close to Cladville, a Barn Owl out up the back of Port charlotte, over at Lagavullin Bay they saw 2 GND. The Sevenoaks birders had been out to Claggain Bay and had an Otter, 10 Black Guillemot, 5 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Dabchick, 8 GND, 12 Red throated Diver,15 Eider and 1 Shag. Aros Bay held 40 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank and a Turnstone. Just inland, there were 20 Meadow Pipits along with 6 Reed Buntings, then to top it all a female Merlin appeared out of nowhere within 10 feet of them! The wee lochan up behind Laphroaig had some Teal and Wigeon along with 5 Whoopers and also a pr of Goldeneye. Finally, they saw another female Merlin perched on a bough of a tree as they returned back to Port Ellen.

Wednesday 27th November

Not much news sent through so just more birds from the Oa. Another good day for seeing raptors, with Golden Eagle, Merlin, male and female Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk all seen whilst out and about today. Yesterday 2 Goldeneye were on Loch Kinnabus, a Red Grouse was seen on the hill and a good count of 93 Rock Dove also at Kinnabus.

Wednesday 31st July

Another month almost in, and by the looks of things, another dry month. Having said that, any rain we have had has always come at the right time and surprisingly enough there appears to be little signs of grass being "burnt" off due to a lack of water, although one of  the Distilleries did admit that their supply was as good as dry, and was going to shutting production down for a couple of weeks for annual boiler maintainence....By the way it has started to rain here now and according to the weather, it is going to wet tomorrow, will find some inside jobs to do... Bob had a Sparrowhawk swoop through his garden after I dropped him off last night after the Bird nerds meeting. Here at home the Swallow that had laid a late clutch of eggs, well they all hatched and fledged with another clutch now laid. The young Swallows certainly do not waste any time in moving away from the nest!

Thursday 10th January

An early entry for once...Before I forget, the stars in the sky the last couple of nights have been something else, perhaps it has been that way to coincide with the programs on the TV...But at present the sky is overcast, so stargazing may be put on the back burner for tonight! Yesterday Mary counted 18 Fieldares on the Woodland walk at Gruinart. She also had 2 Chough near to the end of the woodland trail. Back at the office at Bushmills (still on the RSPB reserve) she had a Sparrowhawk, and later on another one along at the farm steading, possibly the same bird, Mary thought.  There seem to be quite a few Sparrowhawks around just now. Today, Mary had a covey of 12 Red legged Partridge close to the office, with a Raven in the woodland trail. Up at Ardnave, at the lobster ponds, there were 2 Chough, 1 Peregrine, 1 Redshank, 2 Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone, 2 Shelduck, 33 Oystercatcher, and a Snow Bunting. At Ardnave Point itself, there was a single Skylark, 15 Lapwing and on the ground around 150 Starlings feeding on the old cowpats. Dave, down on the Oa, today had 11 Whoopers on Loch Kinnabus and also has been seeing a Hen Harrier being seen quite often of late.