Wednesday 27th February

A good night last night at the "bird nerds" meeting with 16 folk coming along including 5 visitors. It turned out to be a hands on meeting with several Barn owl pellets being looked at. We were also fortunate to have faeces from a Hooded  crow to look at and also a White tailed Sea Eagle pellet sent over by by someone over on Jura. In the Barn Owl pellets, bones present were from Mice, Shrews and also Voles. The Crow faeces had quite a few beetle casings and the White tailed Sea Eagle had part of a lower beak of possibly a Grouse, but Peter is going to do some detective work on that one. Phil and Kath (correct spelling tonight!!!) had 2 Barn Owls on their way home, one at Whinpark and the other over the fields towards Craigens. After we dropped James off, we had a Tawny Owl on top of the dyke up past the old school. It just watched as we drove past and never flew off! This evening we had a Tawny Owl calling in the wood here at the house. Yesterday Bob had a Goldcrest on the Bolsay moor. Also yesterday, George had 2 Woodcock at the edge of his trees at home, and also a Kestrel on his way down to Portnahaven. Earlier in the week, Phil and Kath saw a male Goosander on Lossit Loch  and today they spotted an ermine coated Stoat while walking between Ballygrant and Port Askaig. Malcolm yesterday had a flock of 260 Golden Plover at Duich with 80 Skylark counted on the track leading down to Laggan Farm.

Friday 4th January

A better day out here, no rain and saw the crag, but for how long you may well ask! Yesterday, Carl had a Greenfinch in his garden, a similar story to George in the sense that they do not see many, must count ours tomorrow, double figures... Carl also heard a Tawny Owl hooting away in the woods at Bridgend. Bob this morning had been up at Loch Gearach where he saw the following, 160 Greylag, 26 Whitefronts, 120 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redwing, 18 Fieldfare in the trees, with a further 97 out on the surrounding fields.. He also counted 23 Starlings and on his way home, Bob had a male Kestrel in Glenmhor.

Tuesday 25th December, or Chistmas Day

A really early entry for once as I am going out, round to friends to enjoy some food along with something to wash it all down with, and to enjoy the craik too...

Yesterday Tom and Jo saw 2 White tailed Sea Eagles down close to Bridgend, one of them had just caught a goose and they were taking turns feeding on the goose, all unfolding at less than 40 metres away, who needs a telescope, let alone a pair of bins at that range!  Later on they saw another WTSE up at Gruinart, and on the estuary there were 4 Grey Plover and 90 Golden Plover. On  Ardnave Loch they saw 10 Whoopers and 7 Goldeneye. Last night, down at Glenegedale Bob had a Tawny Owl, and Peter saw another Tawny Owl up at Bridgend. Today Peter and Pia had gone over to Bunnahabhain, looking for the Iceland Gull, no sign of it, but he managed to spot an Otter there! While they were out, they had gone scout about, trying to see the Red breasted Goose with no joy, hope those pesky WTSE are not to blame for the goose not being seen of late!!!