Wednesday 4th January

On Monday, at Uiskentuie, Dave Nevitt had seen the Glaucous Gull, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 5 GND and 3 RTD. Up at Sunderland, he had a flock of 200 Chaffinches and a couple of Mistle Thrush present with them too. Over at Ballinaby 15 Linnet and a Snipe were noted, while up at Ardnave Point, 35 Chough, a male Merlin and 7 Pied Wagtail were present. On Ardnave Loch, there were 15 Whoopers. Down close  to Coullabus, a male Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk seen too. As the light started to fade, a Tawny Owl was in the trees at Whin park and a Barn Owl noted as he headed further along the road toward Bowmore. Yesterday, Dave headed over to Jura, and had seen 3 Tystie at Port Askaig, and while on the ferry over to Feolin, 2 Dolphins were seen off the bow, and better still a White tailed Eagle flew over the ferry...  On the Sound of Islay, 5 Razorbills were spotted and along the road, 2 different Golden Eagles were following the coast. In the trees, on the roadside at Jura House, Siskin, Coal Tit and many Goldcrest were present. Out on the bay at Craighouse, he counted 5 GND. Mandy today down on Machir Bay, had counted 40 Ringed Plover and earlier on had seen a Merlin at Carnduncan. Today, Gary had seen 20 Red breasted Merganser, 6 Long tailed Duck, 3 GND, 1 RTD, 45 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 12 Knot, 40 Barwits, 11 Cormorant and 7 Pale bellied Brent at Blackrock. He has been seeing some Woodcock as the light has started to fail at dusk lately, back close to his house. Around midday today, we had a distant Golden Eagle perched up on the ridge, south of Kilmeny but seen off the road from Ballygrant leading to Mulindry, "the Glen road".