Sun 20th- Mon 21st Jan

On Sunday on a trip to Oransay, the small island south of Colonsay, the following birds were seen between Port Askaig and Rhuvaal, on the Islay side of the boat. 16 Black Guillemot, 22 Shag, 19 Herring Gull, 10 Greater Black back Bull, 4 Heron, 4 Mute Swan, 12 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormarant and 2 Great Northern Diver. The weather was tremendous and a flat calm crossing. Oransay is famous itself for it's shell mounds. MS

Also, at the other end of Islay, at the Machrie golf course a Little Auk was noted flying inland from the sea. AK

The weather here on Monday, has not been much to write about, as it rained steadily until mid afternoon, when it did fair up the birds were busy on the feeders, and the Paps of Jura had a fair covering of snow.

Tracey and Margaret from S.N.H. e mailed last week's Goose figures, 41,991 Barnacle Geese (+1,666 on the week) and 5,662 Geenland Whitefronts (+426). No sign of the Bar headed Goose recently. There have been no sightings of either any Snow Geese, or of any Red-breasted Geese for a few winters of late.