Sunday 19th February

The Cambridge birders left for home yesterday, but told me before they left that they had seen up to 4 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull over at Craigens through the week. They also had seen a Greenshank on the flats at Gruinart as well as the Canada Goose, hutchinsii sp there too. Bob yesterday had a male Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk from his house. Last night James had frogs on the road, and today the hares were out boxing and he counted 40 Fieldfare. Here at home today, there have 2 different pairs of Buzzards out on the wing, one is the usual pair that have been resident for the past few years, with the other pair casting an eye over the big crag. Margaret this afternoon found some frog spawn in a wee pond up the burn. Carl had been out today too, with 14 Ringed Plover and 4 Sanderling on Machir Bay, 2 Chough were displaying above the dunes, 40 Chough present on towards Coull, Buzzards were seen at Kilchoman and also along at Rock Mountain, a Blue Tit at Foreland, Great Northern Diver at Bruichladdich. There was a Heron at Bruichladdich too and another along at Port Charlotte. By the way, it has been a better day weather wise, the cold wind has gone, but rain is forecast....