Monday 14th January

Not to nice a day out here with the odd squally shower, at least there was no snow, although the hills down the other end of Islay have got a slight dusting on their tops. Yesterday Tom and Jo had been up at Ardnave looking for a Snow Bunting, but no joy!!! On Ardnave Loch they counted 12 Whoopers, 16 Wigeon, 85 Teal, 10 Goldeneye, 7 Lapwing, 40 Chough and a female Merlin  out hunting. Over at the Lobster ponds they saw 1 Gannet, 1 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 33 Ringed Plover and a further 10 Chough. Down at Machir Bay, Tom and Jo had 65 Oystercatcher, 65 Lapwing, 33 Ringed Plover and 80 Curlew. The Curlew later flew off inland to the fields closeby. Mary yesterday had 21 Golden Plover, 35 Lapwing and 6 Redshank close to Windyedge (rather aptly named!) down at Portnahaven, and later on nearer to Portnahaven itself  2 Chough.