Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December 

Steadily improving weather with the wind lessening, the rain easing but gradually getting a bit colder.     

Not for the first time, Peter goes away, asks me to look after the blog for him and the records dry up. None arrived on Sunday or Monday, but yesterday it was Ed B. who broke the drought with his observation of a "lost-looking" Bar-tailed Godwit at Cornabus, followed by Martin A. who saw a Kestrel at Upper Cragabus on The Oa. I stayed at home, but was visited by 4 Light-bellied Brent Geese swimming along the shore in front of Bruichladdich; they don't often come down this side of Loch Indaal. The best record of the day came from James H. who spotted a (?the) male Green-winged Teal from the North Hide at Gruinart in the afternoon. He added this photograph which, though obviously distant and much magnified, shows the distinct vertical white flank mark.