Thursday 12th and Friday 13th February

Thursday's weather continued the run of easterlies with some rain, but Friday saw an abrupt and very welcome change to a glorious sunny day after a very slight frost, with a light north to northeast breeze.

Owls dominate the sightings, with Clive Mck. seeing 2 roadside Barn Owls on Wednesday evening, 1 in the shelter of Eresaid wood,  the other on the fence outside the RSPB office at Gruinart, while David Jardine saw another Barn Owl at Blackrock at 2.20am on Thursday morning; I'm unsure whether David was out very late or very early. On Thursday evening, Mary McR. spotted a Tawny owl with prey at Ellister, then a Barn Owl just outside Portnahaven.

During the day on Thursday, Clive McK. was out and about, finding 1 Merlin, 85 Skylark in a flock, a possibly influx, and 12 Reed Buntings at Craigens, as well as 30+ Ravens and 2 White-tailed Eagles at Gearach.