Another day with quickly changing weather - sunny and dry to start with increasing winds from the south with rain and cloud later in the day.
Clive McK. noted Barnacle Geese heading off north and west towards Iceland this morning, plus a Merlin up at Gruinart, with another Merlin seen by David D. at Stremnish on The Oa. Other than that Lauren Stewart saw the resident, feral Chinese Goose hanging out with a few Greylags in its usual area between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte.
Moderate SW winds with overcast rainy conditions in the morning giving way to a dry sunnier afternoon.
Ed B. noticed the partially leucistic Barnacle Goose on his patch at Cornabus again this morning.
It was Mel Chown's last day on Islay today finding 150 Knot in Loch Indaal from the Gaelic College, plus 10 Common Scoter, a male Goldeneye and a lovely breeding plumaged Slavonian Grebe. Later at the Woollen Mill there were 3 Grey Wagtails and a Dipper. The day finished up at Ardnave with a White-tailed Eagle, 3 ring-tail Hen Harriers and this fine shot of a dapper male Wheatear.
Other records were all about a spring influx of Gannets, with several up and down Loch Indaal during the day and Mary-Ann F. counting at least 70 off Kildalton.
A grey, mostly cloudy and mildish, but not too awful day - lightish westerly winds, little if any rain.
Bird news today again comes from Mel Chowns who spent the morning on The Oa, where there are still 20 Twite at the RSPB Feeders in the car park. Later at Claggain Bay there were 8 Great Northern Divers, 5 Razorbills, 2 Black Guillemots and a lone Cormorant.
Malcolm O. was at Laphroaig and didn't like what he saw - 31 Canada Geese and 10 Greylags - some of the Canadas in pairs, but he hopes it is just a non-breeding flock rather than an increase in the feral breeding population.
No rain, but westerly winds still strong overnight, gradually dropping a little during the day, which became increasingly cloudy.
A very blustery day of strong westerlies with sometimes heavy rain showers between sunnier spells.
Mary-Ann F. noted 6 Gannets off Ardillistry this afternoon and Emily McGarva had a Hen Harrier at Ballymeanach. Mel Chowns also saw Gannets off Frenchman's Rocks followed by a good look at a White-tailed Eagle at Cladville. Later, at Gruinart 100 Golden Plovers were counted along with a single Black-tailed Godwit and a very smart Russian (European) White-fronted Goose - photo below. There has been quite an influx of these into the UK this winter with some reaching the west. Jim Dickson notes that the peak counts for Argyll have been 6 on mainland Argyll and up to 3 here on Islay.
Strong winds from the NW, but mainly sunny and cold with occasional hail and rain showers.
Ed Burrell reports a Chiffchaff singing at Cornabus this morning, while Steve & Lyn Rogers had their first 2026 Gannet in Kilnaughton Bay.
Mel Chowns had a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the Woollen Mill in Bridgend Woods along with a Sparrowhawk. Later there was a Whooper Swan at Gruinart and Greenshank at Ardnave, plus male and female Hen Harrier vat Kilnave.
Here at Bruichladdich the feeders in my garden produced one of the higher counts of Goldfinches of the winter season - 35+ along with 6 Greenfinches and 3 Siskins.
Westerly breezes with intermittent icy showers between sunny spells - and the promise/threat of stronger winds to come in the next day or two.
A late report yesterday - thanks to Theo de Clermont who picked up a record on eBird - of someone seeing a Cackling Goose at Neriby and the Red-breasted Goose near Craigens.
Today, the main sighting of interest was a Magpie at Cragabus courtesy of Ed B. and at least the male Ring-necked Duck still on loch Ballygrant c/o David Clugston, who also saw a summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe off Bowmore and a Sparrowhawk at Finlaggan. Mel Chowns was on Jura and saw a Bullfinch at Lealt.
