Wednesday 19th February

Forgot to mention last night that the Rochdale birders had 40 Barwits at the top of Loch Indaal yesterday. Today they had 22 Black Guillemots at Coal Ila with another 18 at Port Askaig. At Coal Ila, they saw a couple of Ravens carrying sticks into their nest,and a Rock Dove with an egg on its' nest! Over on Jura they had 2 Canada Geese. Down close to Portnahaven, they saw a male Hen Harrier out quartering its' patch. Dave down on the Oa reports that there are definate signs of Spring with Skylarks seen on the moor, Herring Gulls, Oystercatcher and Black Guillemots all starting to pair up and on their territories! Today Dave had 3 Buzzards, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a GND and 20 Rock Pipits all on reserve. Peter today had a flock of 50 Lapwing flying South past Bruichladdich offshore over Loch Indaal. There were also 10 Snipe following the shoreline along at the Oil Depot at Bruichladdich with a pr of Black Guillemots at the pier. Here at home there were 8 Fulmars in at the crag. This morning, I emptied out the rain guage with the best part of 5" in it, there is more rain forecast for later tonight and tomorrow!