Sunday 22nd February

Not much of a day out here today and to cap it all both Margaret and myself have got stinkers of colds, running noses and sore throats... Luckily I have kept some sightings back. The Hampshire birders on Friday had seen 6 Purple Sandpipers, 24 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover and 21 Pale bellied Brents at Bruichladdich while over at Bowmore they saw a large raft of Eider and also 7 Redshank there as well. Finally up the Glen road they spotted a Golden Eagle. Thanks to Gary and Wendy in sending their birds to share with us all, also thanks to Mick and Clare Hemingway who were over last week, they were the winners of the free draw organised by the Islay & Jura Tourism and Marketing Group at the British Bird Fair held back in August down at Rutland. Mary returned on Friday after a few days away. She saw a male Hen Harrier close to Dunlossit and spotted 5 GND on Loch Indaal from below Carn, Port Charlotte. Yesterday on a trip round the block from Portnahaven, she saw a Gannet off Frenchman's Rocks, a ringtail Hen Harrier at Ballimony, a Sparrowhawk at Tormisdale, 3 Mistle Thrushes at Gearach. Finally at Bruichladdich, she saw the Pale bellied Brent but could not get an exact count as she was in traffic. Today the Rochdale birders had a flock of Redwing at Rockside, but not sure of their tally as I forgot to ask... the female Brambling was out feeding just after breakfast before the weather worsened here at home.