Saturday 13th February

Forgot to mention that James had seen a Lesser Black backed Gull on the reserve at Gruinart on Thursday.

George and Pat Jackson had seen the Glaucous Gull down at Machir Bay and also there at the big pool alongside the car park were 9 Ringed Plover. Later on they saw a ringtail Hen Harrier on one of the roadside poles up beside their son's house. They also had 9 Reed Bunting flitting between the overhead cable and the neighbour's hen run! Peter and Mike had been over at Claggain Bay yesterday afternoon  and saw an immature Golden Eagle hunting over the fields there before it flew on along the coast, it had been disturbing Oystercatchers and around 20 Golden Plover. Coming back  home along the high road from Port Ellen, they had a male Hen Harrier. Colin and Alison Parnell on Thursday had a flock of 80 Twite while down on the Oa, out over the sea from the monument, 5 Guillemot, 3 Fulmar, a Kittiwake, 4 Gannet were seen, while close to the car park 2 pr of Raven and 2 Chough were present. At Coillabus as they headed back to Port Ellen, a pair of Stonechats and    27 Fieldfare were seen. Here at  home yesterday, we had a new tick for the garden with 2 Ravens down at a dead Hare! In the afternoon, we had 29 Pale bellied Brent, 14 Barnies and 30 Scaup all sheltering in the bay at Blackrock, out from "Cash Kelly's" House. Just as we came into Bowmore, we had a Goldeneye close to the shore. Colin and Alison also saw the birds that we had at Cash Kelly's but they also spotted 24 Common Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe and a GND. On their way up to Bunnahabhain, they saw a White tailed Sea Eagle over the hills past Ballygrant with a Golden Eagle spotted from Bunnahabhain itself. Finally over between Gruinart and Loch Gorm, a Barn Owl was outhunting and also a Woodcock was seen as well