Wednesday 5th February

Some sightings in from yesterday, from our various different groups of visiting birders who have kindly sent them in for me to use... 

The "2 Steves" and Julie had been out in the strong winds down on the Oa, where they had a small flock of Twite and also a Peregrine. Later on, they had seen  2 juv  Golden Eagles when they were along at Claggain Bay over the moorland. Offshore, a Razorbill was present.

Chris Mills and his clients from Norfolk birding had seen 2 White tailed Eagles soaring past as they were getting ready to go out for the day where they are staying this week. Between Kilchoman School and Grainel, they saw a ringtail HH, only about 10 metres away from them...at Craigens, a male Merlin was present. Down on the head of Loch Indaal, a White tailed Eagle was sitting around... 2 Snipe, 6 Redpoll, 2 Crossbills and also 2 Tree creepers were spotted in at Loch Skerrols. Over at Bunnahabhain, they had another Crossbill, then down at Finlaggan a further 9 Crossbills were added to their list for the day. They then saw 3 Golden Eagles as they drove down the Glen road past Storakaig. On their way past Cash Kelly's house and in the bay at Blackrock, they had seen 6 Slavonian Grebes, 12 GND, 3 RTD, 3 L t Ducks, a Scaup and also a Tystie. To finish their day off,  they counted 20 + Chough flying in to the roost  at Kilchoman.

Returning birders from Hampshire, Gary and Wendy are back over for another trip... Round and about their cottage at Carnain, they had seen a ringtail Hen Harrier, 19 P b Brent Geese, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Shelduck, Snipe and some Dunlin.

Jack Fleming was telling me this morning, that he had been hearing a  Tawny Owl as well as a Barn Owl last night down at his house on the Gruinart Flats...