Thursday 4th January

Further mixed weather of sunny spells and rain which didn't stop our visiting birders from getting into the field.

Kevin McCormick clocked the young Glaucous Gull at Uiskentuie - it must be super-glued to the beach?

He also added: "The day got off to a good start with a distant White-tailed Eagle on the rocky bits on Loch Indaal near Bridgend. Great light at RSPB Loch Gruinart as the sun came out later in the morning and after watching the geese on the flats, I spent some time at the viewing platform and in one of the hides watching the Pintail, Whooper Swans, Curlew, Shoveler, Lapwings and Teal. A Buzzard was the only bird of prey I saw. Walked out to Ardnave point with the family later, seeing two White-tailed Eagles over on Nave Island. There was a Great Northern Diver in the channel too. We saw 8 Chough on the way back in the rain. Driving back along the Ardnave road with the sun out again we had a brief view of a Merlin and a male Hen Harrier too. Another great day on the island".

It was Phil Edwards' last day on Islay and spent it up and around Ardnave: "There were 14 ad and 4 imm Whooper Swans on Ardnave Loch with 3m Goldeneye.  We walked a short way up the western side to have lunch after which the heavy rain showers cut short any further progress, but the sun was lovely while it lasted.  We had c. 60 Sanderling, 14 Purple Sandpipers, 5 Turnstone, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Ringed Plovers, c. 30 Curlew, c. 40 Oystercatchers, 12 Grey Plovers and c. 60 Common Gulls.  Two Chough were around the beach".

More of his super photos below - and a huge thanks to him for his records and accompanying photos while he has been here.