Sunday 17th November

Cold moderate breezes from the north wind lots of sunshine between heavy rain showers.

Over at Kildalton Mary-Ann Featherstone had a total of 10 Goldcrests on Corsican Pine - a good-sized count for the species on Islay. Over at Claggain Bay, Steve & Lyn Rogers tallied 109 Greylags, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers a Goldeneye and a Little Egret. George Jackson had 20 Fieldfares in a flock at Coultorsay (plus Starlings seemingly inspecting nest holes (perhaps they were thinking of sheltering from the cold rather than nesting?). James H. at Gruinart had a few interesting birds: a Blackcap, Ruff and Gadwall. Finally, Clive Mc. watched 35 Choughs feeding on Kelp Fly larva on the west side of Ardnave. The storms and tides had pushed plenty of seaweed up the beach, now rotting nicely and producing a good breeding area for the flies and an equally good, if temporary food source for the Choughs who had been digging it over extensively.