Friday 30th January

The easterly wind continued all day carrying just one or two small showers.

Just one bird record was received, from Fiona McG, but an interesting one of about 6 Yellowhammers just outside Bowmore close to the Cruach turning. This species is resident on Islay with low tens of pairs, very scattered in both farmland and in coastal gullies. It is thought to have declined as a breeding species in the last 20-30 years, as it has in the whole of Argyll, while small flocks, like this one, can turn up in winter almost anywhere, sometimes on their own, sometimes in flocks of buntings and finches.

And here's a Gordon Langsbury photograph.