Friday 6th, Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th February

The easterly winds on Friday and Saturday relented a little on Sunday, while there were light showers or drizzle on all three days.

No observations were received on Friday or Saturday, but birders were obviously out on Sunday morning, starting with Martin A. who saw 4 male Goldeneye on Loch Indaal opposite Killarow, Bowmore, quickly followed by Mary McR. who had 3 Chough at Claddach first thing, a male Hen Harrier at Octofad, and a first-winter White-tailed Eagle sitting on the rocks at Carn, Port Charlotte. In the afternoon, Clive McK. spotted 5 Black-tailed Godwits in the field pool south of the north hide on the RSPB L. Gruinart reserve.

I'm grateful to birder and wildlife guide, Theo de Clermont, who is based on Mull, for spotting a list of birds seen on Sunday by visitor Craig Calladine and posted on the online eBird. The location was just given as "Loch Indaal", while, of the 29 species in the list, only 4 had information on numbers, which were 3 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Red-throated Divers, 27 Slavonian Grebes and 1 Iceland Gull. This last, the first reported this winter, follows closely on the first Glaucous Gull seen on 30th January. More information, in particular its age and exact location, are being sought.