Saturday 5th March

Around midday, as we were returning home from Bridgend, we had a great sighting of a juvenile Golden Eagle after McNicoll's croft and before Rock Mountain. This evening coming back in, just after we had seen the Eagle earlier in the day, a Barn Owl was out hunting, great.. Round the corner, a Red Deer hind was looking over the dyke, watching us drive past.... Back at home, as came up to the house, 4 Hares were seen and then out in front of the house, 4 Rabbits were  on the lawn, just as well that most of the trees that I have planted have got guards on them!! Almost forgot to mention that we went down to our pond this afternoon, and Margaret saw 6 different "clumps" of Frog spawn

Sunday 19th February

The Cambridge birders left for home yesterday, but told me before they left that they had seen up to 4 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull over at Craigens through the week. They also had seen a Greenshank on the flats at Gruinart as well as the Canada Goose, hutchinsii sp there too. Bob yesterday had a male Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk from his house. Last night James had frogs on the road, and today the hares were out boxing and he counted 40 Fieldfare. Here at home today, there have 2 different pairs of Buzzards out on the wing, one is the usual pair that have been resident for the past few years, with the other pair casting an eye over the big crag. Margaret this afternoon found some frog spawn in a wee pond up the burn. Carl had been out today too, with 14 Ringed Plover and 4 Sanderling on Machir Bay, 2 Chough were displaying above the dunes, 40 Chough present on towards Coull, Buzzards were seen at Kilchoman and also along at Rock Mountain, a Blue Tit at Foreland, Great Northern Diver at Bruichladdich. There was a Heron at Bruichladdich too and another along at Port Charlotte. By the way, it has been a better day weather wise, the cold wind has gone, but rain is forecast....

Fri 12th March

The Swans were still down on Loch Gorm again today, but rather being all together they had split up into 3 different groups and all over on the Ballinaby side of the Loch. At Ballinaby, there were 75+ Golden Plover while at Coull there was a large flock of them on the wing, perhaps the balance of the birds seen just over a fortnight ago. We saw a Stonechat round at Ballinaby, and also over the last few days I have noticed a few more Wrens here at home. George had seen several Fieldfare at Grainel this afternoon as well as the Little Egret out in front of the hide.

Margaret had found some frog spawn today up the hill, the first here this year, but we have since heard through Malcolm that some frog spawn was seen at Carraig Fhada over at Port Ellen on Tuesday!

Sun 22nd Feb

It's the weekend, and that means that Michal has had some time out with his camera. So, here is a Roe deer caught in camera. Also today, Michal had seen some frog spawn while he was over at Loch Gorm.

James had 385 Skylark in one flock over at RSPB Gruinart reserve, a good number, but he has had larger flocks at other times. There were also 32 Twite, which for Gruinart is quite a high figure, not like Louise count of 190- 200 had on the Oa as reported earlier on this week.

Mon. 18th Feb.

Another great day, has Spring arrived early? To cap it all some Frog Spawn was found in a ditch in Glen Astle on the Oa, this must be early. Also on Glenastle Loch there were 15 Tufted Duck and near the actual loch on the ground were several Rock Pipits. Over on the Rhinns, close to Claddach at Portnahaven, a single Grey wagtail was spotted along with 2 Pied wagtail. S.A.

Also yesterday, 12 Whooper Swans were seen flying over Bruichladdich heading north. G.J.

The above image was taken this morning by Malcolm Ogilvie and it shows the geese resting up after feeding all night by the light of the moon.