Thursday 7th January

Good friend, Karen Graham from Bearsden sent me through this e mail first thing this morning ...       

"Just cleared some snow as Blackbirds were waiting all round for some breakfast."

Over here on Islay, at Shepherd's cottage, we have had no snow but we certainly have had a snell or cold wind around for the most of the day. I am not sure of exact numbers of birds around, but ceratainly not the number of finches present at present. Having said that, I read earlier on this evening that the long staying Great Tit is still present on Fair Isle!!! 

I forgot to mention on the blog about James having Snowdrops out flowering in his garden over at Gruinart, think that was about a week ago or so when he told me that, sorry James!!! 

Tuesday 27th December

Peter forgot to say, (not me for once!) that they had seen 3 Greenshank over on the Killinallan side of Loch Gruinart yesterday. Today we had been down in Bridgend woods, and had a couple of Treecreeper, a Coal Tit, up at The Woolen Mill on the feeders there, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, and Chaffinch were present but no sign of any Siskins. Down closer to Bridgend there were quite a few Snowdrops out, with many others just waiting to burst out into bloom. James had been down at Kintra and had a Great Norhern Diver close in, and later on a pair of Chough were seen . As I write, the wind is starting to growl a bit outside, just increasing ready for tomorrow's blow, Calmac put out an amber warning in anticipation mid morning today....