Saturday 29th December

On Thursday, Mike P. had seen a couple of Bullfinches over on the forest track at Avonvoggie. Yesterday Mike had counted a flock of 384 Twite on the overhead wires at Upper Killeyan. Also on the Oa, he saw  4 Chough and a Sparrowhawk. Late afternoon, from Port Charlotte, Mike counted 61 GND and also 5 RTD swimming out to their roost at Laggan Point.

Today, up here at home, the birds have been busy as ever scoffing all the food on offer. I saw a Brambling out from the hut and then out of the kitchen window, a Greenfinch was present.

Thursday 6th September

Another mixed day with the weather again today..

Here at home, this morning before my breakfast, I had a flock of around 200 Twite out on the bird seed crop, mind you that is what we planted it for!!! On the feeders, well the other birds have been busy there as well. The last couple of days, we have had a Great Tit and then a Blue Tit seen here, neither of which are that common here.. Late afternoon, Margaret counted 16 Pheasants, a good number for here, and not for to be shot at!!!

"JD" had seen the 2 second year Med. Gulls at Carnain this morning and then this evening along with Peter and Mike had the juv. Med. Gull at Blackrock and then along at Carnain, they saw an Arctic Tern, on the estuary. At Blackpark, "JD" had a count of 220 Linnet in the flock there. Up at Loch Finlaggan, he saw 10 Tufted Duck and also 2 Dabchicks.

Tues 16th March

Our visiting birders had seen a Buzzard making the most of a road kill, probably a Hare. Talking of road kills, and coming back home I noticed on our road up from the coal yard, that there were quite a few frogs, both dead and also some live ones!
Our friends also had a small flock of 30 Twite down at the reed bed beside the Coastguard cottages and also a Reed Bunting, but commented that they have not seen any Stonechats so far. The Whooper Swans are still on Loch Gorm, with another 4 up on Ardnave Loch and a solitary, lonely bird on Loch Tallant.

Wed 17th Oct

A day of blue skies and towering white clouds over a turquoise sea with views over to Colonsay and Mull with Ben More in the distance. 16 Golden Plover flew over with Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone and Oystercatcher along the shore at Ardnave.
Kittiwakes and "Comic" Terns flew by with Shags and the occasional Gannet. Off Ardnave Point a Great Northern Diver flew in with a group of 5 soon after. A Red Throated Diver was also off shore.
3 Snow Buntings were in the dunes, and further on a flock of around 60 Twite.
Out over Nave Island a group of about 50 Swans (probably Whoopers) flew south.
In one bay where the seaweed was piled high, numerous birds were feeding on insects - 24 Chough, 40 Twite, and 50+Starling. On the edge of the tide were 6 Redshank, 1 Bar-Tailed Godwit, 10 Ring Plover, and 20 Oystercatcher.
5 Snipe were seen in the marshy area behind the dunes.
All through the walk Chough and Raven were seen and heard.
On our return, thousands of Barnacle Geese were out on the Flats at Gruinart, but best of all, at least 150 Whooper Swans. C & TJ.

Ther was a sinlge Greenshank on the left hand flood in front of the hide at Gruinart. G.J.