Fri 8th Feb

When going over to Bridgend this afternoon, I was fortunate enough to see a group of 47 Pale Bellied Brent Geese, just past Glenburn. Other times when I have mentioned these Geese recently, they have been split into small groups, and certainly never counted to 47 in total at this time of year. Normally, it is reckoned that there is a flock of between 20 - 30 birds that overwinter.

Round at Carnain, there were a lot of Wigeon, numerous Teal to be seen along with a Pintail, and several Shelduck.

Thurs 7th Feb

Well, I am sorry to report that I did go out this afternoon to try to locate the dead Pilot Whale, but to no avail, so perhaps the tide along with the wind through the night possibly took it back out to sea. Perhaps it will be found on a more accessable beach next time! IKB

There have 2 separate sightings of single Snow Bunting on the South coast of Islay recently and also some separate sightings on the Oa, but certainly not the large flocks of around 50 birds seen a few years ago on the Oa. RAS

Whilst out Goose counting today, there were around about 200 Lapwing along with 200 Golden Plover at Duich, 35 Teal on Loch Tallant and 150 Lapwing at Gartbreck. On the return home there were 18 Brent at Glenburn on Loch Indaal. MAO & CF

Over at Ballinaby, this morning there were 175 Lapwing and 55 Golden Plover in the turnip stubble, while across the road on the wet grassland there was a solitary Turnstone amongst a group of 12 Ringed Plover. The Glaucous Gull was still to be seen there too. Down at Machir Bay, 19 Curlew flew overhead as did 170 Oystercatcher late afternoon. 5 separate Snipe were flushed out too. MAB

Wed 6th Feb

We have just had a report of a sighting of another dead whale, here on the West coast of Islay, but this time it is a Pilot whale. All going well I will try to locate it tomorrow morning, but it has definately been identified as a pilot whale already.

Still on the West coast, some sightings of Gulls, a second winter Glaucous Gull was at Ballinaby on Monday, as was a first winter Iceland Gull at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve. In the Saligo area, there have been a first winter and a third winter Iceland Gulls. RAS

Over at Gartmain near Bowmore, there were 3 Pink-footed Geese in amongst some Greylags. A single Shoveler was also there. Round the top of Loch Indaal at various locations there was a total of 20 Brent Geese. This morning at the back of Bruichladdich there were 80 Greylag Geese in a field. GJ

Out and about today produced 4 Merlin on the Rhinns of Islay. MH

Over at the RSPB reserve at Loch Gruinart, there were 8 Whooper Swan, an additional 6 from the previous entry. Also seen out quartering their territories were 2 female Hen Harriers, and a Peregrine was out upsetting all and sundry on the flats! JRH

Tues 5th Feb

Another day and believe it or not, another dead whale has been found. Another Cuvier's beaked whale was reported dead on Machir Bay, this time it was a female. It still had its tail flukes, dorsal fin and flipper intact but had not been dead as long as the previous Cuvier's as reported on the blog on Sunday. It is interesting to note that Cuvier's are not normally known in waters shallower than 3oom, so perhaps that they both died out at sea and then were beached thereafter. Cuvier's are are not often seen in Scottish waters, sightings are usually only limited to a single one annually, and here we have 2 having been found dead within a few days and in close proximity. For those of not in the know, relating to the geography of Islay, Machir and Saligo Bays are adjacent bays about 2.5 km apart on the West coast of Islay. MAO

Also today, the weather was certainly a lot kinder, infact it was an odd sensation being outside with no wind blowing, and many of the garden birds were singing away as if was a Spring day, a Curlew calling in the distance and a Raven cronking away overhead.

Mon 4th Feb

A short entry from Tracey and Margaret at SNH giving us the figures on the Goose count last week which gave a total of 47,057 Barnacle Geese and 5,126 Greenland Whitefronted Geese. The Barnies are up in total, but not quite as many as early December, but the Whitefronts are down.

Sun. 3rd Feb.

This is an image that was taken today of a Cuvier's Beaked Whale which was reported dead on Saligo Bay last week, and is only the second record for Islay. The previous record was also at Saligo Bay in March 2002. Strandings of this species of whale is rare. During the goose count last week (figures to follow) the 7 Whooper Swans that have been on Loch Gorm recently, were seen on a pond behind Sunderland Farm sheltering from the stormy weather. MAO

Still on the subject of whales, there was a report in the Ileach (local newspaper) of a dead Minke Whale washed up on the Ard over by Port Ellen. It is not yet know what caused the death of this whale.

Fri 1st - Sat 2nd Feb

The winds have dropped, as has part of the trusses on the roof of the former Kilchoman Church denying the Jackdaws and Starlings of a roosting site at night. The rest of the weather forecast was correct too, in the aspect that snow was predicted. We got some but not a lot, and it was soon all gone, probably just as well as the Council workers would have to look out the snowplough which will probably not have been used for several years.

The rainfall here, for January was 7.25", compared with 8" in January 2007. Refering to the weather, the total rainfall for 2007 was 48" and we usually reckon an annual total average of around 55".