Wednesday 7th January

Think those Fulmars that I saw yesterday were correct as the wind has certainly picked up and by the looks of things, the windspeed in itself is to increase again as well. So as you may have gathered there is no new birds been seen out and about today! The ferry has ploughed its' way over as has the service planes, so there has been no "panic buying" in the shops yet...

Tuesday 6th January

Well, I am glad to say that one our sharp eyed readers spotted the "deliberate mistake" that I had in last night's entry... I have not even changed it either, quite funny when I see it again!!! This afternoon just before we came to the entrance leading to Coull Farm, a Merlin shot out of the undergrowth at the roadside and flew away across the fields there. Further on, a Stonechat was spotted. Going up to Ardnave, Margaret saw a distant Peregrine sitting on a rocky outcrop. On Ardnave Loch, there were 3 adult Whoopers with a further 6 in another group consisting of 4 adults and 2 cygnets. There were also 4 Mute Swans, a Heron and some Mallard present there as well. Coming home, close to where we saw the Merlin, there were 9 Hooded Crows in the field. Been noticing that there have been several Ravens paired up... This morning there were a couple of Fulmars in soaring around in front of the crag, sign of stormy weather coming???

Monday 5th January

Dave sent through some sightings seen down on the Oa. On Saturday, he saw a Short eared Owl, 2 Hen Harriers, a Sparrowhawk and also 20 Rock Pipits down on the shoreline. On Sunday, he had the Golden Eagles spoofing the geese on Kinnabus and then they turned their attention on a Hooded Crow, just missing it on one of their "passes"!! Dave was also saying that the flock of Twite is now down to around 30 birds as the bird crop has now all but eaten up. Before Xmas at the peak, there had been over 500 Twite feeding! Today at home, the Sparrowhawk flew past again, as did a ringtail Hen Harrier, no wonders the small birders are a bit nervous when feeding away, so far there have been no casualties!

Sunday 4th January

A bit cooler today compared to yesterday that is, but possibly a bit of wind chill factor comes in to the equation as well... Here at home this morning the Sparrowhawk flew in and spoofed the birds in the garden , it "crashed" into one of the bushes hoping to get a wee bird but no joy there and left without anything! James had some birds on the reserve at Gruinart including 2 Greenshank, 500 Lapwing which were in 2 counted groups of 140 and 360. There were 535 Golden Plover together with a Grey Plover amongst them. He also saw 2 Woodcock and counted 35 Skylarks.

Saturday 3rd January

Been a much calmer day out here today, hardly any wind to speak off, and dry too!!! Mary had a walk this afternoon along the Big strand with her mother where they saw a 2 "very big" Ravens in flight. While they were there, they also saw a flock of 11 Snow Buntings there as well. Coming back from Bowmore around about midday, we spotted a Buzzard which was carrying some prey in its talons being forced down on to the ground by 2 corvids down below Rockside towards Loch Gorm. Not sure of the outcome as we did not manage to see the final outcome!

2nd January

Yesterday, Martin climbed up Beinn Bheigier, our highest point on Islay, a mere 491 mteres at the trig point... an uphill climb especially as you start at sea level!!! At the start, down at Claggain Bay, Martin had GND out in the bay with a Kestrel overland. On his way to the top his birds included a male Hen Harrier, 3 Red Grouse and 7 Golden Plover. Today the wind has strengthened with the ferry diverting to Port Askaig and the plane this evening came in on time.

New Year's Day, 1st January 2015

A good New Year to all our readers from a wet and windswept Islay... Not really a day for going out but all the same, Malcolm saw 34 Pale bellied Brent Geese down at Bruichladdich this afternoon. Now for the other piece of information that you have been eagerly waiting for.. the rainfall tally for the year....Here on the West side of Islay, our tally came through at 56.65" for the year, over at Mulindry, our friends' tally there was 70.26". They seem to get rain more often than we do, in 2013, they had 14" more than us, in 2012 a mere 10" more while back in 2011 they had almost 14" more. Think we will just say put just now!