Monday 30th November

 George E. Jackson sent me through this information on an e mail earlier on today...

"On Sunday morning, I saw a Treecreeper in Bridgend woods (Pat claims we [? she] saw one once before but I certainly don't remember it, so it's a new Islay tick for me)."

Ealier on this evening, when watching LANDWARD on the BBC channel, there was a feature about the grey seals down at St Abbs Head and who else was being interviewed but Ciaran Hatsell who previously worked on Fair Isle for a few years as an assistant to the warden at the Bird Obs there. Ciaran was over on Islay a few years ago on holiday, and we met up with him one day for some food down in the Port Charlotte Hotel along with Peter Roberts who once worked there, a good few years ago....

Sunday 29th November

Karen Graham from Bearsden was in touch to say that when her husband Ken was raking the leaves off their lawn this afternoon, that he was being watched by 2 foxes... No such joy of that happening on Islay as we do not have any foxes on Islay at all!!!

Saturday 28th November

This afternoon when speaking to our son Andrew, he happened to mention that he has not seen as many Goldfinches in at his feeders down in Clovenfords but plenty of Blue, Coal and also Great Tits along with the odd group of Long Tailed Tits seen regularly. He was wondering if by simply changing some of the food on offer, to which I replied "give it a go and see what happens.." So, next week or sometime after that, I will speak to Andrew again to see how things are on the bird feeder front, and I will keep you updated as well.

Friday 27th November

 Apologies to Morven Laurie who I mentioned the other day that she and her team for which was previously  called SNH

Well,  the new name of SNH is NatureScot 

Thursday 26th November

Late last night, George E. Jackson sent me through the following sightings seen by him yesterday.. 

"The weather has been better today - saw some blue sky (though there was a rainbow in it!).

Walked at Loch Skerrols this morning - nothing unusual, but were about 25 Mute Swans, 12 Whoopers (definitely not mute, very noisy), 30 Wigeon, 8 Tufted Ducks, at least 1 Teal."

James today had been out and about on the reserve at Gruinart and had seen and counted the following birds...

"Lots of White tailed Eagles 5 at Gruinart today

Merlins 2

Hen Harrier 1 male

Sparrowhawk 1

Whooper Swan 7

Barnacle geese 10,825 that’s a lot

White fronts 303

Lapwing 335

Golden plover 1410

Linnet flock on the Ardnave road 240."

Wednesday 25th November

James e mailed me through the following earlier on this evening..

"Slightly better weather today and a few birds:

3 White tailed Eagles on the salt marsh today

11 Whooper Swans

1 Merlin chasing a Dunlin way off up into the sky

3 Greenshank

13 Knot

1 Pale bellied Brent. "

Tuesday 24th November

 Sorry folks, but I should have told you last night that there was/ will not be a meeting of the Islay bird nerds last night/ tonight because of the legislation that is still in place regarding folk meeting up together....