Monday 25th December - Christmas Day

Slightly better weather again today - lighter winds, but still grey and rainy at times between sunny spells.

Phil Edwards was out birding and reported thus: "despite the dire forecast, we forayed into the wilds of Islay in search of birds … but sadly found very little. We drove from Smaull to Loch Indaal via Sunderland Farm where the highlight of the day was a flock of c. 50 Skylarks (haven’t seen so many in one place in years) feeding in a stubble field along with c. 50 Chaffinches, 30 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing and two Buzzards.  Then, outside of Loch Gorm House we stumbled upon five Turnstone, three Rock Pipits, six Oystercatchers and a Pied Wagtail.  We then drove the Rhinns anti-clockwise but chanced upon only a Kestrel (pretty much the first time we have missed hen harrier here) but there were 24 Teal,14 Wigeon, and a pair of Mallard on Loch Conailbhe.  A couple of Grey Seals were in Portnahaven Harbour but by then the increasing frequency and intensity of the showers forced us home – and anyway we needed to go and start Christmas lunch – but there were c. 60 Fieldfares and c.60 Redwings at Ballinaby on the way back".

Thanks t Phil for today's photos...............

I too ventured out this morning - just up to the RSPB hides at Gruinart. We too, saw nothing out of the ordinary, but there were impressive numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover in their many hundreds, plus plenty of the usual wildfowl including 14 Whooper Swans. 3 Black-tailed Godwits popped in amongst the small flocks of Curlew and Hen Harrier and Buzzard were in evidence.