I've been tied up in a big project lately, which is the reason for my lack of Islay Blogging. Some of you might know that we are in the process of starting up a new business called "Het Bergmannetje". It involves importing exclusive woodcrafted Christmas decorations from Germany and selling them online. We will be selling nutcrackers, candle arches, Christmas pyramids, smokermen, music-boxes and a lot of other great stuff from the Ore Mountains in the East of Germany. In the last weeks I've completed the new webshop so we are right in time for this years Christmas. Come on over and have a look at www.ertsgebergte.com to see what keeps us busy.

As you can read from the title I'm hinting on the arrival of the Barnacle Geese this week. Last Sunday Ian Brooke mentioned the Barnacle Geese on his blog. Ian wrote: "Turn back the blog exactly 1 year and 20,000 Barnies had arrived at Gruinart, perhaps they will come later this week once the wind changes round a bit". Looking at the weather patterns it looks like there will be a rather strong north-west to northerly wind which would be ideal for the Geese to make the long journey from Greenland and Iceland to Islay. High Pressure is building over the west of Scotland and that, combined with low pressure over Scandinavia, causes the wind to blow directly from the north-west over Iceland to Scotland. When the Geese arrive you can see them first at Loch Gruinart and Killinallan Point is a great place to watch their arrival.

Barnacle Geese at RSPB Loch Gruinart

Tag: geese wildlife autumn