Tuesday 16 November

The weather is a back to normal, wet and windy as seen in the view of Port Charlotte above. Still unseasonably warm though with the temperature hovering around 10 degrees. The wind is to get up for an other fierce day tomorrow.  Despite this the The Ribble Bird Tours were out and about, spying no less than 5 WTE over Ellister this morning, being mobbed by 2 ravens and a buzzard.  They also successfully located a cackling goose by Kilchoman Distillery and the 'star birds' at Loch Skerrols.

Mark at Loch Gruinart counted 1428 golden plover there today, that'll help him get to sleep tonight! Also 583 Greenland white-fronted geese were counted in a roost count yesterday.

David at The Oa reported a flock of 270 fieldfare there at the visitor carpark.  David also kindly sent in the following images from last Thursday when over 100 twite were ringed.

Wednesday 10 November

 A quiet day here with strong winds. I'm afraid I took no photos today, will try to remember tomorrow.

It's goodbye to Peter and Alice Hughes today, who left on the morning ferry after a good holiday here. Thank you for sharing all your sightings during your stay.  On his last morning, an adult WTE over Portnhaven, and from the ferry at Port Ellen numerous kittewake, 3 black guilliemot, then on the crossing plenty guilliemot sighted and great northern divers.

Mike Bell emailed with his sightings: "Another interesting day. First thing a cock merlin on the roadside fence by Kilchoman coastguard cottages. A very good total of shorebirds on the high tide at Traigh Nostaig with 76 ringed plover, 12 grey plover, 212 sanderling, 37 dunlin, 7 purple sandpiper and 41 turnstone. A white-tailed eagle was on the point and another came in off the sea and flew down Loch Gruinart. I could only find 4 chough today, they've been  elusive for me this holiday. There was a ring-tail hen harrier over the Gruinart fields and an impressive c.2200 golden plover. Later I had a golden eagle and 48 curlew at Lossit. At Portnahaven I had fabulous views of the 2 adult white-tailed eagles riding the wind just above me before they flew off north."

On the drive to Ardnave Mark Sullivan reported both the cackling and red-breasted goose in the same barnacle geese flock. 

On Jura there was a report of a dipper at Ardfin in the burn next to the boathouse.

And lastly Phil Hyde got in touch with a sighting of 2 purple sandpiper opposite the distillery in Bruichladdich. The first report of the season of these regular visitors to this beach.

Monday 11 October

It felt a lot warmer today, which explains an adder spotted by Anna Hock near Ballameanach cottages today. I was out the other night with the dog and he appeared with a huge (healthy) hedgehog from the overgrown verges near Portnahaven Village Hall, much to delight and amazement of my 5 year old who was hedgehog hunting! (definately unharmed) Tonight, 2 tiny toadlets were crossing the road near the old Manse outside Port Wemyss.  October can often be a fair month right enough, but it is forecast to get even warmer this week so be mindful of your dog when out walking in case of grumpy adders! But winter is coming...

A lot of reports received today, apologies if I miss anything - I may save some for tomorrow so don't be disheartened! 

Among the day's records was a grey phalarope spotted by Tim Daley in a rock pool just North of Saligo Bay.  It allowed close views and the opportunity for good photos. Lovely bird to see, thanks Tim.  Tim  was at RSPB Loch Gruinart in the morning, and enjoyed a ring-tailed hen harrier 'cruise across the field'.  In the pools, among the 100s of wigeon and teal there was a male shoveler seen as well as a pair of pintail and 15 black-tailed godwits.  Up to 100 golden plover were in flight overhead, while he noted 8 mistle thrush from the roadside.  In the Saligo area, near the phalarope, 2 pairs of chough and 16 pied wagtails were counted.

The geese have continued to trickle in, Teresa was at Ardnave today and counted 1204 barnies arriving in the 5 hours she was there. Lauren has been in touch with today's totals from Loch Gruinart: 23 white front, 21 pale-bellied brents, 1 pink footed goose (all on the loch) and 6895 barnacle geese feeding on the flats.

Teresa was at Ardnave point for 5 hours this afternoon at low tide. On the east side she enjoyed a good day, her highlights were 37 twite, 4 male snow bunting, 3 cormorants, 13 turnstone, 11 chough, 14 oystercatcher, 3 red-breasted merganser, 6 curlew and 4 seals.  At Lech Gruinart one female/ringtail hen harrier hunting at dusk.

Out with his camera Billy Stitchell had a brambling with the house sparrows, feeding on a rowan tree in Ballygrant woods.

David Dinsley counted 2 Greenland whitefront and 3 wigeon at Cornabus.  He also kindly sent in the following image of a merlin at the Oa, happily digesting one of the resident twite. Resident no more.

Margaret had a flock of whoopers fly over the house heading towards Ireland, the first of the season for her. She also enjoyed views of a male hen harrier hunting below the crag.

David Livingstone had nice views of a white-tailed eagle at Leorin, spooking the geese there. 

Thank you everyone.  

Friday 8 October

More barnacle geese skeins have been observed coming in along the west coast.  A steady trickle of an arrival this year rather than a sudden flood of wintering geese.  Similarly, no great numbers of whooper swan reported yet.

Teresa Morris was up at Kilinallan in the rain. At the locked gate at the road end, she saw a sparrowhawk, male hen harrier, barwit, 10 curlew, 2 heron, 6 oystercatcher, 1 cormorant and stags roaring in the distance.

James, Lauren and the RSPB volunteers, Liz and Neve, carried out the Loch Gruinart WeBS today. The highlights as follows; 17 red breasted merganser, 24 Ringed plover, 633 golden plover, 108 lapwing, 1 knot, 242 dunlin, 75 bar tailed godwit, 181 curlew, 32 redshank, 253 teal, 25 pintail, 16 wigeon, 2 whooper swans, 4 snipe, 7 shoveler, 6 black tailed godwits, 3 greenshank, a peregrine, a golden eagle and a white tailed eagle.

The Horwich Birders were out and about towards Machir Bay this morning where they saw 2 chough.  Later they set off to Ardtalla for the afternoon, en route by Bowmore they counted 30 pale-bellied Brent and around 30 red-breasted mergansers.  At Artalla they saw the 'usual' 2 mute swans, as well as 4 herons, 12 curlew, plenty seals about, as well as a lovely sighting of a female otter with 2 young.  At Lagavulin, 8 swallows were busy feeding over the buildings and nearby trees, and a flock of 14 collared doves in a nearby dead tree.   At Port Ellen, 5 pale bellied Brent. On their return a ringtail hen harrier at Loch Tallent and an other at Coull.

Yesterday Shona-Isla counted 26 ringed plover at the 'co-op beach' in Port Ellen. Thank you Shona-Isla.

Thursday 30 September

A lot of rain today, which is welcome on the one had after a very long dry spell, it might be nicer if it was spread out over a few weeks.

Exciting news from Tiree:  a rose-breasted grosbeak. A North American species and a first record for Argyll.  Though there is a lot more ground to cover, I'm sure everyone will be searching for any rarities on Islay.

Hannah found 2 whooper swan at Loch Skerrols. At RSPB Loch Gruinart, James counted 172 barnacle geese, 130 pale bellied Brent geese, 245 golden plover, 75 wigeon and 2 pintail.

Just in from walking the dog round Portnahaven and Port Wemyss. The seals are fairly howling tonight! I spotted my first seal pup of the season earlier at Claddach. Soon McKenzie Island will be speckled with the white pups high up on the grass, always amazing how high up some of the mothers will go for safety. If the past few years are anything to go by, the sea eagles will return to mooch for any losses.

As we see off the end of September, there is still time to tap into your artistic side or recall a summer adventure from your photos and enter the Islay Natural History Trust Community Peatland Project.  Poster below.

Friday 9th October

 Visitor Jacqui Relph sent me through last night,

"We had the Hen Harrier again at the Oa today and also, either a Peregrine or a Merlin, it was quite close but moving to fast to get a really good look, more brown than grey. Also a couple of Buzzards on the way off the reserve.  At Port An Eas, 2 Chough and a Whinchat, on the road just near the lighthouse at Singing Sands."

Another pair of visitors, Jonathan and Alison Alder, e mailed this set of birds seen yesterday

"We're staying on Islay for 10 days based at Port Ellen, having been many times before based at Portnahaven. Male Hen Harrier on minor road off B8016 about 2 miles before Ballygrant, plus Golden Eagle over ridge of Beinn Dubh. Ringtail Hen Harrier near Bridgend adjacent to A846, where we were parked looking over Loch Indaal waiting in vain for WT Eagle."

Peter Gill had a quieter sort of a day yesterday, but made up for it today.... Up at Gruinart, they counted 47 Whoopers, and out from the South hide at Gruinart, he had 40 GWF amongst the many Barnies and also Greylags seen there. Also present was a cracking male Hen Harrier there too. He then  had a Golden Eagle along the South side of Loch Gorm. There was a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk noted there down by the side of the loch itself. Further along the road, he had 2WT Eagles and another Peregrine, along past Sunderland. He also had several Buzzards on his travels. 

Bob today had seen a Little Gull when he was coming back home out of Bowmore and then at Gartmain he had counted 70 P b Brent geese along with the ever increasing flock of barnies present there as well.

Gary emailed his birds seen today, as follows

"No sign of the Hoopoe this morning, spent an hour down at Whin Park.

Lots of Whooper Swans flying in from the north, found one flock of 40 at Bridgend.

Lots of Redwing flying through as well.

200+ Golden Plover on the sand at Bridgend. Two hybrid Canada / Barnacle Geese amongst the Barnies."

Around about 6pm , we saw 2 groups of Whooper Swans down on the stubble fields at Rockside, possibly around 70 birds in all.

Saturday 3rd October

 Gary had braved the elements today and managed to send some birds seen by him this morning..

"Loads of Barnacle Geese landing on the sand at Bridgend and Gartmain this morning. There was a small brown goose amongst them that I couldn’t I’d. Also a cross Barnie / Canada Goose.

Female Pintail at Gartmain, Golden Plover. Over 100 Brent Geese below the Gaelic college.

No sign of Hoopoe."

James had been out for a count of the geese etc. He had counted the following birds on the reserve at Gruinart..

8,635 Barnies, 2 small cackling Canada Geese, a Pink footed Goose, 2 Ruff present out from the North Hide and also a Sparrowhawk was seen nearby, He also counted 405 Greylags on Loch Gorm.

Up here at home we had 5 Linnets seen out on the Willows, a Siskin in the feeding cage, the first for along time, and then mid morning we saw a great visitor soaring about, not even flapping its wings at all, a White tailed Eagle and at the same time we saw a Golden Eagle which was flying along the top of the crag. Great to see them at the same time, boy what a size the WTE is  compared to the Golden Eagle. Then around 11am a Buzzard was seen  again, out along the crag

Tuesday 14th January

I think that I should apologise as the other day when I put the WeBS count through from Mark and Sarah, well for some reason the last column with the birds which they counted on the Floods at Gruinart did not show.... but so here we go with their birds seen the other day..

4 Herons, 105 Wigeon, 189 Mallard, 1 R B Merganser, 675 Lapwing, 82 Barwits, 88 Curlew, 6 Mute Swan, 6 Whooper Swan, 690 Teal,  1 Dabchick, 1 Little Egret, 10 Greylags, 1 G w Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 1,005 Golden Plover, 7 B h Gull, 68 Pintail, 48 Shoveler, 3 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe and also 4 White tailed Eagles.  

John Miles e mailed through some final birds seen by the group which he had been helping son John lead last week, Iola Williams was also helping to lead their group... On Thursday, they had good numbers of GND, RTD and a few Slav Grebes seen on Loch Indaal. They also had 8 Scaup, 20 Long tailed Ducks with numerous other birds seen including a Little Egret and also a White-tailed Eagle, both seen at the head of the Loch. On their way round the Rhinns, between Portnahaven and up past Kilchiaran and back down to Port Charlotte, they had 4 different Sparrowhawks present. On Friday, over at Gruinart before heading home on the ferry,  they saw the Little Egret and also the Green winged Teal, and also over at Bunnahabhain they saw 4 Golden Eagles. Thanks to John, Ewan and Iola as well as their team of visiting birders for their sightings when over on Islay.

Remember, that on the entry on the blog yesterday I mentioned about the strong winds, well I received a figure of a 74 mph gust at 1pm yesterday which was recorded by Matt Jackson's weather station down at the Rockside road end. 

Friday 20th December

Lesley was out a couple of days back and there must have been approx 250 Lapwing from the North  hide at Gruinart and also watched a flock of 750-800 Golden Plover making fantastic patterns over the head of the loch. They didn't come very close but were entrancing.

Earlier on in the week, Morven and team from SNH carried out the December International Goose count  on the 17th and the 18th. Their tallies came to 32,017 Barnies, 6,325 Whitefronts and also 1,056 Greylags. The count for Dec 2018 came in at 31,623 for the Barnies (+394), 5,843 geese counted for Whitefronts ( +491) with the figure for Greylags was  1,177 (-121). Many thanks as ever to Morven and her team of counters for these figures about the geese, much appreciated...

Mark, today, had seen the following birds at Gruinart, 3 immature  White tailed Eagles creating absolute havoc around the flats and floods, a single Golden Eagle, 2 Woodcock, Barn Owl, Hen Harrier, Little Egret and a Goldcrest as well.

Sunday 3rd November

Back on Thursday evening when driving home, James had seen 2 Tawny Owls and also a Barn Owl, all sen on the reserve at Gruinart. He has had a "regular"  visitor of a Grey Wagtail of late in his garden.

MB had counted 29 Ringed Plover down at Machir Bay. When driving up to Ardnave, he had a Golden Eagle sitting perched up. In the garden at Ardnave House, he counted 64 Redwing present.  Over at Traigh Nostaig, he had seen 29 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plovers, 5 Sanderling, 5 Barwits, 13 Turnstone, 40 Twite and also 39 Chough. Back down on the floods at Gruinart, he had 37 Pintail and also 32 Shoveler. Out on the estuary, he had counted 22 Shelduck, 254 Barwits, a Knot, 11       Turnstone, 117 Ringed Plover, 18 Sanderling, 490 Dunlin with 1870 Golden Plover present as well. A count out on Loch Indaal from Bruichladdich back round to Bowmore provided him with some more birds... 21 RTD, 7GND,  8 Slav Grebes, 34 Common Scoter, 5 Long tailed drakes flew in, 2 Goldeneye, 67 Eider and 97 R b Merganser. Below Carnduncan, he had 2 Chough while along at Coull, he had counted 60 Curlews together.

The Rochdale birders had seen seen a total of 6 Eagles when they were out and about yesterday, they also had seen a Sparowhawk in Port Charlotte as well.

Yesterday also, Colin Bushell and his group from Limosa Holidays had a great day again, not just with the weather... But they had been on the Oa and at around Kinnabus, they had a male and also a ringtail Hen Harrier, with 284 Whitefronts, a L t Duck and a Tufted Duck seen on Kinnabus Loch. They also counted around 75 Twite and at least 20 Rock Doves close to the steading there as well. Along the Cornabus valley towards Kintra, they saw 351 Whitefronts, 8 Mistle Thrush, a Fieldfare, 5 Ravens and also they watched a Merlin hunting Mipits over towards the Machrie Hotel. Later on up at Ardnave, they had counted over 110 Redwings in and around the house there, with 2 Dabchick seen out on Ardnave Loch itself. They had counted 26 Ravens mainly in small groups of 3 to 4 birds flying South along the West side of Gruinart, they also saw another ringtail .. Down at the reserve at Gruinart, they had seen another male Hen Harrier, a White tailed Eagle, 6 Whoopers and also the large flock of Golden Plover.

This morning, Gary had seen the Kingfisher seen down at Carnain this morning. Up here at home, we have been seeing  both  ringtail and male Hen Harriers as well as that pesky Sparrowhawk for good measure, just enough to keep the wee birds on their toes...

Thursday 31st October

Back on Monday, James had counted 1,685 Golden Plover on the reserve at Gruinart.  (MB had counted 1,690 there last Saturday).On Tuesday, James had a count of 1,074 Teal out from the hides at Gruinart, he also saw a Dabchick and also 4 Blackwits there as well

Yesterday, MB had seen an imm White tailed Eagle down at Bridgend. On the walk between Bowmore to Gartbreck, he had counted 3 RTD, a GND, 348 Whitefronts, 5,900 Barnies, a P b Brent, 64 Wigeon, 117 Teal, 26 Mallard, 3 Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, 88 Eider, 44 R b Merganser, 41 Oystercatcher, 53 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Snipe, 10 Dunlin, 3 Barwits, 21 Curlew, 17 Redshank, 11 Turnstone, 2 Lapwing, 3 W t Eagle (2 Ad + an imm), 7 Rock Pipit and also 8 Twite. Along at Octovullin, he saw an imm Golden Eagle while over the hills behind Finlaggan he had an adult Golden Eagle.

Jesse Wilkinson, one of the film cameramen who are over on Islay, well along with his colleague Nick they seen an Osprey flying South down Loch Indaal, early afternoon. He also told me that he had seen 3 W t Eagles and also 2 Golden Eagles between Loch Indaal and over at Loch Gruinart.

This morning, Distillery Dave had seen 6 Long tailed Tits fly through his garden. This morning Margaret saw a male Hen Harrier below Sue Campbell's house between Coull and Saligo. ( I never saw it, as I was driving, honest!!!) Round at Ballinaby there was a family group of 6 Whoopers present which was nice to see, close to the roadside as well.

Also today, the RAFOS team had seen a Black throated Diver on Loch Indaal out below the Gaelic College. They had also seen a 2 W t Eagles trying to wrestle some prey from an Otter, and the victor was the Otter

Monday 28th October

Before I forget, please remember to come along to the Islay Bird nerds monthly catch up. We will be meeting up in the Visitor centre at RSPB LOch Gruinart at 18.30 tomorrow evening, for a cuppa and a catch up, so hopefully see you there... Please mind to bring your money to help pay our way!!!

The Rochdale birders are back again arriving yesterday... They had seen a Sparrowhawk up behind Port Charlotte yesterday. Today, they had a flock of over 50 Fieldfare up beside the former Kilchoman School as well as plenty of Redwings present on their travels around today. 

Another fellow visitor JW had been up for a visit this afternoon, and gave me some birds seen by his wife and also some seen by their fellow birders. Up at Ardnave, they had seen 3 Snow Buntings as well as a ringtail Hen Harrier. Down at Gruinart, they had 8 Whoopers and also 20 Whitefronts. On Loch Indaal, they had 22 Scaup, 40 R B Merganser with 40 Ringed Plover seen on the shore.

MB had an early start this morning ... At 7.50 am, he had counted a flock of 47 Fieldfare along with 2 Redwing out from his cottage at Kilchoman. Down at Machir Bay, he saw 2 Snow Bunting just at the car park, with 3 Pb Brent Geese, 24 Ringed Plover and 16 Curlew seen out on the tide's edge in the bay. Along at Rockside road end, he had counted another 25 Fieldfare with  48 Tufted Duck seen out on Loch Gorm. Down on the Oa, he had seen 3 Golden Eagles (2 AD + a juv)and also a male Merlin and counted 47 Hooded Crows on his way through the Oa. He saw 10 Whitefronts fly in from the South. Finally, at Kinnabus, he counted 300 Twite and 35 Redwing. Kilnaugton Bay held 3 GND, and also 2 Tysties. Up past Island House, he had a male Hen Harrier. Over at Bun an Uillt, MB had a Long tailed Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 19 R b Merganser and also 39 Knot present there as well. Down at the head of Loch Gruinart, on the floods , he had seen 44 Pintail, 25 Shoveler, 6 Blackwit, 5 Greenshank and also 1200 Golden Plover.

JD had been out and about as well, counting 42 RTD, 37 GND, 2 BTD, a Long tailed Duck and also 108 Common Scoters, all present on Loch Indaal 

Some sightings through from RAFOS for you now... They had counted over 1,000 Barnies seen at Leorin. Out past Ardbeg, they had  a Kingfisher flypast over at Loch a' Chnuich. Shortly afterwards they spotted 2 White tailed Eagles perched out on some rocks. Then a Golden Eagle was seen and almost the same place, 3 Buzzards were seen as well...Back up at Smelly corner, another Kingfisher was present with 150 Oystercatcher, some Barwits and some Knot seen along the top of Loch Indaal.

Monday 7th October

Yesterday, another pair returning visiting birders, Nick Brown and Kath Patrick, were in touch with some sightings.. while driving up to Ardnave, they had seen a flock of around 100 Linnets as well as  2 Swallows. Up at Ardnave,  in one of the fields adjacent to the Loch, they had 100 Golden Plover.  Later on, they saw a Merlin chase after a Mipit on their way coming back out from Machir Bay, below Leek on the N W corner of Loch Gorm, they had a male Hen Harrier out quartering its' patch. He also had a small group of Barnies fly overhead there as well. At Sunderland, 19 Whoopers and over 50 Pinkies seen there as well.

Speaking to my good friend Marsali this afternoon, on the phone, and Marsali's rain tally for Mulindry was 140 mm, (or 5.5 inches in old money) for September. Her figure for Saturday/ Sunday was 50 mm, just short of 2 inches... Marsali was saying, like up here at home, that the birds appear not to be interested in the food on offer and there are plenty of birds around...

This morning, Lesley had counted 17 Whoopers along at Sunderland. When Lesley was in for a cuppa with us, we had Buzzard on the garden fence....Late afternoon, Mike Young had seen a White tailed Eagle spoofing the sheep in the field beside his house at Rockside road end, better than watching the TV???

Sunday 28th April

The day started off with being a bit warmer and dry, but by lunchtime, we had a spot or two of rain, not a lot but... and then the temperature fell as well, another jumper day...

Round at Rockside today, there were  9 Canada Geese, a solitary Barnacle goose and also 25 Greylags on the Barley fields. Up behind the steading, Distillery Dave had counted 146 Golden Plover, all in in summer plumage, great to see...

Up here at home, I watched a Hare hop along the edge of the bird seed crop, in effect chasing off some Linnets in the process. Out on the crag there are now 3 pairs of Fulmars sitting, for how long, we will have to wait and see if the Jackdaws move them on...

Thursday 18th April

Sorry folks, a late entry tonight, been a long day and for some reason I can't check my e mails...

Speaking to Distillery Dave earlier on this evening, and he had seen a flock of 40- 50 Golden Plover and also a few pairs of Wheatears round at Rockside...
Up here at home, we just have had the local agricultural contractor in with his big tractor and his one pass seed drill sowing the birdseed crop, so at least that is one job off the list, a real bonus, and at present it looks really good with a fine tilth to finish it off, fingers crossd and hope it germinates!!
A job now for me is to sow the wild flower crops, with 3 diferent mixs to be tried this year... not tonight though!!!!

Tuesday 2nd April

Good friend Marsali sent through her rainfall figures for March, her tally was 5.7inches , only a mere 1.1 of an inch more than we had up at home...

Yesterday, Distillery Dave along with his sister Shirley had seen 3 different male Hen Harriers, one close to the  Coastguard cottages, another near to the former Kilchoman School and the third bird seen down at Foreland House. Over at Gruinart, they saw a Snipe from the North hide, with 6 GND seen on the Sound of Islay at Bunnahabhain. They also had seen a White tailed Eagle on their travels as well.

Graham Gooch who won the competition for to visit Islay,  a few years ago, has returned for his 3rd Islay fix along with his wife Gill and also their good friends Chris and Andy Mortimer. We usually meet up at Rutland at the Bird Fair, bit of an "old boys' re union"... Back on Sunday, they had a flock of over 300 Golden Plover down over Laggan Point. Yesterday, they had great views of some Redwing on their way up to Ardnave, with some Fieldfares close at hand as they drove round Loch Gorm. A ringtail was seen close to Coillabus, and they too had a Snipe at Gruinart and also a Moorhen.

Monday 21st January

A few sightings through from Peter's friends Ken and Ernie who have been up for a few days birding on Islay instead of their beloved Sandwich Bay.... Yesterday,  just the back of lunchtime, they had 12 Purple Sandpiper and also 50 Pale bellied Brent on the shore at Bruichladdich. Up at Gruinart, they had a great count of 2,000 Golden Plover.
The weather has taken a big drop in the temperature here today, and the forecasters are even talking about SNOW, so needless to say the wee birds have been in at the feeders and making a feast of themselves with the food on offer...

Saturday 19th January

James was a bit like Gary, in the sense with an eye on the weather forecast, he took the decision and carried out his WeBs count on the floods at Gruinart, on Thursday, so here are the scores on the doors from James...  38 Curlew, 1665 Golden Plover, 334 Lapwing,  1 Dabchick, 4 R b Merganser, 6 Shoveler, 2 Common Gull, 15 B h Gull, 9 Grey Heron, 24 Whooper Swan, 5 Snipe, 135 Mallard, 6 Mute Swan, 901 Teal, 87 Pintail and 162 Wigeon.
Forgot to mention last night that we had a Buzzard fly low along the fence line here at home  yesterday. This afternoon, we had a Kestrel in the air over the garden, and also the pesky Sparrowhawk was around "visiting" . I watched it fly over the big feeding station, spoofing the birds inside, but the Sparrowhawk did not get its' meal, as it ducked and dived through the escaping birds... Late afternoon, and we watched the Chough going in to their roost, there were 21 Chough counted in total.

Sunday 16th December

Some sightings in from John Miles who has been over helping to lead a group of birders with his son Ewan and also Iola Williams...
Back on Monday evening, they saw a Barn Owl while returning back to where they have been staying at Kilchoman House. The next day, they saw a male Merlin chase after the Starlings in a field next to Rockside. Shortly afterwards, they saw a 1st winter Golden Eagle siting on top of the trig point down on the top of the raised beach as one approaches Uiskentuie. Down on the Oa, they counted a flock of over 100 Twite being chased by a male Hen Harrier. They also had seen some Song Thrushes and Redwing present there as well, but no Fieldfares seen. At Port Ellen they saw 12 Ringed Plover, some Pied Wagtail on the beach opposite the Ramsay Hall as well as a GND out on the bay.  Wednesday, a wet day, but they still managed out , and over to Gruinart and the hides in the morning.. they saw Little Egret, Blackwits, a ringtail Hen Harrier, plenty of Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, 2 Greenshank, Barwits, Dabchicks, Geese, Whoopers and a few Snipe as well. In the afternoon, they had seen on the East side of Loch Gruinart, they had seen Turnstone, Knot, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Curlew. Heading back to the reserve at Gruinart, they a count of over 1,000 Golden Plover and at least 100 Dunlin in the fields. Up at Ardnave, they saw the Chough and going over the road past Culbuie, they saw a Golden Eagle.  Down at Portnahaven they saw a some Tysties , and some big waves there as well.  Returning back up from Portnahaven up towards Cultoon/ Tormisdale, they saw a female Merlin, and then the Pale belied Brent sheltering up below the coal yard at Gortan. On Friday before they left, they saw a  juv. Golden Eagle over Bunnahabhain, 3 Turnstone in the bay there as well as an Otter landing some prey.

Thursday 8th November

Bob, yesterday had been on the "Gruinart run" while helping out with the goose count. On the reserve at Gruinart, he saw the Little Egret as well as a Pale bellied Brent goose. Up at Killinallan, he had a flock of 300 Redwings and also 2 male Merlin seen together close by. Over at Ardnave, a flock of 800 Golden Plover was seen with a smaller flock of 150 present at Grainel. Mike Bell yesterday had 88 Whoopers at Rockside, with another 110 along at Sunderland. Later on, he had seen the imm. Golden Eagle  between Carrabus and Coullabus. Over at Gruinart, Mike had the sighting of the Little Egret in full view, not like the other day when it had been lurking in one of the muddy creeks!!! On the floods, Mike counted 1,900 Teal with 1,550 Golden Plover in the air. A Buzzard flushed 65 Snipe. Also seen there were 4 Greenshank, 141 Curlew and 40 Redshank while on the flats, on the fields which have been cut really short recently, 100 Barwit and 6 Knot kept dropping in and out.

This morning, Louise, on her way to work this morning, had seen 3 White tailed Eagles, 3 Buzzards, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, between Gatehouse and the ferry at Feolin on Jura. Here at home the wee birds have been busy on the feeders for most of the day and the Brambling was evident in the mix this afternoon.