Wed 3rd - Thurs 4th Sept

James was in touch today with some sightings over at RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, and on the estuary itself. There were 14 Wigeon, 2 Whimbrel, 10 Bar tailed Godwit, 20 Sanderling, quite a lot of Redshank and also Oystercatcher too. Overhead there was the Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk was noted, as well as a female Hen Harrier. Off the ferry while going over to Colonsay yesterday, Manx Shearwater and a single Arctic Skua were seen. JRH

Here at home, whilst sitting having my breakfast I saw a female Hen Harrier out of the kitchen window. Later on this afternoon, there was another young Fulmar in the field which had to be rescued, and this time was released into Loch Indaal. On the shoreline where I released the Fulmar were some Dunlin, a couple of Ringed plover and a Curlew. On the way down, there was a single Wheatear on the road and it was rather loathe to fly away off the road. Perhaps it was a bird that had just arrived from the North and was tired out! We also had a really close sighting of a light coloured Buzzard close to the roadside. IKB

A visitor told me this evening, that they had seen the Osprey this afternoon over on the estuary at Gruinart.