Friday, 3 October 2008

Fri 3rd Oct

Well, after all the wind and rain, the weather has calmed down now. I forgot to say that the rainfall in September was 3.75", not too bad although it seemed a lot wetter!
Back to the bird news, mainly from morning counts by James at Gruinart, 1185 Barnacle Geese, 33 Brent Geese, 3 Black tailed Godwits, 75 Whitefronts, more were noted, but this was the largest group, 15 Whooper Swan, 1 Ruff, 1 Jack Snipe, 12 Snipe, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin and 12 Pintail. James commented on the fact that the Geese arriving at Gruinart were coming in from the South, or Loch Indaal, rather than directly from the North, or even from the West and Loch Gorm direction. Possibly they had flown past Islay and turned back, this has been noted before after a Northerly gale. JRH
There were 4 Swallow at Bruichladdich and a further 7 on down at Port Charlotte. At Rockside there were 4 Whooper Swan on the barley stubble and another 14 on the water in Loch Indaal off Bowmore, and also 18 Brent Geese. IKB

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