Wednesday 20 October 2010

Wed 20th October

The weather was not so great again with dirty, squally showers from time to time this afternoon. Another apology to make, last night I mispelled the word "leucistic", I checked with someone "in the know", who thought that this is now the correct way this time......
A visitor told us earlier on about seeing a Kingfisher perched on a branch over at the Lily Loch beside Port Askaig. At Loch Allan, 4 Swallow were seen flying past, while at Blackpark they saw a Merlin, and again this afternoon, another one perched on a post with prey at Bruichladdich. It later flew off across Loch Indaal carrying its prey with it.
Here at home this morning, one of our visitors saw a Brambling on the feeder outside their cottage. Later on up at Ardnave, close to Traigh Nostaig were 3 flocks of Twite totalling over 100 birds. Off Nave Island Great northern and Red throated Divers were seen. 7 Whoopers were on Ardnave Loch, along with the ever present family of 8 Mute Swans! They had also seen a Merlin on their way back down from Ardnave, and another Merlin at Ballinaby on their way home. On the flats at Gruinart there were 58 Whoopers present, including 7 young. 2 Roe bucks were spotted in the Rape field at Craigens.
James had seen 3 Goldcrest and 12 Long tailed Tit along from the viewing platform at Gruinart today.
It certainly has been a day for Merlins as we had one down close to Foreland when we went out to a meeting in the early afternoon.

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