Friday 16th September

Rob Daw was over on Jura yesterday and had a pair of Mute Swans along with 5 cygnets up at Ardlussa Bay. Also there were a couple of Herons, and 2 Red breated Mergansers while further out was a Great Northern Diver. He also saw Dunnock, Wren, Robins, Goldfinches, Goldcrest and a flock of 20 Long tailed Tits. Later on, back in front of the hide at Gruinart, Rob had Swallows and a few House Martins and Sand Martins too. Another visitor had seen an Osprey fly South over the hide. Today another visitor had seen 57 Chough up at Ardnave, a Merlin up there too, while over Nave Island a count of 66 Shag was made. A Great Northern Diver was offshore there too. Carl had 16 Whooper Swans on Loch Gearach today. This afternoon, James had a Golden Eagle fly over his house, and over the game crop 2 male Hen Harriers and also a Sparrowhawk were honing in their acrobatic skills. All I could offer was a couple of Golden Eagles and 2 different male Hen Harriers all out on the wing as we drove round Loch Gorm just after 6pm. The Eagles were far off, but large all the same, while both the Harriers were closer to hand. There were a few Wheatears seen round the loch and a single Whinchat. At Ballinaby there were 9 Golden Plovers. Back at home for quite some time this afternoon, a Peregrine has been sitting up on the crag preening itself and just watching all that is happening all around.