Friday 30th September

Mary saw 35 golden plovers near Saligo as well as peregrine around Ballinaby fields chasing a flock of starlings. She also had a red-throated diver at Bruichladdich pier and hen harrier at The Oa. Mark and Michal, while doing guided walk, had male and female hen harrier and couple of peregrines hunting in front of the hide at Loch Gruinart Reserve. There was also 12 ruff, several snipe and redshank put up by the activity of the raptors. On the saltmarsh there was 77 barnacle geese, 247 brent geese, 96 greylags resting and 64 lapwings scattered around and feeding. On the mud there was flock of 350 dunlin, 20 oystercatchers, 1 grey plover, 30 curlews as well as 6 knots. Crystal saw couple of arctic terns at Portnahaven. Bob saw 8 twite, sparrowhawk and female hen harrier outside his garden as well as flock of about 30 redpolls. George had 94 wigeons and 95 bar-tailed godwits at Carnain.