Sunday 23rd September

Another not bad day here again, with the combines cutting away at the barley, and in some cases balers busily baling the straw before the rain returns tomorrow.... Earlier in the week, Becki had a ringtailed Hen Harrier out over the reserve at Gruinart as well as some Red Deer stags present too. She also had another ringtail on her way down to the Oa. George had a female Sparrowhawk on his large "wooden" Albatross  at his house, it sat there for a good 5 minutes, but as George said, no camera was around...Out on Loch Indaal, he counted over 220 Greylags on the water yesterday, up in front of the new hide at Gruinart, George had 60 Black tailed Godwits and 26 Lapwing. Further on, on Ardnave Loch, the 2 Mute Swans were seen with their 4 cygnets, but no sign of any other ducks on the loch. This afternoon, out on the floods at Gruinart, James had 32 Blackwits, 1 Tufted Duck, 52 Lapwing and 2 Heron. There were quite a few Mallard around too. Out on the Loch there was a Greater Black backed Gull, 2 Buzzards and 2 young Ravens having their fill on the remnants of possibly a Greylag. Coming back through the wood and a Robin was singing away good style, great to hear. No sign of yesterday's Pectoral Sandpiper, but possibly out on the Loch.