Tuesday 9th October

Another great day over here, not only for birds but the weather too... Over at Gruinart yesterday, I had a Swallow fly past. Paul Graham had some Whoopers yesterday, small family groups, 4 flying from Bruichladdich heading to Laggan Point, later on 2 came back over Bruichladdich and then another 6 from the Gartbreck area. He also had seen several large skeins of Barnies coming in from Coull Point/ Machir Bay fly inland towards Sunderland Farm. Today Bob had been out at Coull point and had seen 2 Swallows fly past as well as 35 Whoopers. This morning Dave had been leading the guided walk down on the Oa, Highlights were 2 Golden Eagles, 3 Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel as well as 9 Chough. Later on Dave had a Goldcrest. Dave was also saying that numbers of Whitefronts on the Oa reserve are now up to 150, with 23 Whoopers on Kinnabus Loch, with a good mixed flock on the birdcrop at Kinnabus itself with over 100 Twite plus Linnets, Goldfinch, Redpoll, Greenfinch and Chaffinch. Mary repoted through from Gruinart today, scores on the doors down a bit from the high that James had on Sunday as some of the geese are already spread around Islay, especially at Bridgend. Today the tally was 19,132 Barnies, 605 Whitefronts, 1 Pinkfoot and 1 Canada. 2 juv White tailed Sea Eagles were on the loch picking away at what was left of a wing of a goose!!! Also in front of the hide were several Pintail, Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, a few Black tailed Godwit along with Lapwings and Redshank. Yesterday at Ellister, Mary had a leucistic Hooded Crow! This afternoon while going round Loch Gorm, over to Gruinart and returning home later on, we counted 10 Buzzards in all and 2 Kestrel.