Wednesday 21 September 2016

Wednesday 21st September

Many thanks to James for writing the blog while I was  over on the mainland over the past 10 days or so.
On Monday (19th) Jim's top birds included 6 Black Guillemot off Bruichladdich Pier, a GND in summer plumage on Loch Indaal, and off the rocks at Port Charlotte 65 Common Scoter. Up at Craigens/ head of Loch Gruinart, the Greenland White fronted Goose was still present amongst the Greylags as well as 31 Pale bellied Brent Geese. At Bowmore, Jim had a further 12 Pale bellied Brent and also 80 Tufted Duck. Finally at Machir Bay, Jim heard a Water Rail in the reedbed there. Mandy saw a Barn Owl  on a fence post close to the former Kilchoman school last night and earlier on had spotted a Barnacle Goose down at "smelly corner".  Yesterday, Bob and Jim had seen 5 Pale bellied Brents and also a Greenshank,  35 Pied Wagtail and a juv. Peregrine at the head of Loch Gruinart. Up at Gortantoid, they saw 4 Yellowhammer, 2  Song Thrush and 6 Reed Bunting. At Rockside, a male Sparrowhawk was spotted. Out over the crag behind Kilchoman, 2 adult and a juv Peregrine as well a single Wheatear. At Ballinaby, 250 Lapwing and 70 Rock Dove were counted, up round in the scrubby willow past Coille, 60 Lesser Redpolls with a distant Golden Eagle seen up at Sanaigmore. Today, in the rain/ squally showers, Bill Allan from the mainland had been out with Jim and they had a covey of 16 Red legged Partridge near to Skerrols, Bridgend.

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