Wednesday 26 October 2016

Wednesday 26th October

Some sightings gleaned at bird nerds last night... At the weekend, David Barr had seen 10 Turnstone on the shoreline at Bowmore. Mandy had taken a walk through the dunes at the back of Machir bay seeing a small flock of 16 Twite, 12 Oysercatcher and also 9 Hooded Crow. On Machir Bay itself, Julia ( a volunteer with RSPB) had seen 2 Turnstone and 3 Sanderling. Earlier on, over at Bunnahabhain, Julia had a Peregrine flying across the Sound of Islay to Jura. Bob yesterday had a Merlin at Octomre with a male Hen Harrier seen over Bolsay Moor. Phill Catton reported seeing 3 Golden Eagles together on the Oa, a male and 2 females! He also had a Peregrine as well as a Hen Harrier. The Chifffchaff was still present in James's garden yesterday. This afternoon, we saw at least 8 Bottle nosed Dolphins off Port Charlotte, very impressive, boy they were active...
Jeff Duncan had sent through a couple of images of the buntings that he had seen last week up at Ardnave which proved to be Lapland Buntings. Phil Knott from Heatherlea told me last night of seeing a Carrion Crow while he was down round the Rhinns with his visitors.
I have been hearing "reports" of the proposed cull of our Barnacle geese this year to be 2,900. I tried yesterday to get confirmation from SNH about the scheme and the actual number proposed, but nobody was available to comment as they were not in the office, either still on holiday or just not in... Once I hear any more information, I will let you know! The actual scheme is funded by SNH.

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