Yesterday was grey, cool and rainy. Today was calm, bright and sunny - at least until late afternoon when it clouded up and drizzled at times.
There were no bird sightings reported yesterday, but it has been quite busy today. "Great minds think alike" - well, at least Theo's and mine did as we both took a look at the flat calm waters of Loch Indaal and decided to check out the ducks and divers in such perfect conditions. I did a count from Bowmore right around to the south of Port Charlotte, while Theo concentrated on looking from Blackrock. We arrived at some extremely similar counts, which is always reassuring!
Our combined totals, provided the following:
Red-throated Diver 65, Great Northern Diver 22, Black-throated Diver 1, Cormorant 40, Slavonian Grebe 36, Eider 108, Red-breasted Merganser 72, Common Scoter 189, Long-tailed Duck 34 (one of the highest counts for the species on Islay), Goldeneye 6, Razorbill 2.
The Common Scoter were divided almost equally with c.90 well up into the loch around Blackrock, and another 90 far out into the loch off Port Charlotte. The latter group, after prolonged scrutiny, proved to have a drake Surf Scoter in their midst.
(There was also a pair of White-tailed Eagles on the shore at Crosshouses, feeding on something washed up on the tideline).
Elsewhere, Steve & Lyn Rogers had Red-throated Diver in Port Ellen Bay. Ed B. had a pair of Bullfinches at Cornabus - an unusual sighting for him there, Clive McK. had his first Goldfinches (5) in his garden at Creag Mhor since last autumn, plus 6 White-tailed Eagles over the garden.
Theo went over to Jura later in the day and reports 45 Canada Geese, 15 Great Northern and 2 Red-throated Divers in the bay at Craighouse. NW of Ardfin in the conifers were 3 Crossbills and a Kestrel. On the east side of the island he found 3 Golden Eagles, 2 2CY White-tailed Eagles and 3 Hen Harriers. At Feolin were 25 Brent Geese.
Here at Bruichladdich, I seem to add a single extra Siskin on my feeders each day - there were 3 today!
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