Tuesday 7th October 2025

A reasonably sunny day with moderate westerlies and a handful of showers.

Ed B. noted a small passage of Whooper Swans over Cornabus in the morning around 10.00, with 29 heading south in about 20 minutes, while, at much the same time, Clive McK. at Gruinart saw 14 also heading south. He also spotted two Chiffchaffs in the scrub by his house. Just before 10.30, Teresa Morris watched several small groups of Barnacles Geese coming in from the north over Ardnave as well as 6 Whoopers, also noting 7 Choughs by the loch. At the other end of the Rhinns, Mary McR. reported Greenland Whitefronts coming over Port Wemyss/Portnahaven in the morning.

Gary T. reported a build up of Blackbird, Mistle and Song Thrush numbers coming out of the Auchnaclach woodlands (north of Ballygrant) in the last few mornings, then saw a male and a ringtail Hen Harriers quartering the moorland on the east side of Loch Finlaggan, followed by a Merlin on a power pole towards Mulreesh.

Just before 13.00, David Hunter saw 20 Tufted Ducks on Loch Skerrols which were apparently very flighty and wondered if this was because an otter was there hunting. David D. confirmed that otters have been recorded predating shag, ducks and other waterbirds, but another possibility might be shooting in the neighbourhood, which Dan Brown had wondered about having seen 4 Tufted Ducks at the head of Loch Indaal yesterday, as this duck isn't often seen here on salt water. David Hunter also saw a female Hen Harrier over Loch Skerrols, which definitely don't predate adult Tufted Ducks, though I suppose it could scare them.

Gary T., still in the Finlaggan area at 13.00, soon after had mixed flocks of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting at the road entrance and of Goldfinch, Siskin and Redpoll moving through the willows in the marsh in the dip before the entrance. He then saw a flock of 50+ Long-tailed Tits moving through the willows, which is the largest flock ever reported on the island, most being between 10 and 25, but with a few in the 30s, and one of 50 back in 1971. This likely indicates good breeding success last summer. While watching these flocks of passerines, Gary noted Whitefronts were flying in over Keills coming from the north.

Also at 13.00, new visitors, Mike Taylor and his wife, saw a (?the) Buff-breasted Sandpiper from the south hide at Gruinart RSPB with Golden Plover and other birds on the edge of the main pool, having also seen the one with the Golden Plover flock at Ballinaby yesterday. So, is there one or are there two? 

Teresa Morris was out in the early afternoon counting birds on the west side of Ardnave with good success, finding a ringtail Hen Harrier, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 34 Sanderlings, 210 Starlings (counted from a photograph - that's dedication for you!), 32 Choughs interacting with the Starlings feeding along the tops of the dunes, a Golden Eagle mobbing 4 Choughs, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Meadow Pipits, 3 Curlews, 2 Cormorants, and 1 White-tailed Eagle. She also counted the several small flocks of Barnacles flying in from the west of Nave Island, namely, 12, 10, 17, 29, 8, 15, quite typical of how the geese fly in quite small groups, though often in sight of each other, making a continuous stream of arrivals.

The photograph today, of a Gannet taking off, was taken by Teresa yesterday at Ardnave. Thanks, Teresa.