Heavy rain and strong winds overnight gave way to lighter westerlies with occasional showers during today, brightening as the day went on and the wind dropped away.
Bird sightings kicked off with Sophie Jackson reporting a Little Egret at Crosshouses and later a Great Northern Diver up at Bunnahabhain. Down at Portnahaven Mary R. watched an adult White-tailed Eagle trying hard, but failing, to predate a young Great Black-backed Gull. She also had a Peregrine zip by her her house. Noel Hand was a Gruinart and was watching more predation going on - this time a successful catch of a Starling by a Merlin. He also found a Grey Plover and 2 Greenshank at the North Hide plus the Green-winged Teal.
Gary T. was birding Loch Indaal and was pleased to see that the stick perches he had put out for passing Kingfishers up at Bridgend merse was working well with two of the little beauties making use of them today. Other finds included 2 Common/Arctic Terns fishing the shoreline at Carnain, 2 Snow Buntings and 2 Knot at Gartmain and 2 White-tailed Eagles on the grassy islets on the flats at Bridgend.
Fiona McG. had a latish Swallow in Bruichladdich and other birders were happily watching their garden birds - Blue and Long-tailed Tits for Clive McK at Creag Mhor and a very active day for Billy Stitchell up at Caol Ila with Goldcrests and a Treecreeper foraging in a plum tree, numerous Goldfinches in Sycamores, Blackbirds on the lawn at various tits at the feeders and a sunset Bullfinch. (photos below).
Mike Hill was out birding today and amongst various sightings he saw two Black-throated Divers, a single Great Northern, three Slavonian Grebes and a dozen Common Scoter along with lots of Red-breasted Mergansers and Eiders on Loch Indaal. He also found a Canada Goose in amongst a Barnacle Goose flock on the Kilchoman Road, which he thought looked more compact than 'normal' Canada Geese and wondered if it was the 'parvipes" race that was reported recently? (photos below). I leave it to those who love to agonise over races of Canada Geese to comment!
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