Tuesday 2nd December 

A dry day with some sunshine but also a strong south-east wind.

Just one record received today, but an interesting one of a Water Rail seen by Mary McR. crossing the road just south of Bruichladdich, dodging the traffic to move from the marshy ground on the shore side of the road presumably heading to the ponds behind Shorefield house. The vast majority of records of this species come from the Gruinart area where up to 10 birds can be heard calling in the spring. This was for long thought to be the only regular breeding place, but in 2003 Clive McK. used recorded calls to try to elicit responses from birds at night, when they are most active and vocal. Noting that the main habitat for them on the island was Phragmites (Common Reed), but also swampy areas around small lochans and even overgrown ditches, Clive considered that there could be as many as 50-70 pairs on the island. As this was over 20 years ago, if anyone wants an interesting project for next spring, then repeating Clive's survey would certainly be one.

Here's a Gordon Langsbury photograph of this very attractive, but rather secretive bird.

 

Monday 1st December 

Apparently the meteorological first day of winter, it was bright and a bit breezy and reasonably mild.

Only two bird observations were received, but both of interest, being a Little Egret at Loch Kinnabus seen by David D., and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Cornbus reported by Ed B., neither exactly regular at those localities. 

Sunday 30th November 

Another nice day of sunshine but with quite a number of showers, mostly short-lived, then rain arriving in the evening with 13 mm by midnight at the airport.

Yesterday's report ended with sightings of two White-tailed Eagles flying across the Sound to Jura, and this one opens with another juvenile seen doing so by Gary T., who then found the reason for this movement when he spotted no less than four birds feeding on something tasty on the shore just north of Inver Cottage. There was also a Golden Eagle flying over the moorland behind.

Gary then moved to Finlaggan and found Crossbills feeding in the trees around Finlaggan House as well as two otters in the Loch.

Mike and Helen Boothman have ended their holiday here and tried to make us jealous with sightings of Ptarmigan and Black Grouse in Perthshire today. Nice try, guys, glad you enjoyed your stay and thanks for your records.

Following my sighting of a very large flock of Stock Doves on Friday at Cluanach, today, just over a mile away at Cattadale, Billy Stitchell found over 100 on a stubble field with several of them taking advantage of the nearby burn to have a bathe.