A very mild, but predictably nasty day with strong southerly winds and a fair bit of rain, but not becoming truly unpleasant until evening. No sightings came in until 9.30 this evening, when Ric Else and Hazel Watson who are making their first visit from Rathlin Island sent in their observations. Despite the appalling weather they seem to be enjoying themselves:
"We're over on Islay for a few days this week and have been enjoying your blog, which has been brilliant for inspiration and planning our visit. We live on Rathlin Island, from where we can see Islay every day, but this is the first time we've ever managed to make it over for a visit. We're glad to finally get to experience Islay ourselves and it's been fantastic so far!
Obviously the weather conditions today were a little challenging, but we were keen to get out and see what we could find. There's probably nothing particularly notable to local birders, but we were excited to see at least nine Choughs and a Hen Harrier around Machir Bay, and just as daylight faded we watched an adult White-tailed Eagle flying low over Loch Gruinart, putting up many thousands of geese as it went - exactly the scene we had imagined seeing here! Also Purple Sandpiper at Machir Bay and a Kestrel at Loch Gruinart.
We did encounter a few ringed birds during the course of the day:
- We see you have recently recorded White-fronted Goose CZY at Carnduncan, but it was there in the same place again today.
- Barnacle Geese Yellow H|US and White VTN (we think?) were both in fields near the road that runs along just south of Loch Gruinart.
- A Chough at Machir Bay had Yellow/Yellow colour rings on its right leg. We can't see the ring on its left leg in any of our photos, but perhaps it's identifiable from the partial combination?"
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