Friday 2nd October

A strong southerly wind with quite a lot of rain in the middle of the day.

Quite a busy day on the birding front, starting with Louise M seeing 10 Ravens sitting on and flying around the telecoms mast at Craighouse, Jura. Then, still in the morning, David D reported 7 Whooper Swans on Loch Kinnabus, clearly newly arrived migrants, while he also noted a Corncrake still present on the farm. About 2 hours later, Ed B saw 7 Whooper Swans dropping in at Ballivicar, clearly the same birds now needing to feed. In between, Rogs had a Common Sandpiper at Loch Ballygrant.

Billy Stitchell's garden at Caol Ila this morning held 4 BlueTits, 2 Lesser Redpolls, a Robin, 6 Great Tits, several House Sparrows and a Grey Wagtail 

Bird of the day was undoubtedly the Great White Egret spotted by Ctahy Earle from the South Hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart around the middle of the day. She didn't have her camera with her but managed the photo below showing the Egret beside a Grey Heron. In the late afternoon, it was joined by two Little Egrets.

Elsewhere, Mary McR saw 25 Golden Plovers at Claddach, Rogs saw a female Hen Harrier at Loch Lossit, Teresa May reported a White-tailed Eagle near Craigens Cottage, Gruinart, while Clive McK counted 23 Greenshanks on Loch Gruinart, one short of the Islay record, as well as noting a sudden increase in Red-breasted Mergansers, up from the usual 8-9 to 22. He also saw 7 Little Egrets.

Here's Cathy's photo of the Great White Egret. It may not be of the standard we usually try and post here, but the bird is unmistakable. Note the Grey Heron just to its left.