Monday 5th October

The weather continued overcast and drizzly for much of the day, brightening a little by the afternoon. The winds moderate from the SW.

Thanks to Malcolm for blogging while I was away at SOC conference this weekend.

Rogan W. had a juvenile Moorhen on Loch Ballygrant and a male Hen Harrier near the Gaelic College, followed by a Chough at Loch Bharradail. Golden Plovers were counted - Jeff Duncan seeing 9 flying past Port Ban and Teresa Morris finding 38 at Tormisdale. Teresa was also at Currie Sands where she noted 6 Choughs, 2 Turnstones and Rock Pipits. Over on the other side of the island David D. had a Merlin near the Machrie.

Christine Menzies noted a "charm" of 12 Goldfinches on the High Road plus 2 Golden Eagles near Emerivale. Here at Bruichladdich the Starling roost on the pier persists, though only c.300 birds in attendance tonight.

With the winds turning slightly westerly, Clive McK. tried his luck with a 2 hour sea-watch from Frenchman's Rocks with some good results - 123 Brent Geese in seven flocks and single Leach's Petrel and Storm-Petrel plus Sparrowhawk and Peregrine seen on the nearby coast. He also connected with the Great White Egret on the Gruinart Floods and notes that the House Martin nest at Creag Mhor is still active - lets hope the weather brightens up for the adults to find enough food to feed their late brood.

Bob Humphreys is over on Jura for two weeks and sent in a whole bunch of records for his first week there - too numerous to list here, but very useful from an area where we receive so few records of even the most common species. He also sent in a few photos for us to enjoy.