Saturday 3rd October 

A mainly southwest and quite strong breeze with the occasional heavy shower.

Rogan W was out early, finding 13 Light-bellied Brent on Loch Indaal between Bridgend and Bowmore, with 183 Wigeons, 3 Turnstones, 2 Knots, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Cormorants in front of the Gaelic College, as well as a White-tailed Eagle having its breakfast out on the flats. On his way round the head of the loch, he found a flock of 27 Goldfinches at Carnain, with a Red-thoated Diver offshore, and 12 Common Scoter at Blackrock, just 2 of which were female. On the way to Gruinart, he saw a ringtail Hen Harrier and 7 snipe, before reaching his target, the Great White Egret, which was still present, along with 6 Shovelers, 2 Pintails and a Little Grebe, plus the Glossy Ibis, a male Hen Harrier and 2 Moorhens. 

Around midday, Cathy Earle saw the resident Whooper Swan, which has a wing condition and has been at Gruinart for some years now. Visitor Jeff was happy to find the Great White Egret later in the day, and also watched a Peregrine hunting Lapwing, an Osprey flying low over the reserve as well as a sparrowhawk. Earlier in the day he had seen a Merlin near Carnduncan and a Kestrel at Saligo, then on the east side of Loch Gruinart he saw another Merlin, as well as Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Little Egrets, and, finally, a Red-throated Diver at Uiskentuie and a Swallow west of Port Charlotte.

The Great White Egret obliged Rogan by posing for this photo.