Thursday 16 October 2008

Thurs 16th Oct



Although some Whooper Swans have already been seen already, certainly there were larger numbers passing through and on the wing. While going over to Gruinart this morning we had 3 groups in all totaling 56. Our friends, also in the morning had 8 over Machir Bay, 74 in Loch Gruinart, and 19 up at Ardnave Loch. After lunch they saw 16 down on the lochans beside Loch Gorm, and 51 resting up in a stubble field at Rockside. They also had a male Pochard and 4 Tufted Duck at Ardnave. On Loch Indaal, at Bruichladdich there were 6 Common Scoter, and just before returning home they had a really close sighting of a male Hen Harrier out quartering its ground.
The past few days, James has been over on Oronsay, and he was in touch earlier this evening with some sightings. Today, he had been having Whoopers flying South towards Islay, a group of 16 and another 9 later on. Also seen flying towards here were several Greenland Whitefronts, a Merlin and some Redwing. Earlier on in the week, James had 8 Great Northern Divers calling to each other, 2 Red throated Divers, a Sparrowhawk and 23 Golden Plover. He also had a good view of an Otter catching and later eating a fish close at hand. On Oronsay, he had 40 Grey Seal Pups on shore and reckons that there are around 300 pups over on Seal Island just off Oronsay. JRH

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