Wednesday 20th August

Yesterday, off Claddach down at Portnahaven, John Cameron had a count of over 100 Gannets. At lunchtime today, James Cadbury spotted a Grey Phalarope feeding in the burn down at Machir Bay. Here at home this morning, there was a ringtail Hen Harrier out in the garden, it dropped down into the nettles on the edge of the garden, but it came back up with nothing, this was repeated a few times without it catching any prey. It certainly moved all the wee birds away when it first appeared! Thinking back to Rutland and the Bird Fair, birds that we saw down there included Magpie, Green Sandpiper, Little Plover, Little Egret, Great crested Grebe, Osprey, Red Kite, Little Owl, Bullfinch, Collared Dove along with plenty of Woodpigeons! A Green Woodpecker was also heard in a spinney where I was staying, but unfortunately not while were around!