Sunday 14th September

Last week, James had been down in Leeds at a RSPB conference, his highlight was seeing Nuthatches, Jays and also 3 Red Kites... coming home on the ferry on Friday afternoon, he spotted a White tailed Sea Eagle as the ferry came up the Sound of Islay towards Port Askaig. Visiting birders Susan and John Kirkman, yesterday had done the walk from Bowmore down to Gartberck around midday. Their birds were as follows, mixed flock of 30 Curlew and Whimbrel, 7 Mute Swan, 1 female Red breated Merganser, odd Ringed Plovers, 60 Oysterctatcher, several flocks of Starlings numbering between 100 and 300 in total, 50 Dunlin, 50 Sanderling, 10 Gannets (several plunging into Loch Indaal), 50 Greylags, many Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails, a "fine" Greenland Wheatear, ringtail Hen Harrier at Gartbreck itself, about 60 Stonechats, 50 Linnets, a large flock of around 1,000 finches in from Gartbreck with Goldfinches, Twite and Brambling being seen, 50 Atlantic Seals were seen on their walk. On Friday, down at Portnahaven, they also had seen another large mixed of finches. Susan and John also noted Pied Wagtails everywhere, as were Stonechats, Whinchats, Collared Doves, Starlings and House Sparrows, many of which they do not see back home in Sheffield in such numbers. Today, Bob had a male Merlin over at Bolsa.