Monday 27th October

Yesterday, Merja and Bjorn from Norway had seen a small Canada Goose amongst the Barnies at the top of Loch Indaal. Also yesterday, Phil and his clients from Heatherlea had seen Chough at Kilchoman and also over at Ardnave. On Ardnave Loch, a female Goldeneye was seen. At Mill cottage, a Common Redpoll was spotted. Amongst the geese at Gruinart, several Whitefronts were present with neck collars. Close to Kilchoman, they had a male and also a female Peregrine, the hen bird flushed a Woodcock and almost caught it! At Ballinaby they had 100 Twite, a Sparrowhawk was present at Gruinart, with another on their way back to Bowmore. There were 170 Whoopers resting up at Rockside. Back at Bowmore there were a few Pale bellied Brent, some with leg rings on. Today, the Rochdale birders had been down on the Oa this morning seeing 2 different Merlins, a Peregrine and a Redpoll. Back over at Loch Gorm, a female Merlin was present and at Gruinart, over 1,000 Golden Plover. Steve Percival braved the elements this morning and managed to fire his cannon nets, catching and enabling around 70 Barnies to be rung with BTO ring, Dravic rings with letter combination and also a plain yellow ring to presumably denote the actual year that they have been rung. Remember, if you are over, tomorrow at 16.00 the bird nerds are meeting at the car park at Gruinart and going down to the hides all going well... might see you there!