Wednesday 1st October

That's another month flown past what a great month it has been, with only 0.75 of an inch on the rain gauge.. Today has been another wee cracker of a day.. I was even working in the garden in my shirt sleeves, not bad for October!!!Last night on her way home, Mary had a male Hen harrier just past Carn just out of Port Charlotte. Also up at Ardnave yesterday, Mary saw a Merlin. This morning she saw another Merlin, this time sitting on a fence post as Mary came round Loch Gorm, on the moorland trail on the reserve at Gruinart she had a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk down at Moulin. She also commented on still spotting a few Swallows around. This afternoon in the woodland trail she saw 2 Treecreepers, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit and a Blue Tit , all on the same Willow tree! Not to be outdone, Emily had 3 Treecreepers on the cottage wall at Moulin. She had seen 3 Grey Wagtails on the shore at Ardbeg with a Black Guillemot in winter plumage out on the sea there as well. Most evening of late, Emily has heard a Tawny Owl outside of Moulin. This evening Adrian counted 27 Barnies flying from the fields behind the Visitor centre at Gruinart down and on to Loch Gruinart itself.