Wednesday 5th November

Some more sightings through from yesterday to start this evening's entry.. Mary had seen 2 Bullfinches on the "woodland trail" at Gruinart. Later on Mary had seen a young Barn Owl on her commute home to Portnahaven, must be winter right enough!!! Paul had seen a pair of Slavonian Grebes from the Power Station outside Bowmore. Later on, Paul had walked from Ballygrant to to the Sound of Islay. His highlights included a ringtail Hen Harrier and and then a imm. White tailed Sea Eagle. In the woods around Ballygrant Loch, Siskins, Redpolls, lots of Redwings and some Song Thrushes. He also had a Yellowhammer and a Grey Wagtail present there too. Over at Blackrock, Paul had been watching the raft of Scaup there when an adult White tailed Sea Eagle soared past causing mayhem, it soon moved over the Barnies that were at the top of the Loch! At Gruinart, there were 15 Whoopers, another ringtail Hen Harrier and at least 500 Golden Plover. Ken yesterday along with the birders from Sandwich Bird Obs had started their day off down on the Oa where they saw a Peregrine,2 Fulmar, many Twite and also 2 Golden Eagles. Also there were lots of Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds, all very jumpy, obviously new arrivals! In the afternoon, over at Claggain Bay, over 40 Gannets were offshore along with a winter plumage Black Guillemot. Today Michael had an imm Golden Eagle out over the crag close to where he is staying. On his way out, he had 150 Redwing and at least 200 Fieldfare between Coastguards and Rockside road end. There were also 75 Golden Plover in the fields at Coastguards as well. Machir Bay, 2,500 Barnies were roosting up on the shore and 37 Curlew were also there. Over at Craigens a Grey Wagtail was present as was a small flock of 20 Chaffinches. On the estuary at Gruinart, 136 Wigeon, 27 R B Merganser, 46 Shelduck, 42 Pintail, 92 Sanderling as well 2 Greenshank were counted. Michael then counted over the top of Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte round to Bowmore, his tally came through at 51 RTD, 64 GND, 49 Slav. Grebe, 1 Great crested Grebe, 12 Mute, 9 Whoopers, 8 Pale bellied Brent, 303 Wigeon, 270 Teal, 66 Scaup, 5 Goldeneye, 13 Long tailed Duck, 154 Eider, 113 Common Scoter and 99 R B Merganser. Thanks Michael! Just before lunchtime, there were 5 Herons on the wee island on Loch Gorm, probably the same the same ones we had seen the other day at Sunderland but then there wee 6, possibly the other bird was lurking around the other side out of my view! There was a Brambling amongst the Chaffinches at the feeders here at home.