Monday 19th October

Mike and Elspeth Anderson had been over at Gruinart on Saturday before heading home on the ferry, as they went down to the new hide they heard a call resembling a common Quail. Yesterday also, Steve had another 2 Todd's Canada over at Gruinart, the American Wigeon at Ardnave Loch along with 42 Whoopers. Over at Bun an Uillt, 2 Greenshank were seen, and Steve spotted a Barnie at Craigens, that he had rung originally back in April 1998 at Eorrabus, better still, it was with young! Yesterday, Graham and Jo Morton, birders from Nottinghamshire had seen the American Wigeon on Ardnave as well, a Goldeneye present there as well, out on the dunes, 40 Chough were present along with Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits, with a Golden Plover, a Snipe and Redwing in the fields close to the steading. Later on at Gruinart, they saw a ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Buzzards and 6 Golden Plover. As they headed towards Loch Indaal, a male Hen Harrier was seen. On Loch Indaal, they had 20 Scaup, 4 Eider,4 Slavonian grebe, 6 RB Merganser, a Long tailed Duck and 8 P B Brent. Some birds through from Dave on the Oa, on Friday on The Oa , he had 98 Redwing, 1 Wheatear, 1 Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail. On Saturday from Blackrock on Loch Indaal, a total of 17 Slav Grebe, 1 GND and 7 Common Scoter and from Bruichladdich Pier 2 GND, 5 TRD,12 Common scoter and also 60 RB Merganser. On the Oa, on Sunday, Dave had a Goldcrest and also 35 Greenland Whitefronts. Gary had led a walk at Carnain on Sunday afternoon with a really good list of birds seen, including 2 Long tailed Duck, check on the link to the INHT for a full list of birds see.. Today, Bob had seen a Todd's Canada amongst Greylags up behind Gortan (coalyard) while down on the shore he had 17 Turnstone, earlier on he had seen Reed Buntings, more than of late up on Bolsay Moor. Back on Friday, I forgot to mention that while down at Port Charlotte, while speaking with Wally and Bob, we saw a Merlin chasing Starlings. Here at home this afternoon we saw 4 Sparrowhawks together flying around, possibly a family group? Since arriving last Tuesday, Wally has seen at least 12 Kestrel on travels, good to hear that one Wally! Another visitor who dropped by today was John Picton who is over leading a group from Speyside Wildlife, every bird that I seemed to mention, the group had already seen... apart from a Golden Eagle, Twite, wonder if they had seen the Red Kite??? Yes, there was one seen this morning over at Cluanach, as well as a male Hen Harrier by Graham and Jo. Up at Sanaigmore they had 10 Chough and a single PB Brent, probably a young bird, Loch Gorm held 20 Greenland Whitefronts, over 30 greylags, many Barnies all around, a male Pochard and 3 Dabchick. Later on, Machir Bay held 20 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, a ringtail Hen harrier, 6 Chough, a Heron with a distant Golden Eagle seen over The Rhinns. Carl today had had a count of 41 Whoopers on Ardnave, 150 Wigeon, also 38 Chough and 10 Golden Plover. Skienns of Barnies were still coming in from the North over the sea. Finally, Carl had a large flock of hundreds of Fieldfares present over at Mulindry.