Monday 2nd November

The weather has not been too bad out here today, not as good as yesterday and we had no disruption like other places with flights due to fog... Yesterday, Carl had 2 Wheatear, a RTD a White Wagtail and 2 Turnstone down on Uiskentuie strand, later on he had Merlin up towards Gearach. Mike from Dunkeld had been out and about today, he had seen 6 Whitefronts between Rockside and Ballinaby with neck collars on. One of the geese that Danny saw last week was rung at Ballinaby back in Dec 2012, and I think some of the geese seen by Mike today were caught and fitted with collars the same day as Danny's goose. This morning Mike, Mike seen 3 Pinkfoots amongst the geese at Rockside/ Coull. Over at Gruinart there was a ringtail and a male Hen Harrier causing havoc with the Teal there!! Loch Skerrols held 50 Whoopers, 9 Mute, 80 Wigeon, pr of Gadwall, 9 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Dabchick and a Moorhen, in the fields surrounding 27 Fieldfare and 75 Redwing. Down on the Oa, Mike had seen 120 Redwing and a Yellowhammer at Lower Cragabus, at Upper Cragabus 150 Fieldfare were present. Further flocks of 30 and 75 Fieldfares along with 2 flocks of 50 Redwing were also noted on the Oa, 2 Golden Eagles seen, a Grey Wagtail, 14 Twite and another 45 Redwing at Lower Killeyan. Back at Kilnaughton Bay, Port Ellen, 3 RTD and a GND were present with a further 80 Redwings on the move. A Hen Harrier was seen at Loch Tallant and another at Ballinaby. 16 Pied Wagtail were seen going to their roost down beside Loch Gorm. Late afternoon, here at home, a small flock of around 60 Fieldfare flew overhead.