Thursday 5th November

Really had to think what day of the week it was, knew the date but which day it was, another sign that I must be getting a bit old... say no more!!! At the weekend, Jack Fleming had a count of 40 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Bun an Uillt on Loch Gruinart. The other day when over on Jura, Paul and Avril Watchorn, the winners of the Gie's a brek (Give us a break) draw at the Birdfair back in August, had seen a juv Golden Eagle.. Visitors Alan and Viv Coy had seen a couple of Short eared Owls up past Killanallan on Tuesday. Mike Bell yesterday had counted 29 Whoopers, 820 Greylags, 3 Pinkfoots,19 Barnies, 214 Teal, 15 Mallard and 2 drake Pintails on the pool in the dunes behind Machir Bay. On the dunes, Mike had 12 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and 3 Golden Plover. Along towards Rockside, 50 Fieldfare, 100 Redwing, 30 Chaffinch, a Brambling and a Yelowhammer were seen. Loch Gorm had a Great crested Grebe, a Dabchik, 5 Pochard, 7 Goldeneye and 11 Tufted Duck. Up on Ardnave Loch, Mike counted a Dabchick, 20 Mute, 218 Whoopers, a drake Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 RB Merganser, 5 Shoveler, 18 Teal, 372 Teal with a late Whimbrel also present. An Otter was seen at Traig Nostaig while out at Ardnave Point, 44 Chough and 25 Curlew were seen. In the afternoon, Laggan Point held a RTD, 8GND, 3 Eider, 39 Shag, 1 Gannet, a Black Guillemot, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Chough, 2 Rock Pipit. The "Laundry Loch" held a Dabchick, 19 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, and 3 Tufted Duck, probably there could have been more if the farmer had not been past a few moments earlier on his quad bike and spoofed some away...