Sunday 9th October

The Yellow browed Warbler was seen again today down at Port Charlotte, but across the road from  Port Mor this time. Bob, Gary, Richard Belter saw it.

Phill Catton had done some birding in his back yard in Port Ellen yesterday. In between his house and the harbour, Phill saw 10 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 8 Ringed Plover, 1 Heron, 2 Shag, 2 Pied Wagtail, C. Gull, H.Gull, Wren, flock of Starling and a Hooded Crow. Along at Kintra and the Big Strand, Phill had 3 Shag, 3 RTD, 1 GND (still in summer plumage), 5 Curlew, 6 Chaffinch, a Linnet, 2 Wheatear, 3 Mipits and a Robin. This morning Bob had been in touch to say he had more Goldcrests in has garden than of late, 2 Blue Tits, the first there for some time, Robins too, as well as Snipe flying overhead, birds on the move...Richard today had a Golden Eagle soaring over the hills behind Claggain Bay.. Off Bruichladdich, Guillemots, Black Guillemots and a RTD were seen with 3 RTD and a GND up at Gortan. The Hampshire birders made the most the good weather walking out past Scarrabus up to Loch Cam. Main birds seen were 7 Red legged Partridge, a large mixed flock of House Sparrows, Goldfinch and Chaffinch. Also seen were,  Chough, a Grey Wagtail and also distant Golden Eagle. Here at home, I counted 30 Goldfinch on the road with further 20 on the feeders. The Linnet flock is getting larger in numbers as well. There was a Golden Eagle out on a thermal high over the crag, early afternoon. 2 Stonechats were on the seedheads of the game crop.