Wednesday 30th of November

Well after a fair bit of groundwork carried by Mike and Peter, the "pale Wheatear" seen down at Machir Bay, and with images sent through to Paul French, who is chair of the British Birds rarities committee, it turns out to be an Isabelline Wheatear. It was still present mid afternoon, seen by Mike and Peter. Obviously, it will have to go to the whole committee before being accepted. To think that it has been around for over a week, and less than a mile away from here....

Bob, yesterday had an Iceland Gull just as he drove past the car park for the hides at Gruinart. Down behind the Machir Bay where the Wheatear has been seen, this morning Gary had counted 40 Curlew and 31 Ringed Plover. Late afternoon, I had a count of at least 40 Chough as thy headed into the roost, boy are they difficult to count when they duck and dive as they fly past!!!

Monday 28th November

Yesterday morning, Mike Peacock had seen a "rather pale looking Wheatear" down at Machir Bay, Peter came down to see the bird but it had flown off. Mike had managed to take some images but none to prove which species it might be. Undeterred, Mike and Peter managed to obtain clearer images mid afternoon and consulted with Jim Dickson, the upshot was a probable pale Northern Wheatear. It was still present in the same location this morning, with a strong possibility of it being same bird that Gary saw early last week.

Phil Catton, had seen 4 Red breasted Merganser out in Port Ellen Bay from his window. Out towards the American Monument, Phil had over 150 Golden Plover as well as a single Lapwing which was showing more interest in the Highland cows there! Gary, late afternoon, had seen 5 Common Scoter and also 4 Wigeon at Uiskentuie where the burn enters Loch Indaal.

Remember to watch the TV on BBC1 at 9pm for the program bout fair Isle, and also if you are around, come along to the bird nerds tomorrow evening at 7.30 in the Lochside Hotel in Bowmore.

Sunday 27th November

Yesterday was Ciaran and Bex's last day on their first visit to Islay and there was no let up on their part... On Kilnaughton Bay, 5 GND, 4 RTD and a Slavonian Grebe were present. Out on Loch Indaal, from Blackrock, 4 Whoopers, 16 Eider, 2 Long tailed Duck, a drake Common Scoter, 36 Scaup, 6 R B Merganser, 16 GND, 5 RTD and 8 Slavonian Grebe were seen. Up on Ardnave Loch, 16 Whoopers, 24 Mute, 18 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 9 Goldeneye, a Pochard, and 9 R b Merganser while round Ardnave Point and out towards Nave Island, the following were present, a Razorbill, 21 Cormorant, 38 GND, 3 RTD, 4 Slavonian Grebe, a juv. Golden Eagle, a female Merlin, 28 Chough, 12 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, 26 Lapwing, 6 Ringed Plover, 8 Turnstone, 8 Pied Wagtail and also an Otter with 2 cubs! Back down on Loch Indaal in from Whin Park they saw 22 Pale bellied Brent, 12 Shelduck, 23 Dunlin, 174 Barwits, 78 Curlew and 69 Oystercatcher with a Chiffchaff heard in the trees behind the lay by. Many thanks to both Ciaran and Bex for all their sightings seen this week, much appreciated.

This morning, there was a small flock of 30 Ringed Plover in the field adjacent to the carpark at Machir Bay. Later on here at home, mid morning, the Peregrine was on the hunt, this time it stooped twice into the Chough, both times no joy, possibly a youngster out learning!!! It certainly made the said Chough waken up a bit!!!

Saturday 26th November

Yesterday, Gary had been out at Loch Ballygrant where he saw "loads of Blackbirds and Song Thrush" in the berry bushes as well as some Long tailed Tits in the trees. On the loch itself, Gary had  counted 8 Mute Swan, a Wigeon, 20 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard and 9 Dabchick. Ciaran and Bex had 197 Whitefronts and a Crossbill at Laphroaig with 16 Redwing seen in the trees there as well. Along at Ardbeg, they saw 3 Grey Wagtail.

Before I forget, there is 2 part documentary about Fair Isle on BBC 1 on Monday at 9pm for the first episode.

Friday 25th November

Yesterday morning, Ciaran and Bex had been up at Bunnahabhain Distillery. Their morning started well with spotting 2 Otters out in the bay, well almost actually only 1 as the other Otter was almost nobbled by a White tailed Eagle!!! Birds seen at Bunnahabhain included 23 Wigeon, 5 R b Merganser, 9 GND, 5 RTD, 4 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Tystie, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 1 Mistle Thrush, 12 Twite and also 2 Redpoll. Down on Loch Indaal, out from Whin Park, they saw 29 Pale bellied Brent, 38 Scaup, 14 Long tailed Duck, 1 Common Scoter, 14 Shelduck, 18 GND, 4 RTD, 19 Slav Grebe, 72 Barwit, 133 Curlew, 82 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, back on the land they counted 12 Red legged Partridge. Yesterday as well, Gary from Islay Wild Birding had been over on Jura where he saw a Golden Eagle, a White tailed Eagle, a Turnstone, a Ringed Plover, at least 20 Cormorant and Shag and also 28 GND. This morning, James had seen 7 Woodcock, 4 Goldcrest, a Sparrowhawk and a Chiffchaff as he walked through the woodland trail at Gruinart.

Andrew Kent from SNH sent me through the tally for the International Goose count carried out last week... the tally came to 52,363 Barnies, 4,777 Whitefronts and 1,067 Greylag Geese.  Many thanks to Andrew and the team from SNH for theses figures.

Before I forget, on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, the Islay bird nerds will be holding their monthly meeting in the Lochside in Bowmore, the last meeting for 2016 I hasten to add!!! So if you are around, feel free to come along.

Thursday 24th November

Yesterday, Louise had a count of 200 Golden Plover over at Ballinaby, but had no luck in trying to spot any "rarer" plovers amongst them! Eric Bignall had counted 54 Chough still present on the reseeds at Kilchoman. Yesterday as well, Ciaran and Bex had gone down on the Oa again, with the weather being so settled for time of year. On their way along the road their highlights included 15 Lapwing, a Water rail heard calling , a Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldcrest and 3 Linnets. At Kinnabus, they saw 10 Whitefronts with collars on, amongst the total flock of 228. In the afternoon from Blackrock, their birds included 36 Scaup, 7 Slavonian Grebe, 6 GND, 3 RTD and 10 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Up at Gruinart, they saw 10 Whoopers, 424 Golden Plover, a female Bullfinch and also a Mistle Thrush. This evening, as the sunset was spectacular as they have over the past few evenings as well. 

Wednesday 23rd November

Gary had carried out his WeBS count from Bruichladdich round to Blackrock earlier this week, a great variety of birds seen, so here goes... 53 GND, 37 RTD, 21 R b Merganser, 48 Cormorant, 35 Shag, 40 Slav Grebe, 20 Guillemot, 22 Tystie, 164 Eider, 6 Common Scoter, 53 Oystercatcher, 15 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Barwit, 105 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 30 Turnstone, 4 Purple Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, 14 GBB Gull, 195 H Gull, 152 C Gull, 52 BH Gull, 150 Barnies, 70 Greylag, 4 Heron & 19 Pale bellied Brent. Gary had gone to Machir Bay to look for the Little Egret, but no joy, instead he made do with 32 Ringed Plover, 30 Oystercatcher, 20 Twite, with 3 Snow Bunting in the dunes and then a Northern Wheatear in the field next to the car park!

Ciarin and his girlfriend Bex who works on the Isle of May, had seen a flock of 74 Whitefronts at Kilnaughton and then a further 340 at Cornabus valley. A juv. White tailed Eagle was spoofing the 64 Greylags closeby! From Blackrock, they counted 18 Scaup, 4 Long tailed Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 13 R b Merganser, 8 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 6 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 124 Barwit, 164 Oystercatcher and 2 Curlew. Down at Bruichladdich,  4 Pale bellied Brent, 6 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank & 25 Curlew were present.

Tuesday 22nd October

Many thanks to Michal and James for writing the blog over the last 10 days or so while I have been away on the mainland.

Carl Reavey had  heard a Great spotted Woodpecker calling in Port Charlotte on Sunday, yesterday, Carl had seen the Little Egret flying low out over Loch Indaal, from his office window in Bruichladdich. Visiting birder, Ciaran Hatsell, one the team from Fair Isle Bird Obs, yesterday had 2 GND, 1 RTD, 3 R B Merganser and 2 Goldeneye in Port Ellen Bay. over the  cottage where he is staying in, a flyover of a mixed flock of Thrushes including 2 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, 28 Fieldfare, and 3 Blackbird. Also seen were 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Goldfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.  A walk round the Oa produced a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine with kill, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. A mixed flock of finches there included 37 Twite, 3 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch and 3 Reed Bunting. Michal had been up at Ardnave yesterday, on Ardnave Loch he counted 38 Whoopers, 21 Mute, 53 Greylag, 38 Teal, 1 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck and 7 Goldeneye. Also up on Ardnave, Michal had 136 Whitefronts, 57 Golden Plover, 200 Starling, a Buzzard, and also 39 Lapwing. Out on Nave Island, 37 Oystercatcher and 35 Shag were present. Today, on the floods at Gruinart, Toby Green saw a Green winged Teal amongst the flock of around 150 Teal. Toby was the visitor who saw the Little Egret earlier this week at Machir Bay.

Monday 21st November

Dave saw 2 treecreepers and 2 goldcrests today on the Woodland Trail at Gruinart. He also saw a pink-footed goose in a field. Yesterday Gary saw a juvenile white tailed eagle at Bridgend Woods, 5 long tailed ducks at Bowmore Pier. At Gartmain he had 400 barnacle geese, 7 brent geese, 45 mallard, 40 scaup, 21 long tailed ducks, 7 slavonian grebe, 8 goldeneye, and later on a golden eagle over Loch Ballygrant. Bob reported his sightings from his WeBS between Bowmore and Gartbreack. He saw 90 oystercatcher, 142 curlew, 65 barwit, 5 knot, 102 dunlin, 10 long tailed duck, 2 goldeneye, 25 common scoter, 250 wigeon, 480 teal, 2 shelduck, 2 great northern diver, 8 redshank, 1 purple sandpiper, 4 grey plover, 35 lapwing and 3 snipe. Jim Dickson reported a little egret at Machair Bay yesterday. Yesterday Mandy saw turnstone, dunlin, 2 sanderling, 25 oystercatcher, 36 ringed plover, 13 + 25 whooper swans. At Blackrock she had 2 long-tailed ducks, 2 slavonian grebes, loads of great-northern divers, few red throated divers and loads of scoters and eiders.

Sunday 20th November

Today Mary saw 3 great spotted woodpeckers in her garden in Portnahaven. In Ardnave there was 29 turnstone, 2 great northern divers, 45 twite, 280 starlings. On Ardnave Loch there was 15 mute swans, 15 whoopers, 30 wigeon, 45 whitefronts, 47 teal and couple lapwings.

Friday 18th November

Yesterday Bob had 22 whooper swans and few wigeons on Jura. Today he saw a blackcap in his garden. Looks like whoopers are moving through. Mandy saw 15 this morning over Kilchoman flying south, about 40 were seen over Gruinart Flats this morning heading for Loch Indaal plus another 7 in the afternoon.

Thursday 17th November

James saw 16 whooper swans, peregrine and a water rail on the reserve and pochard on Ardnave Loch. 7 whooper swans were seen flying over Loch Indaal heading south. Yesterday Mandy saw 7 red-legged partridges at Carrabus, male hen harrier at Ballimartin, dubchick at Loch Skerrols and 5 whooper swans at Gartmain.

Wednesday 16th November

Yesterday Mandy saw 2 pairs of goldeneye at Loch Skerrols, 2 golden eagles at Scarrabus, 2 red legged partridges at Knockdon and a white-tailed eagle near Balulive. Today there was a dozen whooper swans on the Floods at Gruinart, loads of assorted ducks and a pied and grey wagtail...

Tuesday 15th November

A sparrowhawk was seen at Gruinart chasing after chaffinches. Few redwings seen at the office. Louise saw a lesser black-backed gull at Saligo, also 6 whooper swans at Loch Indaal. Dave saw a snipe few hoodies and ravens on the Oa today. International goose count was done today and we should bring you the results in the next few days.

Monday 14th November

Greyness, wetness, doomines and gloomines and general winter miserability all day today. Birds hiding under a leaf somewhere. But here is at least a photo of part of the twite flock taken last week by Dave Wood on the Oa.

Unday 13th November

Couple dozen of redwings, two ring tail hen harriers were seen at Gruinart today. James saw two tree creepers in his garden. Two golden eagles at Kilinallan. 18 mute swans and 10 whooper swans on Ardnave Loch.

Saturday 12th November

Dave counted incredible 948 twite on the Oa couple days ago! Some results from survey of Floods at Loch Gruinart: 305 whitefronts, 101 mallards, 546 teal, 18 pintails, 24 shovelers, 115 lapwings. Couple ringtail hen harriers were also seen at Gruinart

Friday 11th November

Survey of Loch Gruinart was done today by volunteers and here are some of the notable numbers: shelduck 89, wigeon 455, red-breasted merganser 10, oystercatcher 252, ringed plover 67, golden plover 702, lapwing 85, sanderling 81, dunlin 120, bar-tailed godwit 57, curlew 91, turnstone 31.

Thursday 10th November

Yesterday, visitors Mark and Sally had seen a Merlin in Bowmore, they were in their car in the car park/ lay by down below where Islay Farmers used to trade from at Bun an Uisg. The Merlin was flying along above the road from Shore Street and then it veered off inland once it came along towards them...Along the flats at Gruinart, they saw a ringtail Hen Harrier. Up from the viewing platform, they saw a Woodcock and then later on  top of a telegraph pole  between Woodside and and Gruinart Farm, a Great spotted Woodpecker was sitting!!! On a run round the Rhinns, they had a mixed flock of Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing and a Mistle Thrush. This morning they saw a Merlin coming inland at Gartmain and just past the Gaelic College, 49 Pale bellied Brent were present. Over on the shore at Bruichladdich, Mark and Sally saw 4 Purple Sandpiper and also 4 Barwits. This afternoon, Bob saw 7 Greenfinches over at Kilchoman

Wednesday 9th November

Right enough, the rain gauge is more than  last month already...and up by 50%!!! At least, we did not have any snow!!!

Today, Michal had 8 Long tailed Tits at Gruinart around the viewing platform as well as 12 Blackbirds. At the office at Bushmills, Michal saw a Sparrowhawk. Coming back from Bridgend around midday, Margaret counted 53 Scaup and also 12 Pale bellied Brent at Blackrock. A couple of Curlew, around 10 Oystercatcher and 6 Wigeon were present there as well. Mandy had been on Machir Bay and saw 7 Hooded Crows and also 5 Carrion Crows in the burn up the North end. On the sand, 17 Ringed Plover, 18 Common Gull and a Gbb Gull were noted. On the lochan in the dunes around 50 Wigeon were noted. Coming away from the bay, Mandy saw a male Hen Harrier spoofing the many Starling present on the overhead wires. Here at home, I watched a Buzzard being mobbed by a couple of Hoodies, helped on by 2 Jackdaws. Mid afternoon, looking out the kitchen window, a Golden Eagle was having a go at a Buzzard, right place, right time... just great to see!!! 

Tuesday 8th November

I think that with the rain we have had today, (and still raining yet at 7pm), that the total rainfall so far this month, well it is more than October's total for the month, mind you it was only a mere inch, so possibly catch up time now!!

It might have been wet, but we still have some birds for you, mainly raptors... Mandy this morning had seen a Golden Eagle being mobbed by corvids over at Ballinaby. Gary saw an Iceland Gull at Gartmain. Here at home, the grass was covered with Starlings for a few moments this morning, there were over 300, glad they were nowhere near the bird food!!! Mark and Sally Johnson are back over this week, good to see you again!!! They are staying up at Sanaigmore this time and since coming over on Saturday their birds seen here include a Golden Eagle, White tailed Eagle, a Peregrine, a ringtail Hen Harrier and also a couple of Buzzards.

Monday 7th November

Mike Bell was in touch with his birds seen as he headed over to the ferry on Saturday morning. At Redhouses, Mike saw a male Hen Harrier, along at Eorrabus, 5 Pink footed Geese were present with another male Hen Harrier seen at the road end leading to Finlaggan. Thanks Mike for all your sightings over the past week. This afternoon, I spotted a Buzzard on top of a telegraph pole down close to Sunderland and then on the wires just past the next post was a wee Merlin perched up! Last week I commented about James having a count of 48 Whoopers at Gruinart, well Richard Potts who had been up on Mull, saw the same Swans fly overhead the previous day, a small world???

Mandy yesterday had a female Merlin on a fence post close to the phone box at the far end of Loch Gorm. Today, Fiona had counted 14 RTD, and at least 4 GND out on Loch Indaal seen from Bruichladdich Pier. Mandy had a count of 32 Rock Doves on the pier. On the rocks there were 3 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Barwits, 3 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover and a Redshank. Out on the Loch, 24 Eider, 16 R B Merganser, and 5 Common Scoter (2male + 3 female) were present. Along at Blackrock, 54 Scaup, 2 Goldeneye, 26 Pale bellied Brent and 2 Greylag were seen.

Sunday 6th November

Returning home on the ferry on Friday afternoon, James counted 56 GND while on the crossing.   First thing on Friday morning, Mike Bell had seen 40 Chough on the reseeds at Kilchoman and a Peregrine over the crag. Late morning, he counted 40 RTD, 27 GND, 15 Slavonian Grebe, a drake Long tailed Duck, a Razorbill, 2 Tystie and 50 Scaup between Bruichladdich and Blackrock, all out on Loch Indaal. In the afternoon, Mike had 2 Snow Bunting & 38 Chough at Ardnave with 22 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone and 4 Bar tailed Godwits over at Traigh Nostaig. Down on the "floods" on the reserve at Gruinart, Mike saw 570 Teal, 46 Pintail, 17 Shoveler, and a family of 6 Whoopers. Back at his cottage, Mike saw 11 Pied Wagtails heading in to their roost.  Finally, Mike saw a Sparrowhawk and 11 Fieldfare before heading off to catch the ferry on Saturday morning. As ever, many thanks to all the visitors who have kindly sent through their sightings for me to share with you all. Late afternoon, yesterday Mandy had been down on Machir Bay. Up the North end, towards Coull, Mandy saw 38 Ringed Plover on the shore with 45 Curlew, 50 Common Gull and 5 Oystercatcher on the rocks there as well. This afternoon, we saw a nice male Hen Harrier fly past as we approached Culbuie.

Saturday 5th November

On Monday, James had a Brambling in his garden, Fiona MacGillivray had seen a pair of Bullfinches at "the hedges" below Sunderland Farm. Earlier this week, Mandy had 2 adult Whoopers and a cygnet in Bowmore Harbour, later on she saw 3 Pintail along at Gartmain. On Thursday, Mike had braved the elements and saw a male Hen Harrier at Saligo and then a ringtail further on at Carnduncan. Amongst the alder trees past The Woollen Mill, Mike counted a flock of 102 Siskin. On Friday, Mike had a much better day, the weather was a lot kinder!!! High, over the crag at Kilchoman, he saw 2 Peregrines, a ringtail and a distant Golden Eagle. 44 Chough came out from the roost, while down on the track leading to Machir bay, he saw 3 Song Thrush with a Redwing present there as well. Along at Sunderland, Mike counted 400 Rock Doves. Also seen there was a mixed flock of Thrushes consisting of Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird and also a single Mistle Thrush. Up on Ardnave Loch, there was a Dabchick, 5 Whoopers, 5 Tufted Duck and 5 Goldeneye. Over the dunes there, a Peregrine and a Merlin were spotted.

Friday 4th November

Some birds through from Mike Bell, seen on Wednesday. Initially, Mike had 12 Whoopers flying South past Machir Bay .Down close to Foreland House, 7 Long tailed Tits flew across the road. A count from Bruichladdich to Blackrock produced 34 RTD, 10 GND, 33 Slav. Grebe, 65 Pbb Brent, 690 Wigeon, 49 Scaup, 154 Eider, 109 Common Scoter, 4 Long tailed Duck (3 males +1 female), 4 Goldeneye, 102 R B Merganser, 6 Guillemot and a Tystie. Over at Port Askaig Mike had 4 flocks of Fieldfare totalling 460 birds, 30 Redwing and a Waxwing. Over the low hills behind Kilmeny, a juv and an adult Golden Eagle were present, with another adult seen up out from Storakaig as was a White tailed Eagle and also a ringtail Hen Harrier. Down at Cluanach, Mike counted 25 Siskin and finally, he had a Sparrowhawk and also a Peregrine out over the crag behind Kilchoman. Yesterday Carl Reavey had seen 12 Whoopers fly South down Loch Indaal and this morning, 19 Common Scoter were present off Bruichladdich.

Thursday 3rd November

Should not have been mentioning the other night on how dry October was, as I think that we have had a day of catch up, with dirty, squally showers coming and going for most of the day...

Yesterday, Bob saw the Brambling back in his garden. Today, we have seen 3 groups of Whoopers fly past, totalling 28 in all. Gary today saw a Merlin chasing the wee birds in the barley stubbles over at Newton, up from Bridgend as one heads towards Port Askaig.

Wednesday 2nd November

Adrian from the RAFOS team yesterday had a Moorhen and also Water Rail on the wee pond beside Cross Houses at Carnain. He also had a walk through Bridgend Woods producing Long tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper and Goldcrest. Up towards Bunnahabhain he saw 4 Red legged Partridge and then, late afternoon, a juv. Golden Eagle at the Woollen Mill. Other team members had  seen the same Golden Plover flock that Mike Bell had counted at 650, the only difference being that they counted only 647, not bad going , really impressed that the figures were so close. Over at Finlaggan, they saw a White tailed Eagle and also a Golden Eagle nearby. Back at Blackrock, a raft of 50 Scaup was present.  Today, Mike Peacock had counted 48 GND, 9 RTD and 87 Common Scoter between Port Charlotte and Gartmain. Today, Mandy and Malcolm had flushed a Jack Snipe as they drove along the rough track leading to Avinlussa above Laggan Bridge on the high road.

Tuesday 1st November

Another month in, the rainfall, well the driest month so far of the year, we only had a mere inch, our friends over at Mulindry had almost double that, not that either of us are complaining...

Yesterday the team over from RAFOS had seen a couple of Cackling Geese on their travels around Islay. On Loch Indaal, a couple of male R b Merganser were having a difference of opinion. Also on the Loch were RTD, BTD and also some GND. They also noted numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare on the increase and also Stonechat seen all around...Carl Reavey has been watching the display of Bottle nosed dolphins from his office window at Bruichladdich distillery over the past few days... Also yesterday, Carl watched a Merlin chasing a Rock Pipit, with the Barwits on the shore not even giving a whit!!! Dave Pierce and the Naturetrek group yesterday had seen a Merlin on their way to Ardnave and then a Peregrine over the crag at Kilchoman. Today, down off Gartbreck, the pod of B n Dolphins were seen as well. Gordon and Pauline Yates had a count of 200 Fieldfare at Tallant, 4 Yellowhammer at Keills and a Golden Eagle up at Bunahabhain. Over on Jura, they saw a Sparrowhawk, another Golden Eagle as well a  Hen Harrier. Mike Bell had a ringtail Hen Harrier at Gruinart. Up along the East side of Loch Gruinart, he saw 2 pale bellied Brent, 42 Shelduck, 9 Heron (sheltering!), 7 Grey Plover, 85 Knot, 78 Sanderling, 5 Greenshank, 138 Barwits and 13 Turnstone. A walk out towards Killinallan produced a male Hen Harrier, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 distant White tailed Eagle, 280 Lapwing, 550 Golden Plover, 14 Snipe (7 flushed up by the Harrier!), 6 Raven, 40 Twite and 3 Chough. Down at Lyrabus, 5 Fieldfare. A single Carrion Crow was seen with 55 Hoodies over close to Storakaig, a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen on the Glen road and another at Finlaggan. At Whin Park/ Bridgend merse 530 Golden Plover were counted. Finally Mike saw a couple of Golden Eagle soar away inland at Kilchoman with 2 Peregrine also seen there a short time afterwards, late afternoon.