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.