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.