Thursday 3rd October

This morning, Gary had seen 8 Pale bellied Brent geese down at the mouth of the wee stream  which leads into Loch Indaal as you drive into Bowmore. Round at Ballinaby, we had seen 6 Barnies resting up in the middle of a large number of Greylags. We also saw 3 different Stonechats while driving along. We saw a Hen Harrier out on the wing below Carnduncan. Coming back, we had a Heron take off close to us below Leek, it took off  out from the roadside ditch. Margaret , this afternoon up here at home, watched as 3 Buzzards were getting mobbed by a large group of Hooded Crows on the ground. they did  manage to take off and headed up to the crag, only to be joined, sitting up there by a Peregrine. Mandy today had seen 20 Whoopers along below Sunderland with some young cygnets, amongst them. There were also 2 of the adults having a sleep after their flight down...