Thursday 22nd October

Peter sent me though this e mail yesterday relating to the 2 Whooper Swans which he had seen down on Loch Skerrols on the 16th of October...

"I've had a super-quick response from WWT regarding the  2 colour ringed Whooper Swans that we saw on Loch Skerrols on 16th October. Here are the details:

Both are male birds and both were caught as adults at Caerlaverock on 14th February 2019. Both were seen back at Caerlaverock from October 2019 to late February 2020.

I presume that is where they might be headed this winter?"

Stewart and Alison McCormick had the following birds seen yesterday:  

Two ‘lines’ of Whooper Swans flying south west (a dozen in each) near Port Ellen, probably moving on.......    At the Oa, 2 Reed Buntings and a 2 Twite. Enjoyed watching 2 Choughs for twenty minutes not far from the car parking area on our return from the reserve walk.

Later on at Claggain Bay 3 GND and a pair of Red breasted Mergansers close in to shore provided fine views. 

Yesterday's birds from Richard came through as follows: At Gruinart he had 6 Eiders, several Turnstone, some RBM. also some Common Gulls and also a flock of over 200 Golden Plovers. Down at Blackrock, Richard counted 50 Common Scoter, 4 Scaup, 12 RTD, 1 GND, 12 Shag. Along at Bruichladdich, he saw 2 Ringed Plover and a Rock Pipit with 6 RTD and also a Gannet on the water , down at Port Charlotte, seen off the pier there, Richard had 5 RTD and also a Razorbill. Finally late afternoon, he saw some of the male Pintails displaying over at Gruinart, a distant W t Eagle and also a group of 15 Whoopers flew in.

This morning, we counted a fly past of 29 Whooper Swans heading out to the sea and on to Ireland. Then late afternoon, we watched a W t Eagle being chased by 2 Buzzards out over the crag.