Wednesday 21st October

I can see that the blog tonight is going to be short and sweet if my computer and my temper lasts that long!!!

So here goes, give it a try... 

Stewart and Alison McCormick are over for the week, and sent me through their birds seen yesterday..

"Making the best of this dreich week on holiday visiting Islay.....

Yesterday, Loch Skerrols was basking in some rare sunshine. 100 Whoopers and 30+ GWF on the Loch, and good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings in the field by the access road. At Machir Bay, 35 Ringed Plovers in the field overlooking the beach, a single Turnstone on the beach. A male Merlin on the phone wires near Kilchoman was a bonus as we headed back in the rain. "

Thanks for your birds folks...

Richard Belter had a Golden Eagle seen over the reserve at Gruinart yesterday and from the North hide, he saw a ringtail Hen Harrier. Later on when he was driving over the hill between Gruinart and Loch Gorm, he saw another ringtail Hen Harrier who was having a tussle with a Merlin. Finally, Richard had seen the Swans and also the Whitefronts in at Loch Skerrols as well. 

Mike Hill yesterday had seen these birds as follows:

"Thanks for the info regarding Golden Eagles. We had tried The Oa on Sunday without luck but was lucky enough to see one late this afternoon on the west side of the road back to Kilchoman from Loch Indaal. It was distant but we watched it for around 5 minutes. A great sight. Also had at least 8 GWF geese along the road in with the barnies and greylags. Had a look around Bowmore this morning and this afternoon for the Rose-coloured Starling but no joy. On the rock sea-wall at Bowmore this afternoon were 30+ Ringed Plover and around 20 Dunlin. Down at Port Ellen there was 6 Red-breasted Mergansers off the beach"

 Eddie and Elaine had been out and about today seeing the following birds for us...

"We spent some time on the Oa today, sunbathing in the unseasonably balmy weather and were somewhat surprised to find a Common Whitethroat, sat on the gate by the farm no more than three yards from us. We seem to be specialising in late summer visitors on this trip!

On the way there, we had excellent views of a Barn Owl at Blackrock, on the grassland in front of the Sunderland memorial, at about 9 a.m. "