Wednesday 6 October 2021

Wednesday 6 October

A beautiful morning gave way to an incredibly wet afternoon!  In the morning at Claddach there were still skeins of barnacles coming in off the coast until around 11am when they suddenly stopped. There was a large flock of greylags, too, on the loch.

The Horwich birders have been in touch:  "Early this morning Coull to Machir Bay -  Barnies over 100, Raven 1, Buzzard 1,  skylark, mipit, reed bunting had small numbers on the stubble.  On the beach Sanderling est 20,  Ringed plover est 25.

Astounding numbers of greylags on the stubble at Coull and around the grass fields, a remarkable increase from when we were last here 3 yrs ago."

No sign of the red-breasted goose today at Loch Gruiart, but 1470 barnacle geese, 71 PB brents, 41 pintail ducks, 760 golden plover, 8 grey plover, sparrowhawk and white-tailed eagle. (James How).  The Horwich birders were also at Loch Gruinart today, counting 5 whooper swan resting on the sands, 2 pairs of mute swan with 2 young each, a WTE harassing the barnacle geese, and both male and ringtail hen harrier, and 2 buzzard.

At Kinnabus, David had 6 barnies and a single whooper, while at Gatehouse on Jura, Louise had 22 whoopers flying over. Mary-Anne saw a flock of over 25 long-tailed tits at Kildalton, very nice.  Dave Wood was on day release from The Oa. He stopped at the Whin Park lay-by and counted 600 barnies there, 32 brent, 65 curlew, and 2 WTE, with an other near Port Ellen, presumably on his return home before his tag curfew. 

Lastly, visitor Tim Halliday, was walking out by Ardilistry bay where there was a great-spotted woodpecker calling and drumming.  Billy Stitchell photographed an other in the Ballygrant side of the island today, though his was silent.

Thank you for all the sightings.

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