Tuesday 23 November

Orsay Island and Lighthouse, Portnahaven in a rather lovely sunset, around half 3 last Saturday.

The evenings are drawing in and thankfully it is getting colder at last.  Feels cleaner somehow. The crop of autumn berries have been cleared away, but there is a fantastic crop of berries in the Hawthorn bushes along the roadside throughout the island. As they can't be turned into jam or gin, the birds have no apparent competition. Though perhaps they aren't as tasty as the brambles! Driving through Bridgend there was a small flock of fieldfare in one bush at the edge of the woodland, and nearer the Gaelic College there were 3 pheasants that had taken the effort to fly up into the branches for a feed. 

The flock of lesser scaup at Loch Skerrols has been confirmed, reported as 5 in total: one female and 4 males. Nice record for Islay.  Peter also counted 9 whooper, 12 mute swan, 26 mallard, 27 tufted duck, 65 teal, 31 wigeon, 3 little grebe and the lone long-tailed duck is still present.  Peter also counted 25 whooper on Loch Indaal just outside Bowmore along with 6 mute, but no sign of 'my' little whooper yet.

Gary reported 6 bullfinch at Achnaclach woodland at Finlaggan, and 2 common crossbills at Finlaggan house.  A young golden eagle was spoofing the barnacle geese by the loch there.

Mary