Monday 14th February

A brighter, sunnier, mostly dry day with moderate northerly winds inspired Jim Dickson to pop over to Islay for the day to catch up on the Lesser Scaup on Loch Skerrols. We spent a productive day, finding 4 Lesser Scaup still present – three could be some of the little group that has been with us since late autumn 2021 – a 1W male and 2 1W females. The fourth bird was the recently reported new arrival – a much “spiffier-looking” adult male. Jim managed to get at least a few record shots of these birds which he’ll send on later.

There were also 17 Tufted Ducks, 130 Teal and single Little Grebe, juv Mute Swan and Goldeneye at Skerrols. Along the way we saw an immature Iceland Gull at Bridgend and 4 Greater Scaup off Blackrock along with a high count of c.800 Common Gulls just north of Bruichladdich.

Thanks to two sets of visiting birders for further contributions to the day's observations:

Barry Reed joined the WhatsApp group today and sent in the following sightings: 3 Great Northern and single Red-throated Diver and Purple Sandpiper at Bruichladdich; 20 Chough and 15 Twite at Sanaigmore; 11 Whooper Swans, 4 Goldeneye and 11 Choughs at Ardnave; a male Hen Harrier on Gruinart flats and a Barn Owl at Lyrabus.

Karim & Ellen Labib sent in some notes for this afternoon birding on the Rhinns – 2 Little Egrets and 100 Golden Plover at Loch Gruinart, followed by a male Hen Harrier and female Merlin on their way from there to Loch Gorm and a couple of White-tailed Eagles and 2 Chough up at Kilchoman.