Friday 14th October

Mostly sunny again, with moderate winds, with an occasional light shower at times through the day.

Richard Belter reports today from various locations: "Loch Gruinart this morning held the usual variety and numbers of species as described on previous days. Loch Skerrols had 2 whoopers, 50+ Greenland white fronts, c.30 teal and 30 tufted ducks. At Blackrock I could only see 1 red throated diver. Sanaigmore had 4 chough and up the Killinallan track showed greenshank, redshank, bar/black tailed godwit, golden plover, dunlin, turnstone, curlew, red breasted merganser, and in amongst the barnies were a sprinkling of brents"

Also watching at Gruinart was James H. who counted 19,135 Barnies, 101 White-fronts, 18 Brent and a single Pink-footed Goose. He also noted 5 Greenshank, a Ruff, the currently resident Marsh Harrier and a few passerines – Redwing & Bullfinch. 

There were a further 27 Brents on loch Indaal at Carnain noted by Mark.S.

Down on The Oa, Ed Burrell reported his first Jack Snipe of winter at Cornabus and David D. had a sprinkling of Barnies (193), White-fronts (15) a couple of Wigeon, and a Mistle Thrush, but still no Redwings. The bird feeder at The Oa RSPB car park is attracting Twite and allowing great views - 36 there today.

Up at Bunnahabhain Scott & Ruby were finding Redwing, plus Fieldfares in a small mixed flock, plus a close-in Great Northern Diver. (They later went over to Jura where they watched 4 Hen Harriers, single Kestrel and Merlin and 10 or more Buzzards).

Loch Gorm was the setting for what Fiona M. describes as a “dog-fight” between 2 White-tailed Eagles and a ringtail Hen Harrier this afternoon. Although very harassed, the harrier did escape!