Tuesday 5th September

Another hot and sunny day on the Costa del Islay.

David Dinsley counted a very precise 244 Linnets at Kinnabus this morning (plus a lone Goldcrest!). This prompted Jim Dickson to message that, as I discovered a couple of days ago, there were also very big groups up at Gruinart. He noted several flocks over 100 strong and thought there must be thousands on the island - but are they local breeders gathering together or migrants in from elsewhere? Goldfinches were also numerous with dozens of groups of 40-60 dotted about at Gruinart. Jim was back at Gruinart this evening to catch the waders on the tide and counted part of a substantial flock of Knot, reaching 320 before they flew off (this partial count is the largest ever recorded on Islay). Also in the area were 3 White-tailed Eagles, a Wheatear and 20 Shelduck. Earlier in the day Jim had looked at Loch Gorm noting an increase of Tufted Duck to 55 birds and an increase to 5 Slavonian Grebes off Uiskentuie.