Thursday 26th October

The weather deteriorated into rain showers today, but there were still plenty of people out birding.

There were numerous reports of Hen Harriers and White-tailed Eagles from various parts of the island, Steve Percival was out checking on "his" Barnacle Geese and relocated the Lesser Grey Shrike on its usual fence-post at Braigo and a couple of Cackling Geese at Coull (see photo below - one apparently typical hutchinsi, the other smaller and darker) where a huge chunk of the island's Barnies remain amidst the unharvested barley. He also found a Red Kite soaring over West Carrabus at about midday and a Ruff at Craigens. 

Malcolm Ogilvie noted 420 Golden Plover near Bowmore in the morning, and visitor David Fairhurst checked through another large flock at Gruinart and found a young American Golden Plover with them. I popped up for a look later in the afternoon and had a few quick views, but the flock was very mobile out on the grassy fields east of the Visitor Centre. Steve Ward also caught up with the Plover (and the Cackling Geese too), while David had gone across to see the female American Wigeon at Cornabus, noted again by Ed Burrell this morning.

Other stuff: A Brambling on James How's bird feeder at Gruinart at lunchtime; 20 Brent Geese at Gartnatra on Loch Indaal and 28 Whooper Swans flying south over Gruinart this afternoon.

Below are two great photos from Steve Percival of the Ruff seen today and the Lesser Grey Shrike tucking into a tasty beetle.