Thursday 7th November

Windier, but still mostly grey, though the sun did try again to break through in the afternoon.

Yesterday, George Jackson had 2 Fieldfares close to Carnain, then later in the evening near Uiskentuie a Barn Owl. 

Most of the bird news today comes from Neil McMahon with his Naturetrek group who seem to have travelled widely across the island. 2 Pink-footed Geese were seen in fields between Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich where a Red-Throated Diver was offshore. Loch Skerrols produced a Goldeneye, two White-tailed Eagles, a male Brambling, 2 Bullfinches, 20+ Siskins, a Redpoll and 2 Whooper Swans flying by. They also had what may have been a Hawfinch zip past. There has been quite an influx from the continent into the UK in the past week or two, and at least a few might be expected or hoped-for up here.

Up at Bowmore Neil had a Kingfisher in Bowmore harbour along with a few Eiders, with a hunting Golden Eagle up towards Cruach from Bowmore where a flock of 7 Bullfinches and the first sizeable flock of fieldfares were counted. Eight Whooper Swans were at Imeraval, just outside Port Ellen and 6  at Cornabus shortly after - possibly some of the same birds. South of Cornabus a male Hen Harrier popped up and at The Oa car park there were the usual c.25 Twite on the feeders, including a colour-ringed bird - (metal ring over blue on left leg + two yellow rings on right) probably one ringed here in the previous winters. We'll find out the origins later and let you know. Neil Mc. finished the day with a pre-roost gathering of c.50 Ravens on the High Road between Port Ellen and Laggan Bridge.

Other than the above, David Dinsley had a Woodcock at The Oa car park and Julie Meikle had a White-tailed Eagle over Loch Gruinart another Hen Harrier on the road to The Oa and Whooper Swans on Ardnave loch. Mike Bell, on his last day here had a couple of Hen Harriers, a young White-tailed Eagle and juvenile Golden Eagle, plus a Ruff in the Golden Plover flock at Gruinart. Up at Killinallan he noted a lot of waders roosting on the morning tide: 436 Bar-tailed Godwit, 415 Dunlin, 57 Turnstone, 18 Sanderling and 13 Greenshank the most notable along with 65 Twite.