Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd September

Tuesday started drizzly but cleared up as the wind went round to the north, where it stayed for much of Wednesday with very occasional slight showers.

The only observations on Tuesday were of a Turtle Dove at Ardbeg, seen by visitor, Ben McCook, perhaps the same as last Thursday's bird at Ardtalla, or perhaps a different one, a male Hen Harrier seen by Rogs near Bridgend and a Tawny Owl roosting near Lily Loch.

Wednesday began with Rogs counting a Moorhen, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Cormorant and a family of 5 Mute Swans on Loch Ballygrant, the three juvenile swans "looking good". In the afternoon, David D saw a Goldcrest at Kinnabus, while David W also saw a Goldcrest, plus a Wheatear, at Risabus, both on The Oa. Rogs counted no less than 32 Mistle Thrushes at Avonvogie Farm; flocks of over 30 are unusual here.

Finally, in the evening, Clive McK was watching lots of restless Common Snipe on the Gruinart Flats, with two flocks (29 birds) heading off, and another six flocks (a total of 61 birds) flying up high, then faffing around for ages before eventually dropping back in. Also, there was an Osprey hunting over the loch near Craigens.