Thursday 22nd October

A pleasant dry and sunny day with moderate winds - but possibly just "the calm before the storm" as some dire weather is forecast in the coming few days.

Neil McMahon with a Naturetrek group are on Islay and finding plenty of good birds starting this morning with Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher by the bridge over the River Sorn at Bridgend. Further round Loch Indaal towards Bowmore they saw 5 Pink-footed Geese and 2 White-tailed Eagles and a Buzzard feasting on Barnacle Geese. At the Gaelic centre one (or possibly two) feral Chinese Goose was noted plus groups of 9 & 12 Whooper Swans 40 Brent Geese and 4 Canada Geese. Further on they drove the High Road and connected with the Snow Goose at Leorin with Greylags. (Nick Martin noted that male Hen Harrier spooked the Snow Goode and Greylags later). At The Oa were Golden Eagle, Merlin and Twite at the feeders in the RSPB car park. At some point they were in the Ballygrant area too and found 2 more White-tailed Eagles, 10 Fieldfares, while off Blackrock were 3 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers and 8 Long-tailed Ducks.

Elsewhere other observers were birding. Nicky Betts counted 13 Common Scoter and 6 Twite at Blackrock and found one of the Snow Buntings at Carnain. Up at Ardnave Point she found 2 White-tailed Eagles, 55 Golden Plover and 2 ringtail Hen Harriers - several more being noted about the island today. Andy Howard was over on Jura and were surprised by a day-flying Barn Owl. Mark Whitcombe noted a Buzzard disturbing a substantial number of Choughs (45-50) at Ardnave Loch, and David D. had Peregrine hunting Rock Doves at The Oa RSPB car park. Wendy & John Mattingley counted birds offshore between Uiskentuie and Blackrock of note being 13 Slavonian Grebes. Gary Douglas clocked 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the High Road and Clive McK. had a Woodcock near Creag Mhor at Gruinart. 

A note on the Argyll Bird Club website mentions an unknown observer reporting elsewhere- perhaps on eBird or Birdtrack (either way, not very helpful towards other birders on Islay!) - that there were 2 Cackling Geese present today.

So, a lot of predator activity today in all corners of the island. Eclipsing this was the total of goose species seen - the star attraction being found by James How who confirms the return of the Red-breasted Goose by the RSPB Visitor Centre at Gruinart this afternoon. That makes a likely tally of 10 species of goose on Islay today - assuming that the Cackling Goose report is correct and you consider Chinese Goose valid!!