Sunday 1st November

A generally bright, dry and sunny day with light northerly winds.

Mick Durham with his Naturetrek group were on The Oa today finding 2 Golden Eagles by the American Monument and a couple of White-tailed Eagles over the car park  (photos below).

Billy Stitchell was at Cluanach plantation finding 2 Bullfinches, 8 Siskins and 2 Redpoll. Along the Glen road were several flocks of Redwing and a few Buzzards (photo below).

Rogan W. was at Port Askaig in the morning noting Sparrowhawk (with another later at Storakaig), Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Greenfinch and 3 Brambling, 26 Wood Pigeons and a Carrion Crow with the Hoodies.  He also commented on a constant movement of Blackbirds and Redwings coming in. Watching the Sound from Port Askaig he noted a single Great Northern Diver and 38 Greylags flying over Islay to Jura. 

David W. was at Kilnaughton Bay finding 16+ Great Northern Divers plus a flock of Fieldfares and single Brambling at Risabus. James H. was at Ardnave in the afternoon seeing 2 White-tailed and one Golden Eagle plus 7 Snow Buntings. Paul Handyside upped the White-tailed Eagle count there to 3 - possibly the same three he'd seen on the other side at Killinallan in the morning - but Mike Bell notched up 4 in the same area. At Rockside Mike tallied 171 Whooper Swans, a Peregrine, 120 Redwings and 2 Yellowhammers. At Loch Gorm were 9 Pink-footed Geese and 1,450 Greylags along with further singles of Golden and White-tailed Eagles, 2 more Goldens with an immature at Beinn Dubh and 8 Fieldfares at Neriby.

I checked out the two hides at RSPB Gruinart where there were substantial numbers of Barnies and Teal but no Red-breasted Goose or American Wigeon visible with them.