Thursday 10th September

Visitor Peter Norgate had sent through a couple of sightings seen by him so far.   "We found the Choughs at Ardnave Point , and 2 WT Eagles on Loch Indaal on small island between Bridgend and Bowmore..."

 Gary e mailed through the following birds..  "Two great sightings of WTE,  Yesterday one adult bird, hunting & catching Red breasted Merganser in the shallows as the tide came in. And then today both adult birds hunting and catching Red breasted Merganser around the wreck as tide was rising this morning."

 Jim Dickson today had seen the Bonaparte's Gull in along with the gull flock at Gruinart, seen from the East side of the loch. Apologies to Jim regarding my comment about the poor visibility, noting to do with Jim's eyesight, it was simply that the actual light was coming through from the wrong direction when he was doing the sea watch down at Frenchman's Rocks yesterday afternoon....

Peter had counted 13 Red-throated Divers - several still in good summer plumage, all seen off Bruichladdich Pier this afternoon -

 

Sunday 6th September

 Jim Dickson is back over this week again and has sent through his sightings seen today...

"A quiet morning sea-watch at Frenchman’s Rocks 06.20-07.10  included  3 Arctic Skuas, 65 Manx Shearwater, 28 Kittiwakes, 18 Fulmar, 11 Common Scoter, 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Divers. Good numbers of finches around Portnahaven including 100+ Goldfinch, 45 Linnet, 25 Twite, 22 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin. At Nerabus - 45 Chaffinch. At Gruinart – the adult Bonaparte’s Gull still showing well, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Wheatears, 1 Lapland Bunting."

Meanwhile Karen Graham is up North and sent me though her birds seen when out today..

"A morning walk along the shore gave me a flock of Twite with some Goldfinches mixed in.

Sparrowhawk following on along shoreline.

Wheatear also on shoreline along with up to 20 Pied  Wagtails commonly found here. House Martins are still around. 

Large numbers of mainly Herring gulls gathering in firth so suspect fish shoals are coming in. No sign of dolphins yet."