Tuesday 1 November

Coot, Ballygrant Loch, Billy Stitchell

Driving home earlier today I was surprised to see 3 whooper swan in the field among the Highland cows at Ellister, apparently having mis-aimed when approaching Ellister Loch.  Later this evening, a small flock were flying south towards Ireland in the dark.  

This afternoon came a surprising story from a friend out walking her small dogs in the hills near the village, only to be harassed by a young raven who went on to knock the dogs of it's feet! 

Owen and Glynis set out to try locate the possible Pacific Diver: "No sign of putative Pacific Diver today despite a thorough look at the top end of Indaal. The words needle and haystack spring to mind! No BTD either, but did accumulate RTD into double figures and at least three GND whilst searching! Also three WTE over Bridgend woods and 42 Common Teal and eight Whoopers have suddenly appeared on Skerrols."

Louise had a good game of 'raptor bingo' between Craighous and the ferry on Jura this morning: Hen harrier, merlin, peregrine, kestrel and a WTE all within 15 mins.

Mike too had a good raptor day with 2 WTE and a hen harrier at Kilchoman, a male hen harrier and a pair of golden eagle at Ballinaby, then later a further 2 male hen harrier and a merlin near Storakaig on the Glen Road. He also had good counts of redwing - 250 at Kilchoman and 700 at Craigens.  On a walk from Ballygrant to Port Askaig he reported 6 long-tailed tits, 5 gold crest and 3 bullfinch. A coot at Ballygrant loch, at least 6 yellowhammer at Keills and 10 siskin at Ballygrant.  Mike also noted a movement of whooper swan, counting 31 at Kilchoman early in the day, and 12 later flying south over Keills.

Rob L. had a good count of 30 chough at Killinallan this afternoon.

Mary

Weds 10th August

Todays images from Billy from a walk around the Scarrabus area. 

Margaret reports of a male hen harrier hunting below the crag at Kilchoman reserve, and a sparrow hawk hunting in the garden.

At Port Wemyss, 2 chough flew over the house towards Portnahaven, and later a peregrine followed sa similar route.  A visitor here reported a possible hobby out towards Claddach.

Mary  

 

Thursday 7 July

 Cant speak for the whole island but certainly here on the south of the Rhinns, the heavy mist didn't lift all day.  Though it was warm.

Reports continue from Kintyre and Islay of several sick or dead birds along the coastline.  Nature Scot have gathered some to be sent away for confirmation of avian flu.

It does seem to be mainly guillemot at this stage. Difficult though it is to walk away, the advise is to not touch dying or dead seabirds but to report them to APHA.  See the government guidance by copying the following link into your browser:

http://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu

At Claddach today whilst I was moving my cows, I heard chough through the mist in the direction of the beach.  The ringed Oystercatcher adult was in the field with its youngster. Sadly the adult has wool wrapped between its two legs, hopefully this will work itself loose as it didn't look tight.  The lapwing chick lives! And is finding good cover among the thistles it seems.  Down in Portnahaven this evening 2 grasshopper warblers were reeling.

Mary

Monday 4 July

Well, what a lovely start to September we are enjoying in July! Still, I suppose we can't complain when we see the state of other corners of the world.  In short it was a rubbish day.  I nearly stumbled upon an eider duck near Port Wemyss, obviously a bit poorly given its movements.  On the nearby Lighthouse Island of Orsay, the Arctic Tern colony were making a huge commotion. From a distance there looked to be around 40 in the air.  Up at Claddach yesterday, a common sandpiper took the time to fly up from the beach to the house, where it sat atop a fence post alarm calling at me.  Despite the distance it evidently thought I was too close!  Also a pair of chough flying over my inby fields towards the loch, perhaps going up for a drink.

Billy was out on one of his hikes, this time to Loch Nam Ban, near Ardnahoe. He sent in some lovely images of a grey wagtail and a whinchat which I have shared with you here.

Alan is over with his partner this week and has shared his first day's highlights. Kilchoman Church, one chough, 2 twite, 5 raven. Kilchoman Distillery, one twite. Bruichladdich, one red-breasted merganser, one black guillemot.  Many thanks.

Ed reports of a sad Greenland Whitefront goose at Cornabus.  

Sightings are thin on the ground, but it not because of the lack of activity, simply a cause of lack of time for the local birders.  We are well into the summer season, despite my weather reports!  So any and all sightings from visitors are always a welcome addition.

Mary

Weds 11 May

 An other of Jims photos from the weekend, this time of a white-tailed eagle off to devour its hard earned dinner - a brown hare.

Today's highlight was a handsome male garganey seen from the south Hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart.  

Scott and the rest of the RAF Ornithological society have been enjoyed carrying out WeBS counts over the past 2 days.  Yesterday they surveyed Loch Indaal with good numbers of the 'usual suspects'. At Ardnave their survey included 120+ whimbrel with a single black tailed godwit among them, while at Loch Gorm they noted barnacle geese, and at nearby Saligo 7 golden plover with around 20 ringed plover.

They continued today with WTE at Bunnahabhainn, Gruinart and near Keills. Golden eagle near Bunnabhainn. A little egret from the north hide at Loch Gruinart.

Chough sightings from yesterday were around 30 at Kilchoman Church, and further 7 at Balinaby today.  I had feeding pair at Currie Sands today too.

Thanks as ever for taking time to share your sightings.

Mary

Weds 16 March

A gift of a day today, lovely sunshine and the welcome feeling of spring. At Claddach this morning a pair of pied wagtail near the shed were calling and feeding together.  More insects were visible as the sun grew stronger, a welcome feed for the wee birds about.  A pair of chough flew in late morning towards the coast for their share.  There was also a brown hare mooching about in the heather near where I feed the sheep, and an other 2 at Craigfad.  None were showing the 'mad-march hare' behaviour, but we're only half way through the month!

Steve has gotten in touch via email after a good day out and about.  A ring-tailed hen harrier seen off the high road near Bowmore, and a WTE flying over the low road to Port Ellen.  On their walk round the Oa they counted around 25 twite with skylark in the stubble fields.  In the bay near Ardbeg they counted 8 merganser.  Lastly near Cross Houses, a little egret.

James How has been in contact with a high count of 17 snipe in a flock in front of the south hide. 

Jeff reported his highlights as 7 fulmar around Islay's coastline, an adult WTE on the road to Port Ellen (same bird as Steve perhaps?), then at Gruinart Farm just after sunset, a woodcock.

Mark reported 6 WTE at RSPB Loch Gruinart today.  And, on a sadder note, 3 dead barnacle geese sent off to be tested have been confirmed as having bird flu.

Lastly, from my reliable photographer Billy who was at Ballygrant Loch where he saw both tufted and goldeneye, a little grebe, and a great tit pulling at moss from the trees nearby.

Thanks as ever to all who contributed today.

Monday 14 March

 We have Islay's first Wheatear of 2022! Located by Lucy Atkinson (RSPB volunteer) in the Sanaig area.  I'm sure there are more out there to be found. Always nice to hear their return.

Jeff was at Sanaigmore today where he added 2 chough, a ring-tailed hen harrier and one lesser black-backed gull to the days tally. At Gruinart he spotted the little egret.

A wild and wet morning was followed by a sunny afternoon here on the Rhinns, and the week ahead looks pleasant at last. Here's hoping for a some warmth and dry weather to dry out the soil.

Thursday 10 March

 Back on track now with todays sightings.

Jeff got in touch via email with a sighting of 5 white-tailed eagles at Loch Gruinart and a male hen harrier at Ardnave. No chough seen though, better luck tomorrow Jeff!

Chris via WhatsApp found the Iceland gull on the rocks near Loch Gorm house, Bruichladdich.  Later today had good sightings of  2 ring-tailed hen harriers on the Carnain-Coullabus road and near Grainel, Gruinart.  At Sanaigmore he spotted a golden eagle, plus some chough (sorry Jeff!), and at the head of Loch Indaal an immature WTE.  He also noted a lot of displaying lapwing today, lovely signs of spring.

Yesterday I saw my first gannet of the year off Claddach. Today the lapwing were displaying in the cold wind, or despite the cold wind.  Photo to cheer up todays blog of one of the local roe deer near Claddach Loch, taken by me for a change.  The birds are a bit too quick for my photography skills!

Tuesday 8 March

Blue tit by Lossit Loch 6/3/22, Billy Stitchell

A late entry from yesterday of a kestrel on the Oa from Chris, not realising they are a relatively uncommon bird here. Sean also sent in a video of one hunting. Always worth reporting everything for our records. Magpies, for example, don't breed here.  

Today Chris spotted 2 long-tailed ducks in the distance off Bowmore, the female scaup again and a Slavonian grebe close by the pump station.

John emailed in with his sightings from today: "In spite of the gale, I still managed to see some interesting birds. First off was a nice subadult male hen harrier at Lyrabus, then a very bedraggled looking pink footed goose with barnacles up near Killinallan dunes. Later that morning I saw 8 chough briefly around the ruined buildings at Sanaigmore. Then I spent this afternoon at Loch Gruinart where two immature WTE were sitting out on the mudflats, while 38 whooper swans were trying to ignore the wind and a lone little egret flew by."

Malcolm was out with the International Goose Count today where he enjoyed a nice sighting of a jack snipe while on The Oa.  It was a difficult days count with the wind shaking the cars and the telescopes! 

Mark at Loch Gruinart got in touch to say there were no more sightings as yet of the great white egret, however a sighting came through from a visiting camera crew of a whopping 10 WTE in the treeline near Loch Gruinart at the weekend, so really it is a case of being in the right place at the right time!

Thanks to all for your sightings.

Mary

weds 2nd March

 Yesterdays sunshine gave way to a cold and overcast day.  Bitter SE winds really put a bit of a downer on the mood after the delight of yesterday! However there looks a settled spell ahead. Yesterday at Ardnave, Chris and co spotted a peacock butterfly on the wing. In my garden at Port Wemyss a neighbours honey bee visited the daisys.  Hope today they have both returned to shelter! A reminder though of the importance of the early flowers for some brave insects.  I am also reminded not to be tempted to tidy the gardens and flower beds of the dead grass and plant matter too early as many will be sheltering within. 

Rob Hughs located the cackling goose at Ellister. Chris and his group were today at the Woollen Mill where they saw a pair of dipper on the river there.  Later, 12 chough at Sanaigmor.  I counted a larger flock of around 30 curlew at Craigfad. By the house at Claddach, a pied wagtail.  There was one in the village last week, first I've seen for a while.

Local hobby-photographer and the source of all my photos, Billy, was at Foreland today and took the following photos of a group of 7 whooper swan resting up on the wee lochan there - Loch an Raoin.

I managed to look back to last years February rainfall from James to compare. February 2021 gave 102mm or 4 inches, compared with 188mm or 7.5 inches of 2022! What a difference!

Tuesday 1 March

 Pinch and a punch for the first of the month! And what a lovely start of the month it was - blue skys and sun all day. As I drove 'up country' this afternoon, at Craigfad I stopped in a passing place where there were mixed flocks of geese both sides of the road.  On one side 2 white-fronts were stood, one leg tucked up facing the sun with their eyes shut. It seems the sunshine was appreciated all round!

The white-tailed eagles also appear to have enjoyed the warm weather - over Portnahaven this morning a WTE flew over above the bay, causing all the gulls to rise up in a noise! 2 immature birds were perched on MacKenzie Island, with an other 2 adults on a hillock by Claddach Loch.  Over at Loch Gruinart, Chris reported an other 3 WTE on the mud at the head of the Loch.

Chris also counted 250 knot on the loch, a greenshank and a ring-tailed hen harrier. At Ardnave 25 twite, 14 whooper and 25 chough.  On the loch there was a little grebe.

James has been in touch with the rainfall figures for the month: "My rainfall figures for you – Feb was every bit as bad as you thought 188mm or 7.4inches".  

Billy Stitchell at the Lily Loch this morning enjoyed a busy male great spotted woodpecker doing what woodpeckers do best, and some long tailed tits. He kindly shared his photos, again. Thanks Billy!

Monday 28 Feb

 

Last day of February and the first day of the meteorological Spring comes tomorrow.  It is very spring-like with pairs of mallards visible in the nearby lochs of Claddach and Ellister, pairs of birds courting such as 2 chough in sync over Port Wemyss this morning and the local pair of raven at Claddach; oystercatchers and lapwing back in territory; skylarks singing at Claddach and the Oa; and Margaret reported a lot of frogs and spawn in the ponds at Kilchoman.  The weather next week finally looks settled, here's hoping a bigger gap to the next gale.

Chris Mills has had an eventful day, the highlights as follows:

Purple sandpiper at Port Ellen shoreline, plus 10 great northern diver in the bay.  2 adult WTE seen on the drive there.   At Kinnabus on the Oa, 2 golden eagle and nearby a lesser black back gull seen among the herring gulls. At Kilchoman later he enjoyed a view of 2 WTE being moved by a peregrine, then a sparrowhawk hunting nearby.  In the dunes 12 chough and a displaying pair of ravens.  Driving back from Kilchoman to Bowmore this evening, 2 barn owl and 2 woodcock. The first of the barn owl seen perched on a gravestone at the old Kirk.

Kathy reported an adult WTE in the Ardbeg area, and Mike located the red-breasted goose near Coullabus. 

Todays photos are more from local enthusiast Billy Stitchell, of the Caol Ila black guillemots and a great Northern Diver in yesterdays choppy waters.

Thanks to all for your sightings. 

Wednesday 2 February

A few sightings shared today. Margaret at the Kilchoman reserve enjoyed spectacular views of a pair of white-tailed eagles.  She also counted 9 chough up on the crag at Kilchoman, the most she's counted this winter.  Mark counted 10 whooper swans at Ardnave Loch, and a little egret at 'smelly corner'. 

Forgot to report Gary's Iceland gull on Sunday, seen at Scarabus road end.

Quiet down my end today, although on my drive 'up country' I was lucky enough to see an otter in the sea off Carn, then a solitary curlew in the fields near Port Mor.  Near the villages this morning there was a particular loud 'bird' which kept us entertained...

The Northern Lighthouse Board appears to have been dropping supplies, or maybe staff to check the buildings, or maybe even just for the hell of it. (Photo by Tom Evans)

Thursday 27 January

 An other day into 2022 apparently! Malcolm pointed out my photo of the lovely snowy Paps yesterday was apparently taken in 2020 - I did say I haven't been up that way in a while!  A photo fairly cheers up the blog, but I will try and keep them up-to-date from now on. 

Alison and Nick were out with a successful day, starting by finding the cackling goose at the head of Loch Indaal. Also spotted was a WTE 'doing its thing' scaring the geese, and the other end of the scale: a merlin.  East of Blackrock, an Iceland gull.  Onto Ardnave point a single WTE, a distant view of 2 golden eagles, 4 purple sandpiper at the point, 19 twite and a good show from 29 chough.

Thanks both of you!

Thursday 20 January

It still comparably warm here, there is a green colour to the fields with signs of fresh grass. The geese will be in fine fettle on departure if this keeps up.  The scanner was on the Island this week for the first round of livestock scanning. A case of counting your chickens before they hatch, (or your lambs before lambing) and feeding them accordingly. I got a shock with 3 sets of triplets forecast in my modest flock of sheep! But Scan-man Ryan noted that most farms he has been to are up 10% compared to last years scanning. 30% in mine! A sure sign of good sheep condition, in turn reflecting the grass condition.  The geese on Spain might not have needed to detour so far for the mild weather! (see Mondays blog).

Nothing to report on the bird front today, luckily I saved some sightings in from Peters last contribution with his birding group on Monday:

"My birding group had a very productive last day that they all thoroughly enjoyed, starting with an Otter just outside the Port Charlotte Hotel where they are staying. We first went to Bolsa Track outside Port Charlotte where we got a brief glimpse of Red Grouse plus a young male Hen Harrier and a pair of reed Buntings. At Portnahaven we counted 190 Grey Seals and 25 Ringed Plovers on the offshore islands and some good Red Deer stags along the way. Up at Loch Gorm there are still 3 Pochard - now on their own as most of the accompanying Tufties have disappeared. Machir Bay produced the first distant Choughs and a flock of 35 Ringed Plovers. By the time we got to the Viewing Platform overlooking the S. hide in the afternoon it was glorious sunshine that stayed with us for the remainder of the day. Nothing unusual from the platform, but masses of the expected geese and ducks looking fine in the sunlight. Up at Ardnave we connected properly with the Choughs - the flock of 40 or so giving some fine fly-by and feeding views in bright sunshine. Turning our attention to the mouth of Loch Gruinart we scoped a couple of sub-adult White-tailedEagles that eventually flew over and spooked the masses of Barnies on the flats. A 3rd bird joined them, then a 4th from the direction of Ardnave Point. During this excitement one of the group spotted a Golden Eagle perched up, first on the dunes then briefly on a fence-line and in flight, giving some very reasonable views of a bird they'll not be seeing back home in the SE of England."

Wednesday 24 November

 The only landscape photo I took today, showing there was some blue sky! Definitely the calm before the storm as the next 2 days look horrendous, weather-wise. This is Claddach Loch, which was created in the late 70's/early 80's as a water supply for Claddach.  The positive knock on effect for blanket bog habitat is evident, and it poses a good example of what can be achieved with peatland restoration. The Loch is also a valuable stop over for migrating birds down on the south western tip, presumably a nice break enroute to Ireland for some.

All eyes are still on Loch Skerrols; David Wood counted the 5 lesser scaup there this morning. On Loch Indaal Peter counted just 5 greater scaup, commenting how unusual a thought it is that the greaters and lessers are here in equal numbers. 30 red-breasted mergansers were also counted there, so too were 3 WTE over the Loch.

Gary found the red-breasted goose on the Ballygrant road, near Esknish.  And Margaret has been in touch with a sighting of the resident golden eagle over Kilchoman.

Driving out yesterday I saw a flock of 8 chough near Octofad, towards The Gleann.  Not much sightings today from me as I was busy checking fences!

Mary

Tuesday 12 October

As my husband says, it was a bit of a 'mizzly' day today - misty and drizzly. Or wet, in other words.  My morning had me striding out in knee deep grass to fetch some wandered sheep.  Though they turned out to be feral goats (in my defence, I didn't have my binoculars), I was nonetheless rewarded with a lovely view of an adult pair of sea eagles near Claddach loch.  This is as good a photo as I can share...

Claddach Loch

You can make out the 2 black figures above the loch. Not the best wildlife photo, I'll admit! But it does give you an idea of todays 'mizzly' conditions.

Lauren has given me today's count at RSPB Loch Gruinart - 7895 barnacles counted in the mist, 34 pale-bellied Brent, 29 white fronts, and one pink foot. Richard Belter this afternoon counted over 20 whooper swan coming in off the sea to the loch. While visiting birder John Overfield reported a Hutchinsii cackling goose among the crowds.

Happily I saved some sightings from yesterday for today.

Peter Roberts endured an other sea watch off Frenchmans rocks in the South-West of Islay - "I tried another sea-watch from Frenchman’s Rocks this morning in a moderate WNW. At least it wasn’t raining and the visibility was good, but, once again there was very little variety in what was seen. I was there for 2 hours (8.30 – 10.30) and had the following (all flying south): Auk sp (mostly Guillemots when definite ID could be established) – 495; Kittiwake – 456; Black-headed Gull – 2; Red-throated Diver – 4; Diver sp. 2; Wigeon – 11; Tystie – 2; Dunlin – 7; Grey Wagtail - 4.  There were also the local Shags, Herring Gulls and about 75 Gannets milling about. I’ve no idea why, but the auks were passing through mostly in the first hour (over 400 of the total) while the Kittiwakes mostly came past in the second hour (over 300 of the total)."

The Horwich Birders were also out and about yesterday:  "Walked up Gruinart side [of Ardnave Point] with groups of waders on ebbing tide - ringed plover 210, sanderling 20, turnstone 18 and chough 20 which is half what we usually saw in the past. Off the point overlooking Nave Isle at least 3 RT divers showing and 1 guillemot. A sea eagle flew in and perched on the island and later flew across over point and off towards Sanaigmore.  At Traigh Nostaig the usual piles of smelly kelp covered in starlings and gulls and there were 18 very vocal chough around.  Small numbers of waders,- oyks, dunlin, r plover, and 8  godwits (probably Bar T."  They continued their birding holiday today with a sparrowhawk at Ballinaby, and 2 WTE (one adult, one imm.) perching on separate islands on Loch Gruinart eastern side.  At Braigo a pair of stonechat, while at sanaigmore there was 18 chough.

More from today - a snipe and 15 twite reported by Tim Daley on the foggy Oa.  At Claddach, 7 chough plus 5 rook feeding on the beach.

Currie Sands, Claddach

Monday 11 October

It felt a lot warmer today, which explains an adder spotted by Anna Hock near Ballameanach cottages today. I was out the other night with the dog and he appeared with a huge (healthy) hedgehog from the overgrown verges near Portnahaven Village Hall, much to delight and amazement of my 5 year old who was hedgehog hunting! (definately unharmed) Tonight, 2 tiny toadlets were crossing the road near the old Manse outside Port Wemyss.  October can often be a fair month right enough, but it is forecast to get even warmer this week so be mindful of your dog when out walking in case of grumpy adders! But winter is coming...

A lot of reports received today, apologies if I miss anything - I may save some for tomorrow so don't be disheartened! 

Among the day's records was a grey phalarope spotted by Tim Daley in a rock pool just North of Saligo Bay.  It allowed close views and the opportunity for good photos. Lovely bird to see, thanks Tim.  Tim  was at RSPB Loch Gruinart in the morning, and enjoyed a ring-tailed hen harrier 'cruise across the field'.  In the pools, among the 100s of wigeon and teal there was a male shoveler seen as well as a pair of pintail and 15 black-tailed godwits.  Up to 100 golden plover were in flight overhead, while he noted 8 mistle thrush from the roadside.  In the Saligo area, near the phalarope, 2 pairs of chough and 16 pied wagtails were counted.

The geese have continued to trickle in, Teresa was at Ardnave today and counted 1204 barnies arriving in the 5 hours she was there. Lauren has been in touch with today's totals from Loch Gruinart: 23 white front, 21 pale-bellied brents, 1 pink footed goose (all on the loch) and 6895 barnacle geese feeding on the flats.

Teresa was at Ardnave point for 5 hours this afternoon at low tide. On the east side she enjoyed a good day, her highlights were 37 twite, 4 male snow bunting, 3 cormorants, 13 turnstone, 11 chough, 14 oystercatcher, 3 red-breasted merganser, 6 curlew and 4 seals.  At Lech Gruinart one female/ringtail hen harrier hunting at dusk.

Out with his camera Billy Stitchell had a brambling with the house sparrows, feeding on a rowan tree in Ballygrant woods.

David Dinsley counted 2 Greenland whitefront and 3 wigeon at Cornabus.  He also kindly sent in the following image of a merlin at the Oa, happily digesting one of the resident twite. Resident no more.

Margaret had a flock of whoopers fly over the house heading towards Ireland, the first of the season for her. She also enjoyed views of a male hen harrier hunting below the crag.

David Livingstone had nice views of a white-tailed eagle at Leorin, spooking the geese there. 

Thank you everyone.  

Monday 13 September

Mark and Lauren carried out the monthly WeBS count on Loch Gruinart. Walking each side of the loch at the same time, trying to keep opposite one an other to avoid double counting.  Once they got back to the office and changed their socks, they can compare notes and tally up the overall count:

6 red breasted merganser, 230 oystercatcher, 266 ringed plover, 10 Knot, 201 sanderling, 741 dunlin, 89 bar tailed godwit, 195 curlew, 27 redshank, 5 turnstone, 61 common gull, 2 osprey, 3 whimbrel, 1 black tailed godwit, 22 pale bellied brent geese and 1 greenshank.

At Claddach yesterday there was a great norther diver off the beach, a wheatear on the wall there. Up at the loch a small flock of around 12 meadow pipits plus one rock pipit (that I could see) which one meadow pipit seemed to take a real dislike to! Busy chasing it along the length of a nearby wall in the field. Driving towards Kilchiaran this morning from Portnahaven, I saw a pair of chough sat hunched in the wind, back to sea.  It was a wet morning but dried up this afternoon, though the wind didn't drop much. 

Mary-Ann spotted 20 eider off Port Ellen.

David (not sure which one!) had a great northern diver and a juvenile white-tailed eagle off Kintra.

Ed caught a sighting of 2 osprey on the sand at Bridgend.

Saturday 5th June

 Well, this evening, the sun is streaming in through the big windows again.. but it was not until after 5 pm that it actually dried up, so needless to say the grass was not cut today, but tomorrow is another day, so fingers crossed for a dry day and get the grss mown...

Outside this evening, we had the 4 Goldfinches, 3 House Sparrows, a Willow Warbler, some Swallows seen as well as a Pied Wagtail feeding its' youngster, and also a young Leveret was down towards the pond.. just great to watch it as it was running away from us. Then we watched the young Chough flying back to their roost...