Monday 19th September

Back on the 9th of September, Dave Wood had seen 2 European Storm Petrels and also a Sooty Shearwater from the ferry as he went over to Kennacraig. On Saturday, Jim Dickson had seen 3 Slavonian Grebe, 38 Common Scoter, on Loch Indaal out from Uiskentuie. Along at "smelly corner", Jim had 3 Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper and out from Bowmore, 67 Barwits, 44 Knot and 181 Wigeon were present. Finally, up at Loch Gruinart, 79 Lapwing, 71 Barwits, 18 Blackwits, 17 Heron and 2 Arctic Tern were counted. A Greenland Whitefront was seen amongst the flock of Greylags at Craigens. This afternoon, David wood had seen a Lapland Bunting flying over amongst some Meadow Pipits down at Glen Astle.

Wednesday 7th September

Another mixed weather day, but at least the wind has dropped a bit... Jim D. had been down at Frenchman's Rocks for a short time this morning and had 3 Leach's Petrels, 1 Bonxie, 5 Sooty Shearwater, 38 Terns, mainly Arctic terns, several hundred Gannets, 2 Whimbrel and a Peregrine. On Loch Indaal, Jim had 3 Scaup, 2 Little Stint and 6 Arctic Terns, while at Gruinart there were 9 Pintail, 29 Black tailed Godwits, 4 Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and another Peregrine. Here at home today, a Sparrowhawk flew over the top of the cottages and on over the fields, over the crag 3 Kestrels, were seen while down at Port Charlotte, late afternoon, 6 Arctic Terns were present, were they the same ones that Jim had in the morning?

Tues 23rd Oct - Thurs 25th Oct

Around 100 Golden Plover and about the same number of Lapwing (Green Plover/Peewit) were over at Killinallan on Monday. MMcC

On Tuesday over at Ardnave, 7 Purple Sandpipers were noted, along with 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone, 25 Chough, 60 Herring Gull, 60 Common Gull, 10 Eider and 15 Teal.
The influx of Fieldfare and Redwing continues, now on the West of Islay, but not on passage or in such numbers as reported previously. MS

On Monday, there were 5 Swallow over Kilnaughton Woods, and there was a bird of prey over the wood possibly a Hobby in company with the swallows. The bird was very vocal and the features noted could point to a Hobby, has anyone else seen it? There was a male Grey Wagtail feeding on the edge of a silage pit at Claggan Bay. On the way home , 17 Whooper swan were at Gartmain.
Tuesday, on the sea off Saligo there was a single Long tailed Duck, while up at Ardnave Loch there were Pochard and Goldeneye along with the Tufted Duck.
Wednesday produced 52 Teal down on the lochans beside Loch Gorm. There were also 2 Pink footed Geese amongst the Barnacle Geese at Kilchoman. Also noted were a pair of Whooper with 4 juvs. There was a dead juv whooper under the power lines at Rockside.
Late entries on Thursday included Jack Snipe and 2 separate sightings of Treecreepers, all in the Kilchoman area. C & TJ
Thursday produced 2 Little Stint at Carnain while inland a lot of Siskins have arrived. RAS