Monday 7th November

 

Pallid Harrier, Neil McMahon

Neil's pictures of yesterdays pallid harrier.  No further reports today, but given the strong breeze all day hardly surprising!  Neil is away today, on the ferry to Kennacraig there was nice counts of 21 great northern divers, 6 red-throated divers, peregrine and 3 black guillemot. Thank you very much for all your contributions during your stay

Jonty and John reported 2 WTE and 2 hen harrier at Gruinart, while later at Bowmore harbour an impressive count of 120 ringed plover.  The high tides just now driving the shore birds high up and grouping them together more than usual.

Mike had a quiet day today, but still recorded 260 redwing, 330 chaffinch and single mistle thrush at Newton, 5 siskin and 9 redpoll round Loch Skerrols,  and finishing with 2 hen harrier and Scarrabus plus an additional one at Kilchoman.

Thanks as ever to all for their contributions.

Mary

Sunday 6th November

Only one place to start today and that's Neil McMahon's juv pallid harrier, first seen by him around Machir Bay and later re-found and photographed at Sanaigmore. It's a first for Islay, and only the 3rd Argyll record, subject to BBRC approval. A great find. Well done Neil. The link below will take you to Neil's Twitter where several great pics of the bird can be seen

Neil McMahon's Twitter

Elsewhere, Mike reports "Today 4 goldeneye on Loch Gorm, male hen harrier over the muir. 47 brent geese along the shore east of Bowmore. A walk at Gartbreck found 2 grey plover and 26 turnstone among the usual selection of shorebirds. At midday 2 golden eagle Cnoc Don. A nice selection of waders came onto the Gruinart wetland at high tide with knot, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, redshank and 12 greenshank. Also 8 gadwall, 2 WTE and 2 hen harrier."

John and Jonty Wilson are back on the island, and found "White-tailed Eagle 1 Ardnave and 1 Gruinart,Hen Harrier Ring tails Ardnave,Gruinart and The O all singles. Greenshank 1 Gruinart. Twite ca 150 at Kinnabus  but may be more as ring tail scattered them, 5 on the feeders by car park. Chough 4 at Ardnave. Two were great as they flew towards us and  landed only 4 m from the car at the waters edge and drank! Brent 22 PB near Bridge End."

Double D had two white tails at Gruinart...

...plus "Female Marsh Harrier at Ardnave Loch, 2 Little Egret from the North Hide, and a Barn Owl on The Oa last night."

Tonnes more birds on the whatsapp group, too many to type out! Thanks to everyone