Wednesday 19th November

Stop press - I have heard a report that a Rough Legged Buzzard has been seen near Port Charlotte. Keep a look out. That was James earlier on with the message... I have been off Islay down seeing family in Surrey for the past few days, so thanks to James for writing the blog in my absence. Down in Surrey, we had seen Jays, Grey Squirrels, Magpies, 7 together one day we were out. Another trip produced several Coots and Moorhens neither of which are that common to us, Green Parakeets with a lack of wee birds seen or not seen as was the case! The odd Starling was noted and a Robin...Back here this morning, in the machir adjacent to the house there were many Greenland whitefronted Geese along with some Barnies. Going down towards the Coastguards this morning, amongst the mixed flock of Starlings, Fieldfares and Redwings there was a leucistic Fieldfare. Armin spotted a ringtail Hen Harrier at the top of Loch Gorm with another over at Gruinart. On Monday evening, just at the darkening, he had an Otter over at Saligo Bay. This afternoon, a low flying fighter jet screamed over and put all the geese up and followed soon after by another, and they wonder how they get bird strikes!!!

Tuesday 11th November

Just as well that I kept some sightings back from yesterday, as the weather here today has not been that great, although some hardy souls may well have been out... Down on the Oa, Dave and his team had been out carrying out webs counts as well as Farmland Bird surveys as well. Highlights were as follows, 540 Twite, 120 Rock Dove, 40 Fieldfare, 1 Goosander and also 51 Teal. Also seen were a Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, 2 Hen Harriers, 3 Buzzards and also 2 Golden Eagles. Over on the Rhinns, up Glen Mhor, Bob had a female Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Golden Eagle, male Hen Harrier, an adult Rough legged Buzzard being mobbed by 3 "local" Buzzard and then it was pursued by a pair of Sparrowhawks! Yesterday the "vols" at Gruinart had carried the webs count on Ardnave Loch with the scores on the doors tallying through at 2 Mute Swan, 3 Whoopers, 51 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 2 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye, and a Dabchick. On Loch Gruinart, they had 6 Whoopers, 4 Greylags, 54 Shelduck, 202 Wigeon, 10 Mallard, 17 RBM, 1 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 10 Heron, 155 Oystercatcher, 1165 Golden Plover ,297 Lapwing, 90 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin, 30 Barwit, 325 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 178 Redshank, 5 Turnstone, 2 BH Gull, 19 C Gull, 25 LBB Gull 4 GBB Gull and 12 H Gulls. Here at home this morning a ringtail Hen Harrier flew past putting up all the of the birds on the ground up in a flat spin... This afternoon, the Jackdaws were mimicking the Starlings with a synchronised flypast, not quite as nimble as the Starlings but quite impressive all the same...