Friday 7th October

A Sabine's Gull and also a pair of White tailed Sea Eagles were seen over the Sound of Islay today. On the reserve at Gruinart, James counted 3,246 Barnacle Geese, 51 Greenland Whitefronts, 49 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 7 Whooper Swans, 17 Pintails, 8 Grey Plover, 1 Peregrine, 1 Hen Harrier and the Pectoral Sandpiper. Bob was down at the hide and had seen the following, 6 Ruff, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 10 Shovelor, 150 Teal, 60 Mallard and a Little Grebe all on the floods. Earlier this morning at home he saw a female Sparrowhawk being chased by a Crow, while this afternoon, on a fence post a male Sparrowhawk was present. Out on barley stubbles beside his house, Bob counted 200 Greylags, 20 Lapwing and 500 Starlings. James count for yesterday was as follows, 3,120 Barnies, 280 Pale bellied Brent, 3 Whitefronts, 1 Canada, hutchinsii sp. and also 7 Whooper Swans, all at Gruinart.

Thursday 6th October

The goose invasion continued today as George reported that over 2,000 Barnies were at Gruinart while he was over there. On the guided walk this morning, Michal reported through to say that the Pectoral Sandpiper was still present out in front of the hide, and also 7 Ruff. Many thanks to Michal for keeping the blog going over the past week when I have been away. Not a lot of birding was done but we did see a Nuthatch, 3 Jays in our son's garden this morning, squirrels and a fox there too, numerous Magpies, Parakeets, only one Kestrel, Coots and Canada Geese on the River Thames as well, different birds to us apart from the Kestrel, but still great to see. Woodpigeons were 10 a penny, I know we have some on Islay but not that common. Then there was the traffic, so it back home to this cooler weather again, must remember to find a jersey to wear tomorrow to keep warm!

Wednesday 5th October

A bit wet day today which should keep the water levels on Floods up and ducks happy... Just a quick scan of the Floods and saltmarsh and hardly any greylags or barnies to be seen but 273 brent geese and a male peregrine seen feeding. On the Floods a flock of 180 teal, one black-tailed godwit, one female pintail, 8 ruffs and at least one pectoral sandpiper is still present. In the woodland on the reserve a bullfinch and redpoll was heard. Later in the evening James counted 512 brent geese and about 500 barnacle geese. The goose invasion has begun!

Tuesday 4th October

Bob did some birdwatching today from the Loch Gruinart hide and he saw 8 ruffs, two pectoral sandpipers, one tufted duck, female pintail, 6 shovelers and about 250 teal. Down at Gartmain he noticed the female pintail was still there as well as the peregrine. At Uiskentuie he saw 32 scaup, there was also a single shelduck on Loch Indaal and a juvenile osprey flew overhead. Back home he had large flock of several hundred finches with 6 brambling amongst them. James had 87 brent geese on the saltmarsh.

Monday 3rd October

A bit windier today compared to yesterday. White wagtail has been seen on the Loch Gruinart Reserve. Flock of 60 goldfinches and 20 redpolls were seen feeding on thistles. Down on the floods in front of the hide number of ducks is growing steadily with over 110 teal and 4 shovelers also a pair of mute swans with 7 cygnets. A visitor reported a white-tailed eagle from the top of Loch Gruinart. James had merlin, 4 mistle thrushes and male and female hen harrier on the reserve. Bob saw two different sparrowhawks at Port Charlotte as well as merlin and male hen harrier. Also at Gartmain he had 300 wigeon, 1 female pintail, 2 brent geese, 10 bar-tailed godwits and male peregrine. Visitors reported 30 choughs in Ardnave and male hen harrier at Lyrabus

Sunday 2nd October

Bob was out on Frenchman’s Rock this morning and saw big number of auks heading south quite far of the shore. He also saw 5 red-throated divers, 12-15 skuas far of the shore – at least one great and one arctic. On his way back he saw juvenile peregrine, male and female merlin, female hen harrier and a kestrel. Later in the afternoon him and Martin had good views of a pectoral sandpiper amongst 12 ruff from the hide on the Loch Gruinart Reserve and on their way home they saw 12 turnstones, 2 slavonian grebes, another 5 red-throated divers 14 eiders and 14 red-breasted mergansers – all at Loch Indaal. On the salt marsh at Loch Gruinart the number of brent geese is slowly decreasing – only 63 today. There was also a peregrine, 4 grey plovers, 300 dunlin and about 20 redshanks. On Gruinart Flats there was flock of 213 lapwing with 5 ruffs. Nick Wilkinson had a female blackcap in the Gruinart woods. Number of ducks on Floods is increasing slowly but surely – at least 50 teal, 15 mallard and about 20 wigeon this evening. Juvenile golden eagle was seen yesterday and today on the reserve as well. Visitors reported flock of linnets, goldfinches and twite from The Oa. They also saw 5 redwings, 6 wheatears, a willow warbler, goldcrest, merlin, peregrine and several buzzards.

Saturday 1st October

Bob had a little grebe and 2 pectoral sandpipers feeding amongst a flock of 16 ruffs on the reserve just in front of the hide. Female hen harrier was also spotted hunting right in front of the hide. On Loch Indaal he also saw 280 bar-tailed godwits, about 500 oystercatchers, 375 greylags and 50 teal. Back home at Port Charlotte he had a merlin. On the flats at Loch Gruinart there was 8 different ruffs feeding amongst a flock of 128 lapwings. Elsewhere on the reserve there was a mixed flock of 130 linnets and 50 twite and little flock of about 30 goldfinches. Rooks and jackdaws that roost in big numbers in trees at Aoradh seem to discover a new feeding ground on the Floods as the water levels are being raised gradually pushing all invertebrates closer to the surface. George saw a flock of 16 swallows heading south.