Tue 8th November 2011

A goose day- Malcolm e mailed with a record of 37 pale bellied brent geese on Loch Indaal near the Foreland road end. At Gruinart, Mary and I did a reserve goose count and found most of the geese in one massive flock. We counted a total of 9588 barnacle geese, 516 white-fronted geese and 50 greylags. Whilst looking for geese, we saw 130 lapwing, 15 whooper swans and a kestrel all at Gruinart.

Blackbirds were everywhere today, in small flocks along all the roadsides, including one unfortunate in the claws of a sparrowhawk.

Mon 7th November 2011

Over the weekend at the Oa up to 5 golden eagles, merlin, lots of redwing a few fieldfare, song thrush and blackbirds, 6 chough and a big sun. Over Kilnave a sub adult white tailed eagle.

Another lovely day and at the Oa 450 twite twittered in the fields. On the Rhinns skylarks were on the move, with 120 in one stubble field, watched carefully by a sparrowhawk and a merlin. A kestrel was seen on the Strand. The bright moon and clear skys have allowed the geese to feed all night, so all day the geese have been resting up on the mud. At Loch Gruinart the geese rested with a small flock of 63 golden plover.

Sun 6th November 2011

Sorry I missed a night, it was such a beautiful clear still night I lingered too long watching the fire works to blog. In way of catching up, yesterday Bob had- Great northern diver at Bowmore, sparrowhawk and American wigeon at Loch Skerrols as well as 140 scaup at Black Rock, 15 ringed plover at Bruichladdich and a hen harrier at Geannor house. Today Bob reported that there were still 2 snow buntings at Machir bay and whilst gathering the sheep I had a male hen harrier at Kilchoman. Another beautiful night clear and cold.

Fri 4th November 2011

A sunny day at last. Sorry got my report wrong yesterday the redwings and fieldfares were at Kildalton. Today there were redwings and fieldfares all over the place. Out side the house I had one flock 36 fieldfares and at least 45 redwings. Also at Loch Gruinart today a total of 4 pale bellied brents, 92 greylags and 392 white-fronts.

A few days ago you may remember we reported a white tailed eagle with a yellow wing tag which had a 2 on it, with closer examination this bird was found to have a radio tracking device on it, after a phone call or two we found that it was part of the east coast of Scotland reintroduction scheme.

Thur 3rd November 2011

Lots of thrushes on the move. Bob reported fieldfares and redwing at Port Charlotte and at Ardnave there were redwing all along the road side. Golden eagles also featured at Loch Gruinart with the 2nd year bird still putting the geese up, and adult bird at Ardnave.

Don't forget to watch Islay on Autumn watch tomorrow night.

Wed 2nd November 2011

It was a windy day with redwings blown in on the easterly gusts. The geese at Gruinart were moved around by a 2nd cal year golden eagle.

There has been a lot of leucistic birds reported recently and at last, after a few attempts, I have managed to upload some pics:

1. A bar or black ? tailed godwit at Ardnave.

2. A linnet at the Oa.

Mon 1st November 2011

I emptied the rain guage this morning a grand total of just under 9 inches of rain for Gruinart. The Island has been amazing for birds of prey this last month, with all the resident and visiting birds very much in evidence. Carl reported from Port Charlotte a sparrowhawk, a merlin at Ballinaby and a peregrine at Coull all on Sunday. Also yesterday I had a report from visitors of 200 chaffinches at Sunderland Farm. Today at Gruinart there were 20 black tailed godwit, 3 greenshank and 7 pale bellied brents. The American wigeon was still at Loch Skerrols.