Sunday 7th October

Back on Monday, Peter and Debbie Shearer saw a ringtail Hen Harrier drown a Teal while they were down at the hide at Gruinart, the Hen Harrier held the poor Teal under the water for a good 10 minutes before flying off with its' prey. On Tuesday down on the Oa they had a couple of Golden Eagles and also a Merlin. The other day George had an Otter in Loch Indaal down at Bruichladdich and also a Peregrine sitting on the shoreline.Yesterday, Carl had a Chiffchaff at Lorgba in Port Charlotte.The goose count carried out by James yesterday was 20,235 Barnies, 312 Greenland Whitefronts, 2 Pink footed Geese, 2 Pale bellied Brent and 1 Canada Goose parvipes sp. and 1 Canada hutchinsii sp. There was also a Peregrine watching all that was going on, on the top of Loch Gruinart. Last night on our way home we had a Tawny Owl between Rock Mountain and Sunderland Farm, usually Barn Owl territory, earlier on we had also seen the Otter down at Bruichladdich...James carried another goose count this morning, the tally was 25,125 Barnies and 455 Whitefronts.

Saturday 6th October

An early entry tonight, rather than a late one.... For sure a raptor day, apart the coming and goings of the Whoopers and arrival of more geese. Visitors had seen a couple of  White tailed Sea Eagles up behind Bridgend, coming home they had seen a total of 4 Buzzards and back where they are staying they had a Sparrowhawk in the garden.... This morning as we were heading out to get our papers, we saw a Peregrine along at Rock Mountain following up a solitary Barnie, by the time we got closer the poor Barnie was on the ground with the Peregrine circling overhead. The Peregrine circled 3 - 4 times and then headed off. Next visitor was a Hooded Crow, it also circled around a few times and then flew off. Finally a Buzzard appeared and circled around as well and it also flew off. After a few moments, the Barnie too decided that it was time to move on, and off it flew, looking none the worse for wear... A few moments later as we were heading to McNicol's croft a Merlin flew across the road. In the afternoon, we saw a Kestrel round close to Saligo Bay, it was hovering for a few moments and then dropped down to the ground. Shortly after it flew off, but with no prey. Have not heard today's goose tally, but will it have for you tomorrow night instead!

Friday 5th October

What a great day it has been out here, the weather that is what I am talking about, as I sit writing the blog at the back of 7pm in shirt sleeves, not because the central heating is on either I may add!!! Up the top of the hill beside the old church views all around have been great, over to Ireland, up to Colonsay and beyond to  Mull and then closer at hand Jura. Big change from the few rumbles of thunder last night along with some more rain.... David and Lesley had carried out a goose count this morning, at Gruinart, their tally was 12,380 Barnies, 50 Greylags, 2 Pale bellied Brent and 35 Whoopers. At lunchtime, I had a count of 160 Whoopers down at Rockside, about half of them were in one of the lochans with the others on the barley stubbles. This evening, the vast majority have moved on, in fact 15 flew over me while I was up the top of the hill, heading out to sea and on down to Ireland. Visitors had seen a Golden Eagle down on the South east coast of Islay when they were down there today. Forgot to say earlier that at the sheep sale today, the prices had not been very good.

Thursday 4th October

Yesterday Peter had seen a group of 10 Pink footed Geese over at Gruinart, while in the air, a female Sparrowhawk was flying high up. Bob had also seen the pinkies too, while over at Machir Bay, he had a flock of around 2- 300 Barnies coming in off the sea, rather than flying directly into Gruinart itself. Up over the dunes, Bob had a count of 7 Buzzards, no doubt eyeing up the numerous rabbits on offer...James today had an early morning goose count, 11,740 Barnies present then along with 43 Whoopers, 1 Canada parvipes sp., 1 Canada hutchinsii sp. and 1 leucistic Barnacle Goose. Some of the Whooper Swans present at Rockside/ Coull flew out today, but there are still some around.

Wednesday 3rd October

Visitors over here on holiday for a fortnight were down on the Oa yesterday, they missed the guided walk, but still managed to see a couple of Golden Eagles and that was before they went to one of the Distilleries!!! James did a quick head count on the reserve at Gruinart at lunchtime, with the scores on the doors being 4015 Barnacle Geese, 86 Greenland Whitefronts, 1 Canada parvipes sp and 2 Pale bellied Brent Geese. Late this afternoon, we had a Kestrel at the West end of Loch Gorm and further on on our return a Peregrine flew across the road off the moor between Sunderland and Rockside. The Whoopers were still at Rockside, some on the barley stubbles with the others in the lochans along with the Greylags and the 2 Snow Geese. 

Tuesday 2nd October

Apologies to Tom and Jo, I said in last night's entry that they had seen a Turtle Dove up the back of Bridgend, my mistake it was a Stock Dove.... Today there have been more Whoopers around, 63 were counted between Coull and Rockside, none wearing any collars as far as I could make out. The 2 Snow Geese had moved along the road with some of the Greylags to Sunderland Farm this afternoon, with a large number of Greylags on Loch Gorm itself. Over at Gruinart, Mary had seen around 70 Greenland Whitefronts at the top of the loch. The rainfall figure for September here at home was 5.5", and we reckon that we are still slightly drier than at the same time last year.... by the way there have been quite a few heavy showers today, catch up time already???

Monday 1st October

Tom and Jo headed back to the mainland yesterday on the ferry. Before they left, up at Bridgend they had  a sighting of a Turtle Dove. Down at Port Ellen, 21 Whooper Swans were flying South, from the ferry they had good views of a Sooty Shearwater flying alongside. Also seen off the ferry were plenty of Tysties, Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes. They also had a  light phase Arctic Skua. Over their stay they had seen 103 species during their stay. James today had a Peregrine on the salt marsh at Gruinart, Bob had one at his home, along with 35 Lapwing. Bob has seen the continued passage of Skylarks still moving through over the past few days, his biggest flock was a count of 70 birds. Bob also counted 25 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Gartmain. Rockside had 23 Whoopers and of 6 were still at Coull, coming up through the dunes at lunchtime, there was mixed flock of over 40 Twite and 6 Goldfinches.