October 2019 Round-up

The month started with reports of a Yellow-browed Warbler along the Ness Road on the morning of the 3^rd.

The 4^th was the Dusky Warbler in my garden at Milfield, see previous post 'Dusk in more ways than one' for details.

There were four Fieldfare in the field around my cottage on the morning of the 6^th. I spotted a solitary Swallow 1 over field next to Gillietrang just after 9am when I popped out. An adult Little Gull was seen over Water Sound by Barrie around the same time. Back in the garden at lunchtime there were two Goldcrest and two Robins.

A Smew and a Little Gull were reported on the11^th at Echna Loch.

On the morning of the 12^th there was a female Hen Harrier hunting over my heather patch. Whilst a Stonechat and a Redwing visited the garden. Several Snipe were heard and seen flying over. The Smew (Red-head either a female or first winter male) was reported around 10am as still being on Echna Loch, in with a small flock of Tufted Duck.

Late afternoon on the 14^th Barrie reported a Siberian Stonechat at Westshore, which stayed around until the 18^th. The Smew was still on Echnaloch and 31 Slavonian Grebes and c150 Long-tailed Duck were out in Echnaloch Bay.

There reports of dolphins in Echnaloch Bay around 10:30 on the 17^th.

On the 18^th I got an opportunity to go and look for the Siberian Stonechat which had been seen still at Westshore during the early afternoon. However after an hour of searching in fading light I hadn't found it and it wasn't seen in the following days.

There was a pair of Reed Buntings in the garden on the morning of the 19^th. Lots of Redwing in the field around the garden with several visiting the garden.

On the 21^st Barrie saw a Willow Warbler in village mid-morning and later moning a Yellowhammer briefly at Little Ness, which flew off to the West.

A Little Gull was seen in Echnaloch Bay on the 22^nd which was possibly the same one seen across the road on the loch earlier in the month.

A surprise on the 27^th when I went into the living room to change the clock in the living room. Peering through a gap in the curtains I saw a Grey Heron standing in the pond. That was new species for the garden list.

Last report for the month was a Little Auk out in Echnaloch Bay on the morning of the 30^th.