Much of this period was spent birding my local patch at Hynish along with Whiskey, our new Beaglador (Beagle x Labrador cross). There have been daily sightings of Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, and a lovely and very obliging flock of 20+ Purple Sandpipers. In addition there have been 3-5 Great Northern Divers offshore along with variable numbers of Shag, Cormorant, Gannet and Fulmar. Raven and Buzzard are seen daily and there have been regular small groups of Twite. Merlin and Hen Harrier have been regular and in addition to both Grey & Common Seals there have been almost daily sightings of Otter.
An interesting sighting over the weekend was a Buzzard eating the remains of a 1m long Conger Eel ain the seaweed at Hynish. Very strange indeed!
Elsewhere on the island the RSPB's John Bowler counted 3424 Barnacle Geese, 662 Greenland White-fronts, 149 Whooper Swans, 4130 Golden Plovers and 3640 Lapwing.
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| 'Whiskey' the Beaglador in one of her less manic moments |
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| Purple Sandpiper |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Merlin |
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| Hen Harrier |
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| Otter |
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| Crossapol sunrise |
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| Early morning mist |
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