15th November

A sudden drop in the wind to virtually nothing by first light attracted the remaining members of the team up to the hide for a lengthy sea-watch from dawn, while an increasing south-easterly in the afternoon and rain forecast for overnight also offers hope of some late migrants tomorrow. Totals from the busy 4 hour vigil at the north end came to 7 Great Northern Divers, 13 Red-throated Divers at least 1 Black-throated Diver, 12 'blue' Fulmars - with 807 birds counted in an hour sample count, 11 Sooty Shearwaters, a Manx Shearwater, 622 Kittiwakes, 20 Little Auks and 1062 Auk sp. with an additional 211 Guillemots and 11 Razorbills specifically recorded. A required Goose count used up remaining daylight in the afternoon but a drake Green-winged Teal at Bridesness Loch was a nice surprise during the 'drive-about'. The American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid was also there, the redhead Smew at Bewan Loch and singles of Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and Woodpigeon present on the Isle. As has been the norm in recent days, few passerines were noted but among those seen coming in off the sea during the sea-watch were a few each of Starling, Twite and Snow Bunting - with 14 of the later recorded in all.