Tues 11th March

A recent count on the reserve at RSPB Loch Gruinart, here on Islay gave us the following counts of these birds, 643 Teal, 175 Wigeon, 57 Shoveler, 50 Pintail, 39 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Heron, 1 Snipe, 173 Lapwing, 12 Whooper Swan, 6 Mute Swan, 22 Redshank, 66 Curlew, 1 Greylag, 1 Moorhen, 2 Greenshank and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. The Teal numbers are well down on the last count, as are the numbers of Mallard, but this may be possibly due to the fact that the Mallard are starting to pair up and have moved on. JRH

The wind as forecast has picked up since late afternoon, so we wait to see and hear what holds out for through the night. The evening ferry has already been cancelled! IKB