The first Swallow of the year was seen here at Kilchoman this afternoon, while earlier on some birders over visiting Islay with "Speyside Wildlife" had a Lapland Bunting over at Ardnave. MAB
This afternoon James counted 4,916 Barnacle Geese, 104 Greenland Whitefronts and 9 Greylag while he was doing the Goose Count on Gruinart and up to Ardnave. The numbers of Barnies was similar to the previous count, while Whitefronts were down in total, noticably fewer in the fields, but more of them out on the hill ground. The Geese in general are appearing more edgy over the past few days, especially as their food supplies (mainly grass) are in short supply now. Whilst he was there James also had his first Wheatear of the year, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Greenshank, 1 female Merlin, 19 Chough all up round Ardnave. On Ardnave Loch there were 8 Tufted Duck and 2 Whooper Swan. James wonders if the Merlin was the same one that had been obseved taking the Snow Bunting earlier on...
Back down on the flats at the RSPB Reserve at Loch Gruinart, James noted a Lapwing on its' nest/ scrape, about a week later than in 2007. JRH
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