The Birds of Islay and Jura Published February 2026

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Thurs 18th Dec

James has just been on the 'phone with some figures from through the week. On Tuesday, he had done a count on Loch Gruinart itself tallying out at 305 Oystercatcher, 186 Curlew, 193 Bar tailed Godwit, 360 Dunlin, 27 Sanderling, 16 Turnstone, 1 Great northern Diver, 105 Redshank, 2 Long tailed Duck, 16 Knot, 2 Greenshank and 3 separate Hen Harrier. The sighting of the Long tailed Duck was a good one as they are not often on Gruinart, and more often seen in Loch Indaal when they are to be seen.
Yesterday, Wednesday and a quick trip round Ardnave gave a good count of 29 Purple Sandpiper, a Grey Plover, a flock of 54 Twite and a single Merlin, but no sign of Catherine's Snow Buntings. Again the Purple sandpiper was a good figure.
Today, on the floods in front of the hide at Gruinart, James counted 964 Teal, 145 Wigeon, 54 Pintail, 56 Mallard, 2 Whooper swan, 47 Shoveler and 2 Greenhank. The Pintail figures were a good record too. JRH
Thanks to James, for those figures.

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