Monday 16th January

After a wet start to the month, we have been having a few dry days of late although it is a bit on the cold side, but certainly not as cold as a year ago... Yesterday Bob had carried out a count between Bowmore and Gartbreck along the shore on a falling tide. His birds were as follows, 6 Mute Swan, 16 Shelduck, 260 Wigeon, 190 Teal, 61 Mallard, 28 Eider, 14 Goldeneye, 30 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Great Northern Diver, 10 Cormorant, 34 Shag, 160 Oystercatcher, 36 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 210 Golden Plover, 80 Lapwing, 3 Knot, 62 Dunlin, 280 Bar tailed Godwit, 97 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 40 Turnstone, 45 Black headed Gull, 282 Herring Gull, 10 Great black backed Gull, 1 Glaucous Gull and 1 Iceland Gull. On his way home, the flock of Pale bellied Brents were at Gortan at the top of Loch Indaal. Later on at home, there was a female Hen Harrier. Today, Peter had a count of 55 Pale bellied Brents at Blackrock. Peter was also commenting that he regularly gets up to 85 Starlings coming when he puts his bird food out each day!