Tuesday 17th January

Down where the stream enters Loch Indaal at Gartmain, today we counted 18 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 8 Turnstone, 28 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 7 wigeon and an Iceland Gull The white winged Gull discussion carries on, today James saw an Iceland Gull on the reserve at Gruinart, another at "smelly corner" and a third at Bowmore and also 2 Glaucous Gulls at Lyrabus. Mary had been out goose counting and had seen a Glaucous at the head of Loch Gruinart, and 2 Iceland Gulls at Killinallan. Peter and Pia had checked back from Gartbreck today and he reckons that we have at least 5 Icelands and more than 6 Glaucous Gulls. He also noted 3 early returning adult Lesser black backed Gulls at Gartbreck amongst the large number of Herring Gulls present. Malcolm had also been out goose counting, but on a different route to Mary, and on Loch Skerrols there was a Mute Swan family present with 8 Cygnets, also there were another 9 adult Mute Swans and 4 adult Whooper Swans.