Sunday 8th April

Along with 2 visitors, I went along with Bob and helped with Bob's count along Loch Indaal towards Gartbreck, we managed to do it before it got too wet! The tally was 5 Mallard, 21 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 56 Eider, 18 Red breasted Merganser, 15 Shelduck, 6 Greylag, 121 Barnies, 70 Oystercatcher, 22 Curlew, 12 Redshank, 33 Golden Plover, 13 Ringed Plover, 1 Bar tailed Godwit, 3 Lapwing, 4 Shag, 2 Great Northern Diver, an immature Greater Black backed Gull, 6 Lesser Black backed Gull, 30 Herring Gull, 20 Common Gull, 4 Black headed Gull, 6 Rock Pipit, 1 Heron & 3 Black Guillemot. George had an Otter on Thursday at Bruichladdich, the first he has seen there since August, and on Monday, he had 4 Shelduck, 4 Black headed Gull and 60 Common Gull. Today George had 3 Sandwich Terns, one with a BTO ring on, 2 Great Northern Diver & 1 Redshank all below Shorefield. The Song Thrush that George had found with a nest must have hatched out as he has seen food being carried towards the nest site. Along at the pier, a Gannet was present. On the old Distillery pond at Port Charlotte, Carl had a Snipe today. Visiting birders had been across to Jura, not a lot to report thanks to the weather, but had seen a few Stonechats, both male and female Hen Harrier, a Short eared Owl and at Feolin had an adult White tailed Sea Eagle with white tags, over the Sound of Islay. Back at Bruichladdich in the morning before setting out, they had seen a Sparrowhawk, and this evening on their return had Red throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and also the 3 Sandwich Terns.