Monday 17th December

Yesterday, Malcolm had been out round at Ballinaby, on the lookout for the Whitefronts that were caught and rung last week. Malcolm managed to see 30 out of the 31 geese that were rung, the exception being 2HX. By the sound of things, they were all together in the same stubble turnip field as last week! Peter and Pia had gone out yesterday afternoon on the hunt of the elusive Red breasted Goose up in the Gruinart area, but no joy...but did have good numbers of  Barwits, Wigeon, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Redshank, and some Curlews. At Craigens, they had 2 Whitefronts with neck collars on, not from last week, but rung in West Greenland back in 1997! They were regularly seen on the Mull of Kintyre up to 2007/ '08 and since then winter visitors to Islay, not so far to fly! Up on Ardnave Loch itself, they had 15 Whoopers and 12 Goldeneye and counted around 54 Chough close by. Back down at Gortan, there was a total of 17 Pale bellied Brent feeding there. Today down in the woods at Bridgend, they had Siskin on the feeders at The Woolen Mill and also several Goldcrest in the trees. Back at Bruichladdich this afternoon, Peter and Pia had Eiders catching Crabs, the Eiders themselves in turn were being pirated by gulls! Also present were some Mergansers and Shags with 2- 3 GND further out on Loch Indaal.