Thursday 10th January

An early entry for once...Before I forget, the stars in the sky the last couple of nights have been something else, perhaps it has been that way to coincide with the programs on the TV...But at present the sky is overcast, so stargazing may be put on the back burner for tonight! Yesterday Mary counted 18 Fieldares on the Woodland walk at Gruinart. She also had 2 Chough near to the end of the woodland trail. Back at the office at Bushmills (still on the RSPB reserve) she had a Sparrowhawk, and later on another one along at the farm steading, possibly the same bird, Mary thought.  There seem to be quite a few Sparrowhawks around just now. Today, Mary had a covey of 12 Red legged Partridge close to the office, with a Raven in the woodland trail. Up at Ardnave, at the lobster ponds, there were 2 Chough, 1 Peregrine, 1 Redshank, 2 Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone, 2 Shelduck, 33 Oystercatcher, and a Snow Bunting. At Ardnave Point itself, there was a single Skylark, 15 Lapwing and on the ground around 150 Starlings feeding on the old cowpats. Dave, down on the Oa, today had 11 Whoopers on Loch Kinnabus and also has been seeing a Hen Harrier being seen quite often of late.