Monday 24th June

Today, Mary and Emily had carried a count at Ardnave Loch with the following birds seen, pr of Mute Swans and their 4 cygnets, 8 Oystercatcher, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Redshank, 2 Mallard and 3 Blackwits. Down on Loch Gruinart itself, their tally was  1 Heron, 99 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 36 Eider plus 13 ducklings, the male were all in different stages of moult, 109 Oystercatcher, 11 Ringed Plover, 5 Lapwing, 21 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 32 BH Gulls, 34 Common Gull, 23 LBB Gull, 9 GBB Gull, 57 Herring Gull and 2 Whooper Swan. Over the reserve at Gruinart, this morning Mary had a ringtail Hen Harrier