Friday 7th November

Back on Wednesday, James had carried out a goose count on the reserve at Gruinart, with his tally coming out at 23,970 Barnies, 610 Whitefronts, 119 Greylag, 1 Pale bellied Brent and a Canada hutchinsii sp. The figure for the Barnies was as high as James has had on the reserve for time of year. Yesterday on the reserve, James had a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl and also a Goldcrest. Paul B yesterday had seen 2 White tailed Sea eagle at the top of Loch Indaal, one an adult, the other a youngster! Michael had a Golden Eagle, 4 Buzzards, 2 Ravens and 2 Peregrines out over the crag at Kilchoman at first light. Down on the "duck pond" behind Machir Bay, he counted 220 Teal, 20 Wigeon,and 25 Mallard. Down on the reedbed at the Coastguards' he had 40 Redwing with a mixed flock of around 95 Linnet and Twite. Over at Gruinart, well after all the rain, what could one say, it was flooded out, but all the same 7 Whoopers were still around as well a couple of Hen Harriers....At Coullabus, a first year Golden Eagle was seen, while down on Loch Indaal, 81 Scaup were counted. Along past Blackrock towards Crosshouses there were 170 Fieldfares present in the morning with the numbers up to 470 in the afternoon. Cluanach held a further 50 Fieldfare along with 2 distant Golden Eagles, Avonvoggie 54 Fieldfare and at Cattadale, 320 were counted with a further 70 flying South. Up at Storakaig an amazing count 2,400 Fieldfare along with 100 Redwing another 2 Golden Eagles, a male Hen harrier and a Peregrine. Keills held a male Hen Harrier along with 20 Fieldfare and 14 Redwing, 130 Fieldfare were flying South there too. The fields around Ballygrant held another 40 Fieldare while another 40 were seen flying South at Skerrols. Round the top of Loch Indaal, at the coal yard, 47 Ringed Plover and 9 Turnstone were present. Up at Outback Art in the fields, there were 70 Redwing and 7 Song Thrushes, with a GND in the bay itself at Sanaigmore as well as a distant Golden Eagle. Down at Ballinaby, 70 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare and a single Mistle Thrush. Finally there were 630 Greylags in the fields close to the Coastguards. By the way, we at least 2.5 inches of rain, little wonder that the "flats" at Gruinart were flooded...