Friday 8 February 2019

Friday 8th February

Just as well that I kept some sightings back from yesterday, as the wind has certainly huffed and puffed all day, net result, no ferries came today with the service not resuming until the mv Finlaggan sets sail fom Kennacraig at 15.00 tomorrow.. The wind, here at home, touched 60mph at one time!!!
Yesterday, new contributors, Richard and Hilary Pickard had seen a couple of Chough up behind Kilchiaran. Later on, from the South hide at Gruinart, they saw the Green  winged Teal, a Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 6 Whooper Swans and also a juv. Golden Eagle.  Also yesterday, Ashley and his group from Oriole Birding, had a great time birding round Loch Indaal. They started off at the Gaelic Centre , just out of Bowmore, seeing 10 Slav Grebes, 8 Longtailed Ducks, 20 Scaup, and also over 25 GND, all counted from the college. Ashley reckoned that the conditions there were ideal, especially as the sun was behind them, and he never mentioned about the cafe or the toilets there... Over at Bruichladich, they saw 15 Purple Sandpipers. Later on, heading back over to Port Ellen, while on the Glen road, they saw a Golden Eagle as well as a male Merlin, close to Mulindry. Finally they had a male Hen Harrier on the wing beside Coillabus, but still no joy with the Canada Geese seen earlier this week.... Gary and Wendy Ruffel had walked around the tracks at Foreland yesterday where they saw Heron, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Mipit, Buzzard, male Hen Harrier. Later on, back at their holiday cottage at Carnain, they had a ringtail Hen Harrier, Great Tit, Heron, Jackdaw with Oystercatcher also there.... So reading between the lines we might get some more birds through from Ashley as he was "stormbound" as the ferry was not sailing today at all, but all going well, he should get on the sailing leaving tomorrow evening!!

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