Sunday 24 March 2013

Sunday 24th March

The cold snap continues, at least there has been no more snow falling as far as I know. Full marks to the Electric Board boys for getting a lot of the supplies back on, not an easy job at the best of times....The Bolton Birders had been out and about today, over at Ballygrant Loch, they had 2 Mute Swan, 2 Little Grebe and 4 Heron. Loch nan Cadhan, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Whooper Swans a Little Grebe and a Tufted Duck were present. Loch Skerrols was quiet, but 4 male and a female Goldeneye along with 3 Mute Swans seen. Ardnave Loch had a few male Goldeneye along with Teal, Wigeon and some Tufted Duck. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen hunting over some gorse bushes on the way back from Ardnave. 2 Reed Bunting were seen in the game crop beside Garra Eollabus, with a juv. White tailed Sea Eagle coming from Killinallan down towards the shore of Loch Gruinart. At Craigens there were around 500 Golden Plover. Along at Ballinaby, they counted 76 Golden Plover, 18 Ringed Plover, 20 Lapwing and 8 Twite. Below Carduncan there was a large flock of Starlings and also 4 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing. Finally down at Machir Bay they saw 8 Chough. Dave from the Oa had a male Hen Harrier out towards the airport this afternoon, and another one later on over towards Kilchoman. Of  late down on the reserve at the Oa, Dave has seeing more Skylarks around.
For any of you around on Islay this week, the "Islay bird nerds" will be meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday at the Gaelic Centre just outside Bowmore. On Thursday evening, it is the AGM of the INHT, again at 7.30 followed by a talk by Edmund Fellows on "Photographing the Birds of Dumfries-shire"

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