Sunday 29th December

Another nice day. I had a walk at Ardnave, just up the west coast far enough to enjoy the sand, sea and big swells. Saw a few birds- small groups of Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the coast, 10 Whooper Swans on the Loch and a Hen Harrier near the farm. Bob had also been out enjoying the break in the weather. He had done a count at Gartbreck: 2 Great Northern Divers, 36 Shags, 1 Cormorant, 5 Shellduck, 53 Mallard, 176 Teal, 2 Pintail, 1 Eider, 1 Goldeneye, 3 Red Breasted Mergansers, 3 Herons, 50 Oystercatchers, 14 Curlew, 3 Bar Tailed Godwits, 5 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover and 45 Lapwing. Best of all though, not far from his house nr. Port Charlotte, he had good views of a male Marsh Harrier. Bob was out on the hill yesterday near Bolsa and saw 2 Red Grouse and a Bullfinch.