Thursday 20th March

A mixed day with the weather with squally showers coming out of nowhere...Ed had nipped over to Ballygrant Loch at lunchtime and saw the Ring necked Duck amongst the Tufties. Bob had a mixed flock of 71 Redwing and Fieldfare as well some Starlings at Gearach up behind Port Charlotte. Earlier on in the week David Livingstone had "patially albino" Chaffinch in at his bird feeders. The Bolton birders today had 25 Turnstone, 1 RTD, 3 Purple Sandpipers at Bruichladdich, at Port Charlotte they noted 8 Common Scoter and 4 GND. Up behind Port Charlotte, they had 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush and 12 Meadow Pipits and then further on, probably the same mixed flock that Bob had seen. On the water between Port Wemyss and Orsay 2 GND and 2 Tystie were seen. Over at Ballinaby, a Peregrine was present with a male Hen Harrier down at Loch Gorm. From the hide at Gruinart, Mute and Whoopers Swans added to their list for the day, along with Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Redshank, Snipe, Lapwing, Curlew, Barnies and Whitefronts. They also had a flock of over 400 Golden Plover from the hide. Finally George had report of a sighting of a juv. White tailed Sea Eagle over at Loch Skerrols this afternoon. Tracey sent through the figures from the International Goose count carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday with the tally being 39,909 Barnies and 5099 Whitefronts. Thanks to Tracey and the team from SNH for these figures. The Islay bird nerds meeting this next week will be at 12 noon at Ballygrant Hall to walk to Ballygrant Hall and see what is around and hopefully the Ring necked Duck will be present for us to see... So if you are over, come along