Tuesday 25th March

A glorious day over here, what a difference a day can make, we are all going round with a broad smile on our faces... This afternoon,Peter had spent some time in the "new hide" at Gruinart, time well spent as had 2 Greenshank, a flock of around 700 Golden Plover and to top it all, a fine drake Green winged Teal. Back home, Peter had 2 GND and 3 Black Guillemots off Bruichladdich Pier. Yesterday, the Bolton birders had 2 Siskins on the nut feedr outside their cottage, on the seed feeder Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Starling, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blackbird and Robin. Over at Kildalton they saw 6 Yellowhammers and around 30 Chaffinches on the feeders at the Keepers cottage there. At Ardlistillery, over the Bay there was a Golden Eagle as well as 2 Buzzards! Offshore on the water were 4 R B Merganser, 4 Shelduck and 1 RTD. Along at Claggan Bay they saw 2 GND and 7 Gannets. Ardtalla in difficult, windy conditions, 2 GND, 4 R B Merganser,, 2 Mute Swan, also Shelduck, Shag, Heron and Eider. In one of the fields there, 55 Oystercatcher, 17 Ringed Plover, 60 Skylark were all feeding close together. The even windier Oa proved difficult too, only a female Merlin and pr of Stonechats! Off Kintra, 2 Gannets were seen. On the way home, a ringtail Hen harrier was seen. The Lincs birders had seen a Golden Eagle at less than 50 metres away! Later on in the day they had a Sparrowhawk at Sunderland, another over towards Saligo, Chough behind Machir Bay, Snow Bunting at Ballinaby, a Peregrine there too with a further 2 towards Bunnahabhain. Mulindry, a male Hen Harrier while down at Red Lodge and the Laggan Bridge, a ringtail Hen Harrier was sparring with a Buzzard.. a great day for them!!! John and Kenny had good day yesterday as well, starting off with a Barn Owl over at Eorrabus. Loch Indaal, Common Scoter, Slav Grebe, Ringed Plover and Pale bellied Brent were added to their list for the week. Up to Sanaigmore, more Stonehats and a Buzzard before heading to the shelter of one of the hides at Gruinart where they saw a flock of Twite, Greenshank, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail and Blackwits. They also saw a pr of Rooks going through the full mating display in the field beside the carpark at Gruinart! Finally, they had 2 Golden Eagles as they headed out to Bunnahabhain... A good number and variety of birds on a rather windy day....