Monday 10th November

Yesterday up at Ardnave, Carl saw around 20 Snow Buntings as well as a Stonechat with 6 Red breasted Mergansers offshore. Along the flats at Gruinart, there were many Fieldfare while over at Neriby, there were hundreds of Redwings and finally back home in Port Charlotte, Carl saw a Grey Wagtail. Also yesterday down at Octofad, Liz Hathaway had a large mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares. This morning, Bob had a female Blackcap in his garden. On our way out this morning, just after the quarry between Rockside and Sunderland Farm, there was a flock of 10 Long tailed Tits, great to see.. Further on, down at the coalyard on Loch Indaal, 2 Whoopers flew South, no doubt on their way to Ireland... Mary today had a pair of Bullfinches next to the office at Gruinart, down on Loch Indaal she counted 25 Pale bellied Brents, 3 Grey Plovers, a drake Long tailed Duck, 2 Great crested Grebes, several RBM, a raft of Eiders and also a good number of Wigeon. Back up at Craigens, a male Merlin flew away from a fence post with a Sparrowhawk spoofing a mixed flock of Redwing, Fieldfare and Starlings. Later on, while on her way up to Ardnave, a Kestrel was seen.