Tuesday 20th January

Yesterday, I gave Bob a hand to carry out the monthly count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck, along the shore and out on Loch Indaal. The conditions were ideal, flat calm, no wind and quite bright. Here is the overall tally, 4 GND, 5 Slavonian grebe, 2 Heron, 23 Shag, 1 Cormorant, 5 Mute Swan, 22 Greylag, 246 Barnies, 8 Whitefronts, 11 Shelduck, 38 Mallard, 171 Wigeon, 212 Teal, 22 Pintail, 1 Goldeneye, 5 Eider, 20 Red breasted Merganser, 12 Common Scoter, 73 Oystercatcher, 34 Curlew, 45 Barwits, 100 Dunlin, 20 Knot, 10 Redshank, 10 Turnstone, 1 Snipe, 46 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey plover, 22 Lapwing, 35 GBB Gull, 200 H. Gull, 10 C. Gull and 30 BH Gulls. Also yesterday, over on the Corran sands on Jura, Louise had a count of 24 Snow Buntings.