Thursday 26th March

A bit cooler over here today, at least we have no snow!!!! Yesterday, the Horwich birders had a great day birding. On Loch Indaal, out from Uiskentuie they had 6 Long tailed Ducks, close at hand. Also seen from there was a Goldeneye, 8 Common scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 4 GND and 35 Eiders, a good start... Just round at Blackrock, there were 11 Pale bellied Brent Geese. 2 Goldcrest were present in Ballygrant Woods. A further GND was on the Sound of Islay off Bunnahabhain with Redpolls seen up close to Bunnahabhain as well. Further Redpolls were seen down around Lily Loch as well as a couple of Long tailed Tits. 4 Tufted Ducks were on Lily Loch with a further 6 on Loch Allan. At Finlaggan, a Dabchick was seen with 4 Crossbills there too. Another Dabchick was on Loch nan Cadhan, as were 2 Mute Swans. Nearby they saw 2 Reed Buntings. On their way home, a distant White tailed Sea Eagle was seen. Also yesterday, the Northamptonshire birders under Neil McMahon's leadership had been over on Jura and a great time watching a couple of Golden Eagles attempting to force a Red Deer over a steep incline, but no joy!!!