Tuesday 20th October

A good list of sightings through from Mary. On Friday, she had carried out the WeBS count. Her tallies were as follows, Ardnave Loch: 18 Mute, 28 Whoopers, 155 Wigeon, 1 American Wigeon, 1 Goldeneye, 4 Mallard, 4 Teal,2 B.H. Gull, 1 C. Gull, 2 H. Gull and a G.B.B. Gull. On the "floods": 2 Mute, 70 Greylag, 2 Gadwall, 166 Teal and 21 Teal with Loch Gruinart as follows: 27 P.B.B. Geese, 3 Shelduck, 11 Wigeon, 22 Mallard, 13 Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 9 R.B. Merganser, 13 Heron, 99 Oystercatcher, 64 R. Plover, 431 Golden Plover, 12 Grey Plover, 66 Lapwing, 40 Sanderling, 73 Dunlin, 23 Barwit, 135 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 26 Redshank, 3 Turnstone, 33 B.H. Gull, 81 C. Gull, 137 H. Gull, and 3 G.B.B. Gull. Yesterday, a goose count took place on the reserve at Gruinart, but counting proved difficult as a young White tailed Eagle kept on flying around, other birds of prey seen were a ringtail Hen Harrier taking a Teal in front of the old hide, a Kestrel and a male Hen harrier up near to Grainel, a Sparrowhawk below the visitor centre as well as a Buzzard on the flats...The Goose tallies were 18,657 Barnies, 24 P.B.B. Brents, 2 Todd's Canada, 75 Greenland Whitefronts, 15 Greylags, 10 Whoopers, including a group of 6 with 2 juvs which arrived as they were counting! This morning, Graham and Jo had seen 6 Black Guillemots under the pier at Bruichladdich with 2 G.N.D., 15 R.T.D., and 2 Turnstone seen from the pier as well. Round the Rhinns, 4 Buzzards a Golden Eagle and also 2 Whooper resting up. Later on at the top of Loch Indaal, close to Bridgend, over 300 Golden Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 5 Pintail, hundreds of Wigeon, many Barwits, thousands of Barnies and a small Canada, probably a hutchinsii sp. Mike Peacock had seen 7 Bottle nosed Dolphins feeding on Loch Indaal this morning.