Saturday 2nd January

Marsali Thomson sent trough her rainfall figures from Mulindry for the year. Her tally came in at 67.2" for 2015, a bit drier than the previous year when it came to 70.24", see these folk that live near the hills... Visiting birder Dave yesterday had seen 2 Long tailed Ducks, 1 R T Diver, 3 GND, 1 Slav Grebe, 79 Scaup, 30 Common Scoter and a Siskin fly over Loch Indaal. Over the hills on the top side of the road towards Ballygrant from Bridgend, 2 W T Sea Eagle with a pair of Golden Eagles displaying as well. Further on down the Glen road, over the hills another pair of Golden Eagles displaying and talon locking , watched for an hour! Also seen out there was another WTSE and also a ringtail Hen Harrier. Over at Ardnave, over 40 Chough were present, 9 Golden Plover with 8 Whoopers and 10 Goldeneye on Ardnave Loch. Loch Gruinart held another ringtail, 6 Pintail and 5 Whoopers. Gary and Sam had seen the pr of WTSE as well, probably the pair that Dave and Sian had seen. Gary also had Ravens and a Buzzard out behind his house. In their garden, the bird feeders have busy with Blue Tit, Great Tit & Coal Tit with Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch present as well. Redwing and Fieldfare were moving through the wee wood behind their house and also some more Blackbirds noted too...Today was visiting birders George and Pat Jackson's last day before leaving this afternoon. A final few birds from them included 34 Golden Plover, 7 Knot and a single Rock Pipit seen along the Big stand. Before heading to the ferry, they had a cracking male Hen Harrier following the stream out in front of their son's house and then it flew directly over the house... Mike Peacock today had a count of 45 45 Pale belied Brent on Loch Indaal up below the coal yard. Yesterday, Mike had 7 Kittiwake flying South past Port Charlotte and a new tick from his living room, a Peregrine.