Saturday 9th April

Thanks to Michal who has been holding the fort and writing the blog over the past few days while I was away down in the Scottish Borders...Catch up time for me, so some sightings for you from earlier this week as I forgot to take my laptop to access any e mails, oops... Graham Newton who had been staying over at Kilnaugton had regular sightings of 3 GND, 2 Red breasted Merganser and a pair of Eider out on the bay. On Loch a Chnuic, another 2 RBM were present. Over 200 Barnies were at Kildalton with at leastanother 150 at Kintra, alongwith 50 Oystercatcher. A pair of Ringed Plover were at Claggain Bay. Peter Gill on Monday had seen 2 Grey Wagtail at the Woollen Mill. Tuesday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the trees at Ballygrant, and in the evening a Barn Owl was seen at Gruinart.  On Wednesday, a male Hen Harrier was seen up past Gearach on the Rhinns and then a ringtail and also a male Hen Harrier past Ballinaby. On Thursday, a probable Goshawk was seen while walking the track between Octofad and Lossit. 4 Sand Martin were seen down examining nest sites at Kilchiaran and finally Peter had 2 Snow Bunting along the top of Loch Indaal on Thusday evening. Malcolm had been speaking with Donald Jones from Coull Farm who had told him the ever present Glaucous Gull at pool leading at Machir Bay had been seen was nearer to the farm on Wednesday. Peter Roberts yesterday evening had seen a tight gathering of 18 GND out on the middle of Loch Indaal, many with "their necks and heads buried into their back feathers". Peter can't recollect seeing such a large tight gathering of GNDs ever before.