Turday 20th February

Ed Burrell was in touch last night as follows:

"Just to say I've had two new birds for the farm today... A Moorhen and a drake Goosander. Gets us up to 96 now.".. Wonder what will bring the ton up?! Keep it up Ed, and you will get the magic 100 soon...

Gary and Wendy had been out for a wee while yesterday,

"What a miserable day ; definitely not much about. This is what we have seen:

Carnain: Barnies, Greylags, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Curlew,  Chaffinch, Robin and a very smart adult Grey Heron stalking food in the marsh near the cottage. Off Bowmore: Scaup, Eider duck, and Wigeon were present."

"John Matthews and the Port Ellen 4 had been out on their last day of this present visit. 

The Merlin yesterday made our holiday.

Also yesterday, the weather certainly put a damper on the birding and the spirits!

We tried the Oa first & had a very nice male Hen Harrier on the Oa road immediately north of Kinnabus farm.  The "Oa Twite flock" were great but kept their distance and were with about 40 Rock dove.  Sadly, no eagle.

Loch Gorm yielded nothing so we camped in the hides at RSPB Loch Gruinart.  Nice to see 30-40 Bar-tailed Godwits associated with a large flock of Dunlin (200+) on the flats.  Other than that, the "usual suspects" were seen - Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pintail, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Heron, Oystercatcher, BH gull, Common  gull, Mute & Whooper swan, Shelduck, Barnies, White-faced geese & probably some I've forgotten!

Chris Corrigan e mailed some sightings from yesterday, oddly enough he  commented on the poor weather as well:

"What a day! We resorted to a distillery tour!
Morning - 4 Scaup and 5 Long-tailed Ducks off Bowmore
Late afternoon - the drake Green - winged Teal seen from the Loch Gruinart North Hide late afternoon"