Thursday 13th May

A rather early entry for once but here goes... thanks to Peter

"On Sunday, Mark Shields and I were at the RSPB hides and noticed large

numbers of Dunlin distantly on Loch Gruinart. On Monday I'd gone up to

Killinallan and had  a brief attempt to "guesstimate" numbers and came

up with at least 2000 Dunlin and 1000 Ringed Plover. Today, with Lesley

Silcock and Roger Broad over on the island, we went up again and met

Mark who had done a "proper job" of counting and had come up with over

4000 Dunlin and 1000 Ringed Plover - a phenomenal sight with birds

flurrying around right across the upper stretches of the loch - plus a

single Little Stint and quite a few Sanderling and Knot.

 

We also had an Osprey with a fish going up high harried by gulls, then

eventually coming down onto the flats to eat.

 

James How reports 4 male Ruff today - 2 Black, one White and one Red all

from the South hide this evening."