Here we go with our daily game of Bird Bingo. Eyes down for a full house.
Peter and his group of birders all the way from Sandwich Bay Observatory in Kent had a steady first day of their tour, starting on the east shore of Loch Gruinart with 3 WTE, 2 little egrets, a greenshank and great views of an otter on the loch itself. Lauren had probably the same otter strolling around on the mud flats at low tide. In the afternoon Peter et al were at Loch Skerrols, looking at what is now 2 lesser scaup (a female and a 1Y male) and an "ever-dwindling" array of wildfowl. Around Blackrock, they had 12 PB brents, a few common scoter, red-throated and great northern divers and plenty of red-breasted merganser. The water was too rough for picking out long-tailed ducks or slav grebes.
Lauren also had a WTE at Gruinart before her hen harrier roost survey in the NW Rhinns produced a good total of 7 birds, 4 grey males and 3 ringtails. 5 of the birds were very active at the roost, chasing off a passing buzzard and giving a great show.
Colin was back up at Gruinart trying his luck for the cackling goose again, but no joy, sadly. He did have 81 pintail on the floods. Colin put yesterday's funny seagull on Twitter, and told us "the few responses that came back all favoured a hybrid with glaucous gull, although as Chris Batty of RBA said, it's uncertain that anyone has ever proved that parentage. Chris sent this link for reference"
http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/86119/Great_Blackbacked_Gull.html
While I'm sharing links, RSPB on Islay are recruiting a new Community Information and Tourism Officer, so if you or anyone you know fancy 7.5 months being surrounded by this kind of wildlife, then have a look at this link. The closing date is Sunday.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/rspb-job-vacancies/vacancies-listing/
A couple more of Phil Edwards' pictures from December to finish. Many thanks to him and all the contributors today.
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