Wednesday 12 January 2022

Wednesday 12th January

We're flying through January already and the daylight is starting to stretch out. Snowdrops are poking their heads up and the nettles are growing, at least. 

International goose count days for January were today and yesterday, so we should have some numbers for you soon. Shona-Isla made a rare trip to the Rhinns and saw a pair of chough and 70 lapwing down at Lossit, and a peregrine at Kilchiaran. Mary had 2 WTE on the football pitch at Portnahaven, presumably waiting for children to eat, and 2 otters at Currie Sands, doing the whole "leave nothing but footprints" responsible tourism thing.


Colin Bushell had a decent count of 55 common scoter on Loch Indaal, along with 28 eiders, with GND, goldeneye and red-breasted mergansers also present. Returning to Loch Skerrols, he had at least 1 lesser scaup (a drake) with a possible female too far away in the fading light to be sure of. 8 redwing, 3 wigeon, a handful of tufties and 40+ teal were his other counts. 

Lauren had a group of 35 white-fronts at Carnduncan on Tuesday, an amazing 9 of which had collars. After sending the details through, the most interesting history was orange V3C, which was caught and ringed at Loch Ken, Dumfries and Galloway in the winter of 2008/9. It was present there in the winter of 2009/10, and then on Islay every year since 2010/11, also being seen in S Iceland autumn 2010 and 2016.

Thanks to all the above for your sightings. 

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