A fairly cold, wet and windy day, that didn't stop the hardier birders from getting out:
Phil Edwards says "Today the forecast said a dry morning so we went to Ardnave and saw quite a lot in the pouring rain! The Loch had a pair of Tufted Duck, 7 Greylags, 5 Lapwing, and 8 Oystercatcher. A round walk of the peninsula produced a single Twite, 9 Chough (plus two dead colour-ringed ones, found at 55.881202, -6.331313), a Greenshank, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 2 GND, 2 Shag, 2 Redshank, 9 Curlew, 16 Oystercatchers, 13 Ravens, 4 Reed Buntings plus uncounted Barnacle, White-fronted, and Greylag Geese.
There were 7 adult and 7 imm Whooper Swans by the hide on the RSPB Reserve but nothing else of particular note. There was a ringtail Harrier east of Ballinaby and another around Smaull."
Steve Wignill had also braved the nasty weather and walked around at Ardnave to the Point and back. He found 5 Chough, plus 6 Goldeneye and a pair of Tufted Ducks on Ardnave Loch.
Martin Price saw the female Marsh Harrier again today, but over Loch Gorm rather than at Gruinart where it has often been noted.
The details of the dead choughs will be passed on to Eric Bignal who undoubtedly ringed them and will be able to tell us there life histories. They are more likely to be this year's young who haven't survived rather than victims of Avian Flu.
On a cheerier note here are some more of Phil's photos.
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