Sunday 30th August

 Quite a lot of birds for you tonight, some reports might be kept until tomorrow, but here goes...

Dave Wood sent some birds from his WeBS count....

" Forgot to mention some birds from last Monday between Kintra and Knock angle Point. 55 RB merganser, 3 black throated diver, 7 red throats, 80, eider, 11 curlew, 22 sanderling." 

 Jim Dickson sent this e mail through this morning...

"Islay sightings this am – A sea watch off Frenchman's Rocks this am produced an adult WHITE-BILLED DIVER and a juv SABINE'S GULL (John Sweeney).  Peter & I have seen – 13 Slavonian Grebe, 42 Common Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver,  2 Great Northern Diver, 30+ Razorbills at Loch Indaal. At Loch Gorm – 55 Tufted Duck, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Little Grebe. Lots of White and Pied Wagtails around, 2 Wheatear & 2 Common Whitethroat noted."

Gary saw an adult WTE eating goose on sand at Bridgend,  also present was an Osprey on  the old wreck  there today.

Bob today had seen the Bonaparte's Gull off Bun an Uillt and saw 3 P b Brent Geese nearby as well.

Jim Dickson sent through a further e mail with sightings from this afternoon..."A Whimbrel at Loch Indaal At Loch Gruinart – 1 Whimbrel, c 80 Knot, 2 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 1 Grey Plover, adult Bonaparte’s Gull, 2 Ospreys (sitting on the reef in middle of loch off Killinallan), 2 Peregrines…"

I believe that Peter had been out with Jim again... see these old chums from Fair Isle....

Monday 12th March

The mist swirled around, as the morning glow lightened the sky. Sparkling drizzle drifted in a breeze, until eventually the sun burned through the soft air, to reveal the high pressure skies. The first sign of spring this morning was 12 whooper swans sitting on the mud of Loch Gruinart ready to move North. Bob was out and about and had a 1st winter Glaucous gull at Gartbreck and a water rail at Pennycraig. Then latter in Bowmore harbour there was 4 Goldeneye the 2 males busy displaying. On the South Rinns there was a Short eared owl and 2 Red grouse.

An interesting report came through on the internet of a White Billed Diver off the North of Ardnave. So look out for that one!