Friday 22nd January

The sun came out today after yesterdays rain. I was out on the reserve (Gruinart) altering water levels (they are all high so makes little difference). A peregrine chasing down a Lapwing was exciting viewing- the peregrine drove the lapwing into the water, but the hardy lapwing climbed out and flew off. A Hen Harrier was swooping over the Teal giving them the run about- All in all lots of birds in the air.

Wednesday 20th January

Two long days of counting geese around the Gruinart area for the International counts. Todays best other birds included a Merlin and Hen Harrier at Craigens, a Hen Harrier and 9 Ravens at Gruinart and on Ardnave Loch, 12 Whooper Swans and 2 Pochard. Goose wise about 11,000 Barnies and 550 Whitefronts.

Tuesday 19th January

Survey of the whole Loch Gruinart was done today. Following birds were seen: 281 shelduck at the bottom of the loch, 215 wigeon, 2 brent geese, 2 goldeneye, 236 oystercatcher, 179 golden plover, 40 lapwing, 45 sanderling, 43 dunlin, 255 bar-tailed godwit, 126 curlew, 144 turnstone. On the Floods of the reserve (mostly visible from the hide) there were 111 mallards, 96 wigeon, 337 teal, 167 lapwing, 19 shoveler, 48 pintail, 44 curlew and 2 greenshanks. On Ardnave Loch there was a group of 10 mute swans with 13 whoopers, few teal, wigeon and couple pochards. Thank you to our volunteers Becca, Lesley and Fiona for helping with the survey. James had 3 hen harriers, one kestrel and one golden eagle while doing the goose count around Loch Gruinart.

Monday 18th January

A wet and misty day, not much good for birding, a day for catching up on the paper work. I was out on Friday doing 3 NEWS sectors for BTO on the north of the Island from Gortantaoid- a really long and difficult walk, but fantastic scenery. I did not record very many shore birds, but did OK for birds of prey with 2 Golden Eagles and 2 juv White Tailed Eagles, 3 of the eagles were all flying around together watching me watching them, also a good view of a Jack Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 4 Ravens and 26 goats including 2 very small kids.

Sunday 17th January

Lesley had a couple of Brambling amongst the finch flock at her house close to Carraig Fhada at Port Ellen, on Friday and Saturday, but no sign of them today! Today was the day for the WeBS count, so Bob and myself carried out our patch from Bowmore down to Gartbreck, Gary at the same time covered from Port Charlotte back round to Blackrock.. The weather was a bit inclement, but we battled on and got the job done! On our patch, we saw 26 species with Gary having 19, but of interest was the change in species noted, we had no Divers, or Eiders, but we had Teal, and Shelduck. Gary did not have as many waders as us but he had not the shoreline to expect them on really either. Gary also had 3 Kittiwakes as well as a poorly Puffin, which now has passed on...

Saturday 16th January

Yesterday Gary and Sam had seen 5 Goldeneye, 12 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan and a Cormorant. Later on down close to Port Ellen, they had a ringtail Hen Harrier. Finally, over at Bruichladdich Pier, Gary had the small flock of 50 Starlings showing off their acrobatic skills, better than the Chough who are still to learn their synchronised flights as of yet! Mandy had carried out her NEWS sector, from Machir Bay, South to Granny's Rock, with her birds included 2 Ravens, 2 Chough, 9 Kittiwake and also 2 Peregrine, one of which was carrying some prey. Coming back from Granny's Rock, through the dunes, at the lochan, there were 2 Whooper, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Teal and a Dabchick. This morning, Malcolm saw 8 adult Whooper flying down past Bruichladdich, possibly heading over to Ireland? Here at home the local ringtail flew over the garden, and then later on, we saw another saw another one between Loch Gorm and the road just as we approached the memorial stone to the Kilchoman Bard. Just thinking, that I have not seen the "local" Sparrowhawk for a few days!!!

Friday 15th January

Yesterday, Bob had a flock of 175 Lapwing seen out in the fields in front of his house. He also saw 9 Fieldfare fly past, the first seen for a few days. Bob was also saying that on his bird feeders that he has been seeing a few Blue Tits and also some Coal Tits, birds that he has not seen with him for some time. Today down at Machir Bay, he counted 41 Chough flying over the dunes, at the pool beside the car park, 24 Curlew and 2 Herring Gull were present. Here at home this afternoon, there were 27 Goldfinches on the feeders. Michal, today had 50 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings and 210 Starlings at Gruinart, up on Ardnave Loch, 11 Whoopers were seen with 5 Lapwings and 160 Golden Plover in the fields around the Loch.