Despite the cold wind and snow flurries (we just finished before it started in earnest!), Jan and Ju enjoyed one of their best morning's count this month. There were big numbers of geese on the Barbreck fields; 120 Greylags, and 41 Canada Geese. The Loch, including the Lagoon, held 25 Eider, 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Mallard, 19 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 7 Goldeneye, 4 Shelduck and 2 Little Grebe. As to waders, there were 35 Oystercatchers, 11 Curlew and 5 Redshank, along with 7 Shag and 4 Grey Herons. Pretty much all the usual suspects!
But there were also three highlights. Two Great Northern Divers were just off the entrance to Loch Beag. They don't usually see them until May. Two Slavonian Grebes were on the water below Gartcharran. Only around 70 pairs nest in Britain (in the Highlands), and numbers in winter are usually around a thousand, so to find two here was very exciting. And finally, they saw not one but two Golden Eagles. Initially they both soared over the south-east end of Eilean McChrean, then one drifted across the lagoon, over their heads and away to the hill behind.
In other news, Bob Goudy found a Little Auk fluttering along the road outside Ford. Relatives of the Puffin, these little birds winter out at sea, and breed in places like Iceland. It was probably blown in by strong winds, and was unable to take off from the road. He brought it to Loch Craignish and released it here. It seems to be one of several found in Argyll, though not nearly as many as have been rescued on the East coast. Mary Smythe spotted a kingfisher on the Barbreck burn yesterday morning. And finally (sadly) Ju found a fresh-dead young kittiwake by the shore near the boatyard moorings this morning.
But there were also three highlights. Two Great Northern Divers were just off the entrance to Loch Beag. They don't usually see them until May. Two Slavonian Grebes were on the water below Gartcharran. Only around 70 pairs nest in Britain (in the Highlands), and numbers in winter are usually around a thousand, so to find two here was very exciting. And finally, they saw not one but two Golden Eagles. Initially they both soared over the south-east end of Eilean McChrean, then one drifted across the lagoon, over their heads and away to the hill behind.
In other news, Bob Goudy found a Little Auk fluttering along the road outside Ford. Relatives of the Puffin, these little birds winter out at sea, and breed in places like Iceland. It was probably blown in by strong winds, and was unable to take off from the road. He brought it to Loch Craignish and released it here. It seems to be one of several found in Argyll, though not nearly as many as have been rescued on the East coast. Mary Smythe spotted a kingfisher on the Barbreck burn yesterday morning. And finally (sadly) Ju found a fresh-dead young kittiwake by the shore near the boatyard moorings this morning.
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