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.