Sunday 24th December - Christmas Eve

Continuing strong westerly winds, but perhaps not quite as much rain as forecast, made for another day of adverse weather. That, combined with impending festivities tomorrow, meant only our Christmas visiting birder Phil once again braved the elements. His report:

Well, a forecast day of horizontal rain turned into one of horizontal rain and horizontal sun giving some lovely light. I drove from Smaull to Claggain Bay via Gruinart Flats, Uiskentuie, Port Ellen, and the south coast bays.

Highlights were three male and one ring-tail Hen Harriers, males at Ballinaby, Erasaid, and the Airport; ring-tail at Carnain. A; first winter Golden Eagle also at Erasaid; 200 Lapwing, 600 Golden Plover, 200 Dunlin, countless thousands of Barnacle Geese, and 100+ Common Gulls on Gruinart Flats.; The second winter Glaucous Gull at Uiskentuie (finally caught up with it having missed it multiple times last Xmas);  32 Ringed Plover and 11 Greylag Geese on Port Ellen Beach; 3 Great Northern Divers in three southern bays, plus two more and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers plus c. 10 Kittiwakes at Claggain Bay.

Happy Christmas to all,

Phil

Thanks Phil for keeping the blog going - and for the lovely selection of today's photos below.

Wishing all readers a very good Christmas with lots of great birding