Thursday 21st August

A more thorough investigation of the Garnock estuary at Bogside today resulted in a count of 56 Dunlin and 5 Knot, along with about 60 Ringed Plover. The upper estuary held a few interesting birds: 3 Common Sandpiper were in a small group; 4 Gadwall were roosting on the mud; 2 Common Snipe were visible on the saltmarsh; 22 Dunlin and 1 Knot were feeding on the mud flats; 2 Wigeon were roosting with some Mallard; and 2 Kingfishers were flying about the northernmost bridge. I got very good views of one of the birds successfully fishing from the debris revealed at low tide. The female Shoveler was still on the Garnock East Farm Pool. 3 noisy Ravens flew over the pool heading north.