Monday 9th February

The snow bumped up the numbers of several species of birds on the Garnock Estuary: 237 Lapwing and 11 Little Grebe were far higher counts than of late; the snow was most likely responsible for the flock of c.60 Skylarks feeding on the saltmarsh at Bogside. A duck count on the upper estuary produced 3 pairs of Gadwall, 314 Teal, 200 Wigeon, 115 Mallard, 10 Goldeneye, and a Tufted Duck. 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting over Bogside Racecourse mid-morning; a short time later, one was hunting over the field across the River Irvine from Bogside.

(Photo: Upper Garnock estuary's flooded saltmarsh)