Winter is defnitely descending on Loch Gruinart with the nights drawing in, fires being lit and the constant gak-gak of just over 23,000 geese on the reserve. It really is beautiful at this time of year and despite the end of guided walks and the departure of our much loved community information and tourism officer, Emily Platt there are still plenty of reasons to come and visit us here on Islay. The last RSPB Gruinart count heralded 22,755 barnacle geese, 467 Greenland white fronted geese, 376 greylag geese and 1 canada goose, prizes to be won if you spot that! Winter thrushes and other passerines are around in good numbers with some stunning flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare and large twittering flocks of twite and linnet. Just up the road at Ardnave seems like a good place loiter for a while with reports of snow buntings, sightings of white tailed sea eagles, a surf scoter and plenty of atlantic grey seals and their pups just across the water on Nave Island.