So here it is, the 2011 year list as it happens. You can use this forum to report your sightings this year, or email them to: strathbeg@rspb.org.uk and let us know what you've seen.
1. Whooper Swan
2. Greylag Goose
3. Pink-footed Goose
4. Wigeon
5. Teal
6. Blackbird
7. Carrion Crow
8. Jackdaw
9. Blue Tit
10. Tree Sparrow
11. Great Black-backed Gull
12. Buzzard
13. Chaffinch
14. Mute Swan
15. Grey Heron
16. Mallard
17. Tufted Duck
18. Coot
19. Goldeneye
20. Curlew
21. Common Gull
22. Black-headed Gull
23. Shoveler
24. Herring Gull
25. Cormorant
26. Kestrel
27. Red-breasted Merganser
28. Merlin
29. Pintail
30. Pheasant
31. Woodpigeon
32. Greenfinch
33. Dunnock
34. Great Tit
35. Gannet
36. Gadwall
37. Magpie
38. Brambling
39. House Sparrow
40. Collared Dove
41. Lapwing
42. Dunlin
43. Moorhen
44. Rook
45. Canada Goose
46. Great Spotted Woodpecker
47. Reed Bunting
48. Bullfinch
49. Goldfinch
50. Sanderling
51. Shag
52. Oystercatcher
53. Redshank
54. Eider
55. Long-tailed Duck
56. Sparrowhawk
57. Pochard
58. Wren
2nd January
59. Mistle Thrush60. Peregrine
61. Robin
62. Goldcrest
63. Treecreeper
64. Ringed Plover
65. Red-throated Diver
66. Starling
67. Barnacle Goose
68. Linnet
69. Tawny Owl
3rd January
70. Goosander
3rd January:
Itching to go for a walk somewhere but not wanting to get soaked we decided on sheltering from the drizzle in the visitor centre and fen hide at loch of Strathbeg. Now I'm not too great with water fowl, but with the aid of my trusty binoculars and bird book I'm fairly certain we identified
- wigeon (lots near the visitor centre, 20 or 30 maybe?)
- teal (hard to tell how many, mixed in with the wigeon)
- tufted duck (about 15 over at Fen hide)
- goldeneye (one!)
- moorhen (one)
- greylag geese (2)
- Heron (one)
- lapwings (about 20)
- mallards (about 10)
- over at fen hide we saw 2 birds that were possibly female smew, but I'm really not sure about that one!
Not my first visit to Loch of Strathbeg (I love the early morning goosewatches) but possibly the most educational as I've not seen a lot of the duck species before.
So it was definately good weather for ducks!
Hi girl with binoculars, glad you enjoyed your visit. The smew would have been great for the year list, but I wonder if they may have been the red-breasted mergansers we've had around recently? We had a good look today, but no smew!
There were a few more additions to the year list though:
4th January
71. Great Northern Diver
72. Grey Plover
73. Hen Harrier
74. Snipe
75. Woodcock
5th January
76. Feral Pigeon
77. Yellowhammer
78. Siskin
79. Long-tailed Tit
80. Song Thrush
6th January
81. Golden Plover
8th January
82. Redwing
9th January
83. Rock Pipit
84. Grey Partridge
85. Turnstone
11th January
86. Barn Owl
87. Corn Bunting
12th January
88. Smew
89. Bean Goose (Tundra)