Tues 27th April

The weather has not been that great here today, in fact it has been raining for most of the day, it had to come I know, but it could have waited...

I was just speaking to a friend from Oxfordshire who commented on the fact that migration this year appears to be slow.

On that note, Grasshopper warblers have been seen and heard today at Loch Tallant and also at Springbank. James had his first Whitethroat of the year in his garden at Grainel, and had 3 male Hen Harriers at Gruinart, while on the flats a Corncrake was heard the first on the reserve for 2010.

Down on the lochans beside Loch Gorm, there were 29 Whitefronts, a Canada goose, a Barnacle and also a Pink footed goose. Yesterday in one the adjoining grass fields we saw the Greylag hybrid, remember the image of it taken a wee while ago. It was paired up with another goose, so we will have to keep an eye out for them.

There were 21 Whimbrel at Gartmain today, and on the bird feeder at Bridgend Store were 4 Siskin. The feeders here at home had 14 Goldfinch and a couple of Collared Doves were on the trees. Other visitors seen a few Purple Sandpiper at Bruichladdich,12 Whimbrel at Port Bhan and few Dunlin at the coal yard. Another visitor had seen a White tailed Sea Eagle perched on top of the War memorial at Port Bhan!

Carl had also seen some White wagtails on The Strand at the top of Loch Indaal, and on Loch Indaal itself were still some Scaup present while he had a Sandwich Tern from the Power station on his way into Bowmore.