Tues 18th may

A Yellow Wagtail was seen up at Ardnave yesterday by a visiting birder.

Other visitors had seen Spotted Flycatcher in Ballygrant Woods with at least 3 singing. A group of 4 Crossbill were seen there feeding on conifer cones, one of these was a juvenile bird. Ballygrant Loch itself had Mute Swan and Tufted Duck. On Loch nan Cadhan, there was Mute Swan, Little Grebe, 2 separate broods of Mallard ducklings, Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting. The woodlands were full of singing birds, both residents and migrants. Buzzards were soaring overhead and at least 3 Cuckoo were heard. Butterflies noted were Small Heath, Orange Tip, Peacock and Green veined White. Flowers seen included a few Early Purple Orchid Spikes,many Lesser Twayblade and Adder's Tongue.

Fishermen on Loch Allan caught and returned an Arctic Char. On Sunday, some local fishermen saw a Roe Deer swim across Loch Finlaggan and it swam close to their boat in the middle of the loch.

Another local told me of seeing a Short eared Owl out on the wing the other day over the burnt out moorland beside the airport.