Monday 20th June

An image of a Whinchat taken today by a visiting birder. He was just commenting that there were not so many Whinchats around this year, and also how few Stonechats there were in comparison to previous years. Yesterday other visitors had been up at Ardnave Loch and had seen the pair of Mute Swans along with their 4 cygnets. Also on the Loch were 8 Tufted Duck while on the shore, there was a pair of Oystercatcher along with young. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew past. Round Ardnave Point, they had Shelduck with 6 young, and a female Eider again with young. Offshore, but close in was a Great Northern Diver. Good numbers of both Little and Arctic Terns were seen, Black Guillemots and Gannets were seen flying past as was a Bonxie. At the reed bed area close to Braigo, a Grasshopper Warbler heard, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were present too, a Peregrine flew past and a male Hen Harrier was out quartering. Another 2 Grasshopper Warblers were at Saligo as was a female Hen Harrier. Close to the Coast guard cottages, a Corncrake was heard calling as was a Sedge Warbler. Back here at home the Corncrake did n't stop calling until after 5 am this morning, he did n't even stop to catch a breath of air either. I reckon he was calling at 72 calls a minute, a bit sad really, almost as bad as counting sheep to get you to go to sleep!!! A Magpie was seen down at Portnahaven through the day today, and was at Easter Ellister this evening.