Wednesday 15th June

Full moon tonight, so might as well go out at midnight and hopefully hear a few Corncrakes calling, we wait eagerly in anticipation.....

Mark and Sally are on their second week of their holiday and around 9 pm at Gruinart last night had spotted an Osprey from the hide. Other visitors had seen a Peregrine fly over "smelly corner" today and in Bridgend woods they saw a pair of Goldcrest. They were commenting on the seabird colonies and on the stretch they know well, Guillemots are around 50% compared to last year, Razorbills fared better about 90% but Kittiwakes around only 50% again. Not good really. Peter yesterday had walked out from Bunnahabhain out to Giur- Bheinn. He commented on the "birdless plateau" once he was out of the forestry, even although the forestry held common species, Goldcrest, Robin, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Wren, Redpoll, Chaffinch, Coal Tit and Siskin. A Crossbill was seen too. Peter had a White tailed Sea Eagle soaring high over Sgarbh Breac. Other birds included Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Whitehroat, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and a male Hen Harrier. Back on the reserve at Gruinart, James had an adder close to the former Kilchoman School, and later on had a Spotted Flycathcher also on the reserve.