Sunday 29th April

Armin Grewe sent throgh this image of some Sanderling on the wing while he was on the walk out past Killinallan during Walkislay the other week. Armin writes http://www.islayblog.com/ a worthy read each night! The Argyll birder has now headed home, and back no doubt to work tomorrow, so we thank Jim Dickson for his input and also his images. During his week's visit Jim had 114 species in total. The Hampshire birders are here for another week, and yesterday had the Pink footed Goose at Ballymeanach, just out of Portnahaven, up close to Cultoon, a male Hen Harrier was out quartering along the roadside verges. From Port Charlotte, over Loch Indaal, they saw 2 Great Northern Diver and also 2 Guiilemot. Up at Ardnave Loch, 6 Tufted Duck and 2 Red breasted Merganser were present, beyond the loch 150 Golden Plover were in the adjoining fields as well as a couple of Black tailed Godwit in summer plumage. Round Ardnave Point itself, they had 3 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 7 Dunlin in summer plumage, 7 Bar tailed Godwits on the rocks and 3 Little Terns overhead. On their way back to their car they saw 14 Chough. Yesterday, James had a Cuckoo on the reserve at Gruinart, also a Peregrine and also lots of Sand Martins, while on Friday he had 7 White Wagtail, 120 Barnies and 4 Pale bellied Brent Geese. James said that one of the Barnies had a orange "darvic" ring on its' left leg but was unable to read it. A visitor reported in this morning to say that he had seen a Lapland Bunting over towards Coull Farm. Dave and Bonnie had seen the 2 juv White tailed Sea Eagles this afternoon in the same area as we had seen them earlier this week.