Thursday 19th April

I am glad to say that at least one of you spotted yesterday's deliberate error... The date was horribly wrong as I claimed it was November not April... Some birds from Colonsay yesterday where we were with walkislay.. There was a Cuckoo seen on the phone wires just out of Scalascaig, 3 Corncrakes had been heard but none by us, we all had the Golden Eagle displaying, no need for the bins to see it, there were a few Wheatear seen throgh the day and a Swallow at Scascaig too. Back here on Islay today and Mary had a group out across the moorland at Gruinart, a Sand Martin was seen, 2 Snipe, 4 Chough, a female Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Raven, 1 Hooded Crow, 2 Reed Buntings and several Skylarks. Down on Loch Gruinart itself, plenty of Shelduck still around, a Whimbrel, on the fields 150 Barnies along with the Canada Goose, 3 Wheatear along the sea wall, 3 Whoopers and 3 juv Mute Swan on the floods and a Sparrowhawk close to the hide. The Geese were spoofed by a passing low flying RAF planes and headed towards Loch Indaal, but were seen around 2pm flying up Loch Gruinart, presumably heading home for the summer. There was a solitary Swallow over Ballygrant late this evening.