Sunday 14th April

The rain has kept away, although there has been the odd spot off and on, nothing much really. The wind has caused the ferries to divert to Port Askaig all day, so at least we have not been disrupted that much. Yesterday, Bob had carried out the count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck, with the scores on the doors being as follows, 2 GND, 7 juv Shag, 15 Greylag, 10 Greenland Whitefront, 8 Mute, 12 Shelduck, 20 male Mallards, 18 Teal (all pairs), 54 Eider (mainly males in breeding plumage), 14 Red breasted Merganser, 58 Oystercatcher (mainly paired up), 12 Curlew, 63 Barwits, 1 Dunlin, 15 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 4 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 37 Ringed Plover (mainly paired up), 1 Grey Plover, 2 GBB Gull, 3 LBB Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 32 Common Gull, 6pr Black headed Gull and 1 Sandwich Tern. On his way down to the shore, Bob had a Sedge Warbler as well. Also yesterday, Jack Fleming had a Swallow at Gruinart. Today, Peter had a Little Tern fly past his house down at Bruichladdich. Also today was the first day of walkislay for this year, with over 50 folk on the walk from Bunnahabhain. After seeing them on their way, on our way home we had an Osprey with a fish in its talons just as we came away, earlier on we had seen  2 Golden Eagles out on the wing further up from Bunnahabhain itself. Before we came to Ardnahoe, a male Hen Harrier flew low across the road in front of us. On Ardnahoe Loch, a Heron was seen  and also a male Goldeneye. Further down the road after Keills, there was a small group of 15 Fieldfare in the fields there.