Monday 6th May

Running late and with a deadline to meet to get a comfortable seat before 9pm in front of the TV, here we go...Colin and Mandy  who have been over for a few days, left today but had seen a male Hen Harrier  on the Rhinns on Saturday. Down at Portnahaven they heard and then saw a Corncrake. Yesterday over on Jura, they had 2 female Hen Harriers and also a male too. They also had a male Yellowhammer and saw a White tailed Sea Eagle while on Jura. Over their stay they had seen a total of 6 Otters, 5 on Islay and 1 on Jura. Martin today had been down at Loch Allan and saw 4 pr of Tufted Duck, a Whitethroat was seen, lots of Willow Warblers around, 2 Grasshopper Warblers heard and seen, plenty of both Wheatear and Swallows about too. Over that way, they had 2 White tailed Sea Eagles. Down at Bruichladdich this morning, Andrew and Jane had 5 Purple Sandpipers, 1 House Martin, a Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, pr of Common Sandpiper and also Rock Pipits all along the shore opposite the Distillery. Along the shore, opposite Bruichladdich Hall, 2 Sanderling were present. Out on Loch Indaal, 3 Long tailed Duck, 4 Scaup were seen, at up at Gortan, 19 Pale bellied Brent were counted. Later on up at Killinallan, a male Hen Harrier was seen and also a White tailed Sea Eagle being chased by a Raven. There appears to be no further sightings of the Shorelarks today, none that I have heard of anyway yet.