Sunday 12th May

In between showers and now this evening, it is quite nice outside, even although the ground is soaking. Clark cheered me up no end by announcing this afternoon, that we have had more rain so far this month than we had for the whole of May last year... Think the weather is looking to improve from the middle of the week onwards, fingers crossed.... New visiting birder Alistair yesterday had 3 groups of Whimbrel, each around 20 birds between Bruichladdich and An Gleann down towards Portnahaven. He also heard at least 2 Corncrakes calling at Portnahaven. Today Alistair saw a Cuckoo on the overhead wires close to Wester Ellister. A sea watch from Portnahaven produced over 500 Manx Shearwaters flying North and also an Arctic Skua. Gannets, Razorbills and Guillemots in good numbers too. Around 60 Fulmars flying North too, 4 Arctic Terns in the bay along with a GND. 2 Whitethroats were in song around Portnahaven. Andrew and Jane carried a out a sea watch from Port Wemyss for a an hour  this afternoon, with all birds heading North to Frenchman's Rocks. They were as follows, 300 Manx Shearwater, 150 Gannets, 250 razor/ motts, 50 Kittiwake, 15 Fulmar, 1 Bonxie and the Corncrake was heard behind the church at Portnahaven. James had heard  a Corncrake over at Grainel on the reserve at Gruinart. This morning before the weather broke down while he was out doing his surveys, James heard a total of 4 Grasshopper Warblers, and also saw a Shoveler sitting on a nest. Meanwhile Peter and Pia had been out in the rain and down at Foreland where they had heard 3 Grasshopper Warblers and a Sedge Warbler, also a Whitethroat singing away in the adverse conditions... This evening out in front of the new hide, they had a male Garganey. Back down at Bruichladdich 6 Common Sandpipers were seen along the shoreline.