Thursday 16th May

Another glorious sunny day here again, just wish the sun would give us heat as well as light, no pleasing some folks......On Monday this week, Natalie from RSPB had carried a count out on Loch Gruinart, with the following birds seen, 1 GND, 208 Shelduck, 16 Eider, 4 R B Merganser, 182 Oystercatcher, 1879 Ringed Plover, 1 Golden Plover, 1279 Dunlin, 21 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 26 Turnstone, 6 Whimbrel, 11 Common Gull, 17 Herring Gull, 4 GBB Gull and 1 Greylag. On Ardnave Loch, birds were 33 Whimbrel, 2 Barwits, 2 Mute Swan, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Heron. Today Natalie saw 2 adult White tailed Sea Eagles hunting over the flats at Gruinart. Michal over the last couple of days has been down on the Oa, his birds included, 1 Golden Eagle, pr of Hen Harrier, 8 Sedge Warbler, 6 Whitethroat, 1 singing Goldcrest and a Dipper carrying food. In the bay down at Port Ellen, Michal counted 21 Whimbrel. Yesterday Bob had a ringtail Hen Harrier close by his house, the first he has seen for a few weeks. Down off  Port Mor at Port Charlotte, Bob had 8 GND  and 7 Arctic Terns inshore with a feeding frenzy a lot  further out on the Loch consisting of over 40 Terns, Gannets, Kittiwakes and other gulls. He also had 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Razorbill, 12 Whimbrel and 220 Common Scoter. This morning Peter was over at Dunlossit and had a female Great Spotted Woodpecker. He also had Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warblers all singing away. Also heard were Cuckoo, Long tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Treecreeper and Goldcrest were all heard as were Little Grebes calling away on Loch Allan. To finish off with Peter had an adult White tailed Sea Eagle fly past, great! Andrew and Jane today had been down in the woods towards Kildalton and had seen 3 Yellowhammers as well as numerous Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers. Along at Claggain Bay and in that area they had 8 Artcic Tern, 1 GND, 1 RTD, 1 light phase Pomarine Skua, 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 male Reed Buntings, more Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff,  4 Redpoll, and an elusive Cuckoo who never gave up. Returning home, at Blackrock 4 Whoopers were present and Kestrel was seen just before they got to Bruichladdich. Today down at Portnahaven, Alistair had heard the Corncrake calling and also a Cuckoo. At Port Bhan, a Black Guillemot and a GND were seen and 14 Whimbrel counted too. Dave down on the Oa today had a Swift, heard a Cuckoo and saw a Whinchat