Thursday 2nd May

James sent through last night this image taken earlier on of the Long billed Dowitcher up at Ardnave. It flew off early afternoon yesterday, and as far as I know has not been seen again. The same story for the Little ringed Plover and the Yellow Wagtail, they could still be out there somewhere! New birders, over on their honeymoon, Colin and Mandy had 31 Pale bellied Brent Geese at Port Ellen when they arrived yesterday, today they had a good day on the Oa with their top birds including Hen Harrier, Buzzard, a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away, Whinchat, Stonechat and Raven. The Argyll birder had been over early am at Gruinart and was rewarded with a White tailed Sea Eagle. In one of the fields he had 14 White Wagtails. There, this afternoon he had a Golden Eagle on a carcase with another  Goldie nearby. He has not seen so many Blackwits today, 28 at Gruinart and just 14 at Ardnave. Whimbrels not so numerous either, 41 at Craigfad and 56 at Nerabus, could that be the flock of 98 seen at Nerabus yesterday, split into 2 groups today? At Ballinaby there were 235 Golden Plover and along at Coull, a Peregrine was seen. At Bruichladdich, 38 Pale bellied Brent Geese were counted while over at Gartbreck a single Little Tern was seen. Back on Monday, Bob and Lorna Young had a couple of Little Terns at Ardnave, heard a Cuckoo, seen a Sedge Warbler and witnessed a male Hen Harrier being mobbed by 2 Hooded Crows and they noticed more Swallows and Martins arriving. Another frequent Islay visitor, Ron had heard a Cuckoo at Glenegedale and seen a male Hen Harrier down that way too yesterday . Up at Ardnave today, Mary heard a Corncrake. Dave down on the Oa had 2 Goldcrest and 2 White Wagtails and also a Whimbrel, yesterday he had 3 Whinchat, a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo all on the reserve, possibly some of the same birds that Colin and Mandy had today! On her way home last night Louise had seen 3 Owls between the 3 arch bridge and Gatehouse, a Barn Owl, a Tawny Owl and also a Short eared Owl.  Here at home, on the feeders apart from the many finches present, the Siskins are still present, as is the Redpoll.