Thursday 9th May

A miserable sort of a day out here, but it has not really hindered folk out birding, so another good lot of birds  have been sent through. The other day, Carl had a Corncrake down at Shorefield, Bruichladdich. Bob had 12 Collared Doves at his house yesterday and today he saw an imm female Marsh Harrier fly past. George counted 30 Whimbrel fly past and also heard the Corncrake. Up at Ardnave Mary had a Lapland Bunting. Andrew and Jane had a good day starting with 3 Gannets on Loch Indaal off Port Charlotte and also a dark phase Pomarine Skua, along at Bruichladdich Pier they saw 2 Black Guillemots. Up at Ardnave Loch, a female Merlin was seen, a male Hen Harrier present, 15 Whimbrel, 20 Chough, 2 Barnies, 2 Canadas, 1 Greenland Whitefront and a male Whinchat. From the old hide at Gruinart, 6 Blackwits, a Mallard with ducklings, a Lapwing with young, 3 Sedge Warblers, "a lot of Swallows and Sand Martins" hawking over the floods were seen. Finally along the flats, Andrew and Jane heard a Corncrake, Whitethroat and also Whooper Swan still present as well as 3 Roe Does. This morning we had "a lot of Swallows and Sand Martins"  swooping along the road in front of the trees at Erasaid. Back here at home we are now up to 10 Redpolls, boy they can't half eat....The birds appear to eating more now than they were earlier on, another order away in the other day for more food....