Tuesday 7th May

A great day out here with the weather, the temperature got up to a heady 16degrees, mid afternoon. Only trouble is that the forecast is for some rain tomorrow...The Hammills returned to Glasgow but had a great weekend birding, highlights included seeing the large flock of Golden  Plover near to Rockside and also Whimbrels near to Port Charlotte and more at Bruichladdich before heading home. Bob yesterday had a Golden Eagle flying low behind Port Charlotte, could it have been hunting for hares? George yesterday counted 120 Pale bellied Brent flying South towards Port Charlotte. Today, he had a Wheatear at his pools, with 12 Swallows flying over the pools, his usual Swallows are back in residence in his garage. This evening 20 Whimbrel flew in to George's fields and on the shore George noticed an Oystercatcher sitting on a nest down on the shore. Today Bob had a single Fieldfare fly over his house around midday. James when he was out doing his surveys this morning at 6am had a White tailed Sea Eagle at the head of Loch Gruinart. On the floods, James had 11 Gadwall, he had a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Whinchat singing and also a Lizard out basking in the sun! Andrew and Jane had a Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit , Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin and Wren all in the woods around Kildalton. Claggain Bay and the surrounding trees held the following, Tree Pipit, Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Siskin, Whitethroat, Mistle Thrush & Cuckoo. The Bay had 1 GND, 2 Black throated Diver, 2 Red throated Diver, Black Guilliemot, a nesting Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher also sitting on a nest, Wheatear and 2 pr of Common Sandpiper. Back at Octomore they was a flock of Golden Plover and a Sparrowhawk nobbled a Starling. This afternoon, here at home we heard our first Cuckoo of the year, and on the bird table we counted 8 Redpolls.