With the hot, settled weather continuing here, I can easily believe that there are reports of record 30+ temperatures in some parts of Scotland today - hottest day of the year so far with 30.7 in Threave, Dumfries & Galloway..
Mary Redman keeps the blog alive tonight with reports from Claddach of a successful fledging of one of the Chough nests down that way - 3 chicks seen with their parents today. Out on McKenzie Island this evening Mary saw the White-tailed Eagle again.
Louise Muir counted 200 Rooks on a sprayed field at Sunderland Farm.
Here at Bruichladdich a pair of House Martins is trying to make a nest under the eaves of the house next door. Even in a good year the material they use isn't up to much - not enough clay and too much sand. Very often the nest either dries out and collapses half way through construction, or worse - halfway through the nesting season with eggs or chicks crashing to the floor below.. I recall George Jackson (the previous George Jackson!) trying to help by mixing up a more clay-rich soil in a puddle for them. With the extreme dry and heat this year I don't think they stand much of a chance of making a nest at all. I tried a different approach to helping them out by putting up a small array of artificial nest-boxes a few years ago, but they've only used them once or twice (but the House Sparrows are appreciative!).
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