Thursday 27th March

Earlier on in the week there has been a sighting of a Snow Bunting up at Ardnave and this morning I heard that a Lapland Bunting has been around as well, location not known! The Bolton Birders headed over to Jura yesterday. Up the top end of Jura at Lealt on the bird feeders, 6 Yellowhammers, 4 Goldfinches along with some Chaffinches.They also had great sightings of 2 different pairs of Hen Harriers, one around Lowlandman's Bay the other close to Inverlussa, with both pairs skydancing. While they were watching a couple of Otters on the Sound, a White tailed Sea Eagle flew past! Earlier on at the Corran Sands/ Small Isles Bay, they counted 12 GND with at least another 8 in the Sound of Islay! Down on the Oa yesterday, Dave and his team carried out a "Cliff survey" with the tally coming through at 6 Peregrines, 5 Golden Eagles, 21 Black Guillemots, 4 Otters, 10 Wheatear, 5 GND along with 100's of Meadow Pipits, in flocks of up to 40! At the darkness came in last night, here at home there was a Pipestrelle bat out hawking along in front of the cottages! The Lincs birders had a ringtail Hen Harrier out quartering over towards Gruinart. Over beyond Ardbeg, they had a flock of over 80 Golden Plover resplendent in the sun! Coming home along the High road, they had a male Hen Harrier out hunting and then a ringtail as they approached the bridge across the Laggan. John and Kenny yesterday had a White tailed Sea Eagle over at Gruinart. The Green winged Teal,5 Snipe, several hundred Golden plover, Moorhen and a Snow Bunting were all seen from the new hide. On Loch Indaal, Long tailed Duck, Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Slav. Grebe, Black throated Diver, and some Pale bellied Brent Geese. Down towards the Lily Loch at Port Askaig, they saw a Chiffchaff and later on a Long tailed Tit. Martin had a Yellowhammer on his feeders over at Glenegedale!