Sunday 27th April

Another glorious day here, can it last through to the end of the month, only time will tell....Before Jim Dickson left for home, he managed some more sightings... 24 Whimbrel close to Craigfad and another 7 up at Uiskentuie. Jim also saw a male Whinchat at Ardnave, heard 3 singing Sedge Warblers on the reserve at Gruinart and saw 3 Blackwits there too. Michal had a Mallard crossing the road at the reserve with her brood following on behind. Our Portnahaven birder had heard 3 "Groppers" (grasshopper warblers) reeling away as well as 4 Sedge Warblers singing, he also saw a pr of Ravens and a pr of Buzzards all close to Portnahaven. He had lots of Linnets at Port Wemyss and "more Wheatear and Meadow Pipits", too many to count! David and Jane Griffiths had heard a Cuckoo up past Cluanach and saw a distant White tailed Sea Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard. The single Pale bellied Brent Goose was still present at Bowmore alongside a raft of around 50 Eiders. Back on Friday on the Big Strand, Bjoern Olsen from Norway had seen a Glaucous Gull. Visiting birder Phil had a good day out from Ballaclava out down on the Oa with his tally for the day coming to 55 species. Highlights were a pr of Golden Eagles, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Chough and a "Gropper" reeling away all on the reserve itself with another "gropper" back at Ballaclava. For any folk over on Islay this week, the Islay bird nerds will be meeting on Tuesday evening at 7pm at the carpark at RSPB Gruinatrt, with a view of doing some birding from the hides, might even hear a Corncrake too...