Wednesday 2nd April

The other day Mary got some stats back from BTO from the birds that she had found dead on the Beached bird survey back in February along with Emily. Both the birds were found at the top of Loch Indaal, both Razorbills and both rung as nestlings. One bird was rung on Fair Isle back in 1980, so it was almost 34 years old, the other was a mere younster rung on the the Isle of Sanda in 1998. Back to today, Bob had a Spotted Crake over on Bolsay Moor this morning. We saw 3 different Sparrowhaks today, one beside the lime kiln down below Foreland, another in the willows at Shorefield, George's home at Bruichladdich. Later this afternoon the final bird flew past the kitchen window here at home. In the garden this morning, a Wren was singing away good style, is Spring in the air?? There was a small flock of Redwings up beside the old church at the top of the hill here this morning as well. The Dumfries Birders had an adult WTSE fly ovrer the Sound of Islay towards Islay. They also flushed a Snipe. Last night, they saw a Merlin chase the Starlings along the front of their cottage. Danny had been down at the hide at Gruinart and had seen good numbers of Ducks present, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler and Shelduck a great selection! By the way the Vulture yesterday was not an April Fool's trick, it was 100% true, honest...