Friday 23rd May

There was a reported sighting of a Red necked Phalarope down in front of the hide at Gruinart yesterday. The Bowland birders yesterday had been down on the Oa, and had done a spot of sea watching from Port nan Gallan where they saw Manxies, Black Guillemots, and a passage of around 60 Gannets/ hour fly past. They also saw plenty of Fulmars nesting on the cliffs there, near the American monument a male Hen Harrier and back at the car park, a Kestrel on the overhead wires. On their way back, 2 Swifts were seen at Island Farm and prior to that another male Hen Harrier close to the Machrie Golf course. Ken and Sal headed over to Jura and had a good day there with the following birds seen, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, a Tree Pipit calling, Garden Warbler seen, 2 Siskins, Yellowhammer and a few Greenfinches all past the River Lussa. North of Tarbert 2 Common Buzzards wereseen, Red breasted Merganser just North of Craighouse, and they also had a possible Pied Flycatcher as well. They also heard and saw many Cuckoos on Jura. Graham and Jo had started their day around Loch Gorm with Whitethroat, 2 Whinchats and a male Hen Harrier seen. From the car park at Machir Bay, they had 8 Chough, 2 Buzzard and 2 Twite, they also heard a Corncrake calling there as well. Up the North end of Machir Bay they saw at least 70 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin and 50 Sanderling. Later on they saw a Peregrine over Kilchoman Distillery and then a ringtail Hen Harrier on their way over to Loch Gruinart. From the visitor centre there, a Spotted Flycatcher was seen and a Corncrake was heard.