Saturday 17th May

Yesterday was not a good day with the weather here, but we "birders" are not that easy out off... The Bowland birders had seen a Marsh Fritillary caterpillar on their walk over to and around Granny's Rock on Thursday. Yesterday itself, they had walked out from the gate at Killinallan along the track to Gortantoid and back by the waterfall and along the beach, "what a windy day", their comment, not mine!. All the same, they managed some birds for us, Lapwings, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks all busy feeding, calling and nesting! Up at Gortantoid itself they had a calling Yellowhammer along with many Wheatear. Coming back along the shore 50+ Sanderling, 30+ Dunlin and over 20 Ringed Plover were seen. Finally on their way back to their cottage they had a male Hen Harrier over the flats at Gruinart. Coming home this evening, we had a count of 14 Red Deer down on one of the barley fields at Sunderland...and at Rockside a flock of Golden Plover hunkered down for the night..