Saturday 24th May

Another great day with wall to wall sunshine and blue skies... Yesterday Ken and Sal had spent some time down on the Oa where they saw a Glaucous Gull fly past and join some Herring Gulls, LBB Guls and Common Gulls in a field past Fang Dhu. They also had 1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 3 Ravens, several Northern Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, numerous Hoodies and Mipits. Down at Kilnaughton Bay 2 GND, 3 Black Guillemot, 2 Common Guillemot, 2 Common Sandpiper were seen and Siskins were heard calling from the trees there as well. In all, Ken and Sal had 106 species seen during their 7 days here. Graham and Jo yesterday had gone over to Claggain Bay were they had 14 Arctic Terns, 6 Ringed Plover (+ 1 Chick), 4 Dunlin, 2 Common sandpiper and a GND. From the top of Loch Indaal, 2 Arctic Terns, 4 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover with 2chicks were seen. Later, a trip round the Rhinns produced 3 Buzzard, 3 Chough and 2 Golden Eagle, a great week. Andrew and Jane, the Bowland Birders yesterday had seen a pr of Garganey at Gruinart and also the Green winged Teal, but no joy with the Phalarope, or the Temminck's Stint. Their tally for their fortnight' stay was 123 species seen. Thanks to all the above birders in giving us their sightings, makes the blog more interesting when you get others helping us along. No doubt we will meet up down at Rutland at the Bird Fair come August, not far away... Michal yesterday had seen a Common Sandpiper and a Heron in at Finlaggan and also heard a Cuckoo there as well. The "Islay bird nerds" will be meeting up on Tuesday evening (27th May) at 7pm over at the track down at the Airport which leads down to the beach, we had a great time time there last year, so if you are over this week, come and join us!