Saturday 3rd May

Yesterday was Phil Espin's last day on his week long trip to Islay and he walked back from the Oa to Port Ellen along the coastline. Phil's birds included a Golden Eagle, 1 Peregrine, 2 Chough, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Whinchat a Cuckoo and also 2 Black Guillemots, thanks Phil for your birds and all going well we will see you in August at the Birdfair, if not before...Emily was saying that the Corncrake at reserve at Gruinart was calling away yesterday, infact it was actually seen as he called from a nettle patch, Barnies now down to only 3 and there were some Shelduck out in front of the hide. This afternoon, Alistair did a "sea watch" from Portnahaven, rather than going to Frenchman's rock... His tally was as follows, 1 Arctic Skua flying N, 73 N Gannets and 322 flying S, 4 Manxies N, 1S, 3 Kittiwake S, "Awks unidentified" 18 N 46 S, 5 Black Guiilemot, 8 Fulmar, 5 Shag, 7 GBB Gul, 18 H Gull. Around the bay, 4 Eider, 2 Common sandpiper, 4 Chough, 6 Swallow were present. Here at home, around mid afternoon, the dreaded Cuckoo was calling/ singing/ making a noise in the wood, but thankfully I think it has headed away, fingers crossed! The 3 Redpolls are still coming to the bird table...