Wednesday 21st May

A great day with the weather here, and I awoke this morning at 4am to the Cuckoo calling, enough said.. Turn the clock back further, on Monday Bob and myself did the monthly count from Bowmore down to Gartbreck with the following tally, 4 GND, 3 Shag, 1 Pale bellied Brent Goose, 10 Shelduck, 4 Mallard,4 Teal, 49 Eider, 1 White Wagtail, 50 Oystercatcher, 11 Curlew, 6 Whimbrel, 114 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 45 Ringed Plover, 2 GBB Gull, 8 Herring Gull 10 Common Gull, 12 pr BH Gull and 38 Arctic Tern. On my way there I heard a Corncrake calling at Gartmain, just before entering Bowmore.... Visiting birders Graham and Jo from Nottinghamshire on Monday saw 2 Corncrakes on the reserve at Gruinart, round the top of Loch Indall, at least 8 GND, 10 Eider, 1 Little Tern and 2 Arctic Skuas. Yesterday they did a circular walk from Bridgend to The Woolen Mill returning back by Skerrols, they saw Treecreper, Bullfinch, Blackcap and Siskin in the woods with both Greenland and Northern Wheatear ad also a Whimbrel out close to Skerrols House. Later, along at Caol Ila, Black Guillemot were seen in the Sound of Islay. Peter and David who had the Cuckoos down at Ellister on Sunday, had heard a Corncrake at Ballinaby and 2 more at Gruinart on Monday and yesterday had seen Willow Warblers, Bullfinch, Wren and Siskins in Bridgend Woods. Later on, they had a Common Sandpiper on the Glen road at the bridge over the Kilenanan River. Yesterday, the Bowland birders had stopped just past "smelly corner" and saw 2 Arctic Terns, 20 Sanderling, 30+Barwits, 5 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel, and 1 GBB Gull. Later on the walked the Moorland Trail at Gruinart, and can recommend it! Birds noted were Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and a Cuckoo seen as well. From The old hide they saw Shoveller, Teal, Gadwall, 6+ Blackwits in summer plumage, Lapwings with young, Mallard and ducklings, Sedge Warler and Redshank. From the new hide, Shoveller, 4 male Teal, 5 Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, 6 House Martin and Shelduck. Below the Visitor centre they heard 3 different calling Corncrakes. Ken and Sal yesterday had a pr of Spotted Flycatcher out in front their cottage and heard a Corncrake down at Machir Bay and another along the road towards Coull. Up past Bunnahabhain, they spotted 2 Golden Eagles out on thermals, and 25 Black Guillemot in the Sound of Islay, back at Blackrock, a Red throated Diver was seen, 1 RB Merganser and 30 Sanderling. Yesterday evening, Rae fron SNH had seen an Osprey in at Skerrols. Finally this afternoon, while watching the Buzzards up the crag at Kilchoman with some other visitors, we saw some Chough and then a Sparrowhawk zipped past.