Saturday 25th April

A cold wind here today giving the air that cool edge, and also a few showers with some hailstones in the mix as well. Yesterday morning, Peter Roberts had a pair of Bullfinches in Bridgend Woods. In the afternoon, close the pier at Bruichladdich, Peter saw 4 Black Guillemots and also 3 Red throated Divers, 2 of them were in breeding plumage. Further out on Loch Indaal, Peter had over 20 GND, a Black throated Diver in almost full breeding plumage, with a distant line of 10 Common Scoter. 3 Whimbrels flew South as well. James yesterday evening had been out with the Canoe Club from Bowmore out to below Gartbreck and had seen 7 Sandwich Terns and 8 Whimbrel, wonder what it looks like from the water rather along the actual shore like what Bob and myself see... Today, George had seen 2 Sandwich Terns on the shoreline at Bruichladdich and wondered whether they were the same pair that nested there last year. Also today, George almost had a Sparrowhawk in his house. Down below James' house this morning, there were still around 100 Barnies and a Pale bellied Brent goose on the estuary at Loch Gruinart. Before I forget, on Tuesday evening, as it is the last Tuesday of the month, the Islay bird nerds are meeting at 6pm at the carpark at RSPB Loch Gruinart and then we will head down to the hide to see what is around, so if you are over, see you there... A completely informal meeting, so feel free to come along.