Monday 11th May

A mixed sort of a day with the weather out here today, and also a lot cooler than this time last week when we were over bird watching in Extramadura in Spain. Peter Roberts led the group, ably assisted by Jim Dickson from Carbaan, Jim is a member of the Argyll Bird Club, Daphne Campbell another ARC member with the others, Bob Davison, George Jackson, David Formby, Margaret and myself, all members of the Islay bird nerds made up the group. We all had a great time with over 130 species seen, not sure of the highlight but hard to pick out for sure, was it a Black Stork, or a more common bird like a Golden Oriole, or a Bee eater...Yes, a good time and thanks to Peter for organising it all for us. Yesterday, some sightings through from RAFOS... At the top of Loch Indaal, they saw 32 Red breasted Merganser and also a Goosander. Also present there, were 2 Little Terns. Up at Sanaigmore, a Whitethroat was heard singing away with 5 Golden Plovers seen at Saligo with a strong feeding passage of Gannets was noted further offshore there. Back over at Kilchoman, a male Hen Harrier was seen flying close to their cottages.