Tuesday 12th May

Andy and Jane, the Bowland birders are back for another "fix" on Islay. Coming over on the ferry on Saturday, they saw a Puffin and also some Harbour Porpoises. On Sunday, down at Port Wemyss, they had 3 Sandwich Terns, 2 Twite, Rock Pipit, at least 12 Manx Shearwater, 4 Fulmar, loads of Gannets. In a field at Windyedge, they had 6 Whimbrel, 3 Blackwits and also 2 Chough. Round at Kilchiaran a male Hen Harrier and some Snipe were present and finally back at Octomore at Port Charlotte, a Barn Owl was there. Mr Berrington, a visitor had a Yellowhammer over at Kildalton yesterday. The Bowland birders had seen a pair of Ringed Plovers with chicks on the shingle at the top of Lochindaal, a Whitethroat was at Blackpark, up along the flats at Gruinart, both Mute and Whoopers Swans were present with a Corncrake heard calling out in front of the Visitor centre there. Also seen on the reserve, there were Blackwits, Snipe, Dabchick, Dunlin (3 in summer plumage), Reed Buntings, Sedge Warblers and White Wagtails. As he came up towards Leckgruinart yesterday, Peter Donaldson noticed a commotion on the fence post ahead of him, a Cuckoo being mobbed by a pair of Meadow Pipits!!! Further on up at Ardnave, he had heard a Corncrake calling away.

Gary sent this image of a Whimbrel which he took today close to Carnain, there were 6 Whimbrels and 7 Golden Plovers which all flew in together. Yesterday at the top of Loch Indaal, 7 Barwits were present along with 22 Knot. Back home at Coullabus, a male Hen Harrier flew over the garden. Also yesterday, the some of the team members of the RAFOS team had carried out a sea watch down at Port Wemyss from 10.00 - 11.30, noting a continual passage of hundreds of Gannets flying South, also seen were Fulmars, Kittiwakes, GND flying N, a single RTD flying N, Guillemots, Razorbills and 5 Common Scoter flying N and a Arctic Skua flying South. Between Bowmore and Bridgend, 23 Knot (some in summer plumage) and over 10 Barwits were present together, feeding and flying about and also a few Red breasted Merganser.