Saturday 20th June

Just in from being out for some grub with friends, so apologies for running late.. Here goes then... Back on Thursday, George E Jackson had a couple of arctic Terns and a Common Tern over Kilnaughton Bay. Where the Cragabus Bay enters the bay, 2 Dunlins were seen , both in full summer plumage. Also there, was a Mistle Thrush before it flew off. On their way home, on the low road, just North of the airport, 2 Snipe flew out of the peats and shortly afterwards, a male Hen Harrier was seen quartering its' patch. On Friday, they had walked out round Loch Skerrols, past East Lodge and through Bridgend Woods back to their car. On Loch Skerrols, they counted 23 Mute Swan, 5 Tufted Duck and a Cormorant, on the farmland they had a flock of 22 Lapwing and also 11 Greylag. In the woods, in the scrub, a family of Stonechats were noted with a Spotted Flycatcher seen beside the River Sorn. Yesterday, Maggie Birtwell, had watched an Osprey fishing at Loch Lossit, and around the Storakaig area had seen Redpoll, Whinchats and Skylarks. She also saw a male Hen Harrier out on the wing. Alistair Hutchieson yesterday, had a pair of Bullfinch in at Loch Skerrols, as well as 2 Common Sandpipers. On his way in to Loch Skerrols, Alistair had seen a Buzzard being mobbed by some crows in one of the forest rides, a real "dog fight"...