Thursday 18th June

I was glad to be wearing a jacket and a jersey today, certainly not Summer today, may be I should done some inside work instead.... George E Jackson on Tuesday had heard a Cuckoo calling up at Rockside. Down over Loch Indaal he saw a single Arctic Tern and then on the water there was a raft of 26 Eiders, 3 female and 23 males probably all non breeders. In the evening at his son's house, he heard 2 Corncrakes calling, one nearby and the other up beside Rockside. Yesterday, down at Machir Bay, there was a Whinchat along with 2 juveniles on the fence. A Pied Wagtail was also present, busy carrying food. Up the North end of Machir Bay, 4 Eiders were seen with 9 youngsters. Early evening a male Hen Harrier was out quartering close to Loch Gorm, later on a Golden Eagle was seen at Rockside. Ron Todd yesterday had seen Rock Doves close to Saligo and on his way round Loch Gorm, many Stonechats and Lapwings were present. Tom from Cumbria had walked out from Killinallan out towards Bholsa seeing a Cuckoo and Yellowhammers at Doddlemore while at Bholsa itself, lots of shags were seen with 3 chicks. James today had Ruff from the old hide with a Shelduck with young out in front of the new hide. Louise was saying that a Glaucous Gull was seen at Tarbert on Jura yesterday, and today it was up Ardlussa. Today, we had a couple of male Hen Harriers, one round the far side of Loch Gorm below the phone box, the other was down at Uisekentuie. This evening, coming home we had a ringtail Hen Harrier out on the wing on the South side of Loch Gorm.