Thursday 16th July

That's half the month in now and already we have had more rain so far this month than we had for the whole of June, not that we had that much last month! Think there is a wee change working with the odd spot of rain outside at present rather than the sun streaming in through the windows, mind you we did managed to get the pond finished this afternoon, and got it all faced in stone to cover the pond liner. So we can let it all settle out over the weekend and take it from there... There was a Pied Wagtail down inspecting our work, and Margaret saw a Willow Warbler there earlier this morning, with a Peregrine out over the crag. Maggie Birtwell yesterday, had heard a Grasshopper Warbler at the Coal Ila road end and then a Whitethroat as she walked down the path leading to the Lily Loch. Maggie also commented that she feels that the Tysties at Coal Ila itself have done better this year. There was an Oystercatcher with 3 young just past Gortan on Loch Indaal this evening and then an Eider was out on the water with 3 young. This morning, we had heard a Corncrake calling round at Ballinaby.