Monday 11th April

It may have remained dry today but there was a lazy Easterly wind blowing, with the cold air going through you, rather than round you...Yesterday, Michal had hear his first Willow Warbler for the year, just outside the office at Bushmills. He also heard Treecreepers calling away along the woodland trail. He had also spotted a Stoat carrying a vole into a hole in a stone wall... Peter Roberts had also heard a Willow Warbler calling away at the rear of his house down at Bruichladdich. Later on, Peter had been on a quick return trip to Kennacraig on the ferry but reported a "totally birdless trip with not even a gull being seen". Visitors to the visitor centre at Gruinart had written in the diary of seeing 2 Sandwich Terns at Bruichladdich, 2 Pale bellied Brent amongst the Barnies at Kilchoman, and also 2 Pinkfoots amongst the flock of Whitefronts there as well. Bob Swann and Andrew Ramsay from Tain had seen 12 Sand Martin at Gruinart yesterday. Today at Ardnave, they saw an Iceland Gull. Arminreported through from the walking week and felt that there was a lack of birds seen because of the cold wind... All the same there were a few Skylarks, all flying quite low, 2 Buzzards were seen, one circling over Foreland with the other closer to hand as they walked back towards Bridgend, this one was being closely watched by 2 gulls.... Our Bob Davison, late afternoon, had seen the White tailed Eagle again, but this time it was really close, taking a Hare from the field adjacent to his house, wonder can Bob call it a "house bird" now???