Friday 6th May

What a cracker of a day  it has been out here and for a short time, no wind, so we took the chance and got 3 large areas sown with various wildflower seed mixes, and tomorrow they are talking of some rain, fingers crossed. Louise on her way home last night had seen a Marsh Harrier over on Jura. Also yesterday, a visitor was in touch to say that they had seen a Short eared Owl, while driving round Loch Gorm. Carl today had a couple of Blackwits just out of Port Charlotte. Michal on the reserve had seen a male Hen Harrier along 2 ringtails. The Cuckoo was at Moulin (again!!!) and now joined by a calling Corncrake!!!! Along at the office at Bushmills a Whitethroat was singing away, with 5 Sedge Warblers heard by Michal as headed into work. This afternoon, Michal saw a male Sparrowhawk chasing a Meadow Pipit at Ballinaby. James today had a count of 35 Whimbrel just the Bridgend side of Bowmore. On the reserve today, James had a Peregrine, heard a Corncrake calling, 2 Whitethroats , 1 Whinchat, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Stonechats, 3 Groppers, 1 Waterrail and a Blackcap. This morning coming back up the road, no sign of the Canada Geese, but there were 6 Whimbrel across the road and a Cuckoo was seen down below Foreland entrance, towards Tynacolle. Martin today had been working a job at Ballygrant and had to put with very vocal Cuckoo, it never stopped calling while he was there for over 4 Hours!!! Back at his house, Martin had a couple of Twite on his feeders, the first he has had this year, he has also had 4 Common Redpoll there of late. A quick walk outside around 8 pm, and I heard a Corncrake calling down the reedbed just over the wall from our former house, with the "local" Cuckoo calling away up the glen, long may it stay there...