Sunday 8th May

A great day out here after a bit of a sluggish start, mind you I am not complaining... Yesterday, Peter reported through to say that he had a cracking view of a Corncrake calling away as he walked down to the South (old) hide, better still he had it in the scope for about 5 minutes. The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present out from the North (new hide) yesterday seen by Mandy. Today, Mandy had seen 13 Whimbrel at Rockside, and this evening there were 41 Greylags on the barley field there. Earlier on, Mandy heard a Corncrake in the reedbed leading to Machir Bay. Bob today carried out the WeBS count from Bowmore to Gartbreck, so here are the scores on the doors... 1 Heron, 5 Shag, 3 Cormorant, 1 Greylag, 1 RT Diver, 1 Mallard, 1 Pale bellied Brent, 2 RBM, 99 Eider, 12 Shelduck, 20 H Gull, 4 BH Gull, 6 GBB Gull, 2 LB Gull, 3 Sand Terns, 6 Arc Tern, 35 Oystercatcher, 5 Curlew, 4 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 189 Dunlin, 6 Lapwing, 115 R. Plover and 3 Turnstone. Along at Gartmain, Bob counted 58 Barwits. Back at home, he had a male Merlin. Up towards Bunahabhain today, Gary and Sam had a male Hen Harrier and several Common Sandpiper were on the shore at Bunnahabhain itself.  Round at Finlaggan, they heard Whinchat singing away, spotted an Osprey over the far end (South) of the loch, with the Ring necked Duck still present amongst the Tufties at the visitor centre end.