Tuesday 9th May

Yesterday evening Bob had spotted the male Garganey out in front of the South hide, possibly the same duck that "the Olds" had seen earlier on. Today, James had watched an Osprey for some time over on Loch Gruinart itself. "The olds" today had seen 23 Whimbrel on the emerging barley field down at the Coastguards. Along at Coull, they saw a Sedge Warbler and then shortly afterwards a Collared Dove. Over, close to the airport they saw a cracking male Hen Harrier and finally 9 Pale bellied Brent geese at Blackrock. Up at Ardnave,Mark had seen 2 Great Skuas, 8 Comic Terns, 2 Barnies, 16 Whimbrel, 95 Dunlin, 57 Ringed Plover, a Hen Harrier, 17 Barwits and an Otter. The Bowland birders had been over out past Ardbeg today. In Kildalton Woods, they had Willow Warbler, Chifchaff, 3 Blackcap, Tree creeper, Siskin, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Redpoll, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and Wren. Along at Claggain Bay, they saw 2 Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, 4 GND, 16 Arctic Terns flying towards Port Ellen, many Redpoll, Common Sandpiper and a Sparrowhawk. On their way back to their holiday cottage, at Blackrock, they had the Brent Geese, House Martin and Raven. Here at home, this evening Margaret had a count of 33 Chough out on the machir. The birds have been busy again on the feeders, might try and get a count of them tomorrow for you...