Monday, 2 May 2022

Monday 2nd May

 A cooler, cloudier day but light winds and no rain made it perfectly acceptable!

Visiting birder Chris Fletcher kindly sent in his notes for today. He had the first record this year of a Ring Ousel, which he saw down at the American Monument on The Oa and took the photo below. He also mentioned 3 Great Skuas seen from the ferry near Port Askaig as he arrived last Friday.



Michal Sur, back on Islay doing various bits of environmental work says “tell the blog man that there are Cuckoos everywhere: 2 at Conisby, 1 at Octofad, 1 at Ballimony and 1 at Gruinart."

I took an afternoon look from the hides on RSPB Gruinart. It is still all quite quiet, The two notable  sightings were 78 Whimbrel from the North Hide – one of the highest single flock counts on Islay – accompanied by 5 summer-plumaged Black–tailed Godwits and a couple of Knot – one in winter plumage, the other full breeding. At the South Hide another high count was noted, but a less welcome one of 22 Canada Geese.

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