Saturday 7th May - Dark-eyed junco

Only one thing worth talking about today, and that's Mary's kestrel just outside Portnahaven. 

Just kidding. Bird Of The Day, and probably Bird of the Year, goes to this fabulous dark-eyed junco, found this morning in a private garden in Kildalton by a chap called Bob (whose surname hasn't filtered through to me yet), and then photographed by David Wood, above. Jim Dickson was in touch to say that this looks like a male, and if accepted, it will be a new species for Islay and Argyll. It's a North American bunting and they usually turn up in the UK in spring, with around 10 previous records for Scotland. So the twitch will be on! Hopefully all the extra attention will turn up something else good. Please let us know any further sightings. 

Dave Protherough's partner Emma also had a corncrake at Cornabus. James was out early on the hill at Gruinart, and had 5 singing groppers, 4 whinchats, 6 whitethroats, and 4 calling water rails. 

Thanks to all the above.