At some point I'll have to report the bleakness that is last night's corncrake numbers, but we'll start with the more cheerful stuff. Visitor Graham Baldry gives us a short-eared owl sighting for the second day in a row, this time from the Glen road and with a male hen harrier also seen. Graham also had a harrier on the high road. Thanks Graham!
James from RSPB had 5 grasshopper warblers reeling at Loch Gruinart last night, and today a bullfinch with 2 juvs and 2 whooper swans. Last night he also had 2 calling corncrakes at Gruinart, on the second island-wide count of the season. Despite the decent weather conditions it seems to have been a tough night. The Rhinns (from Bruichladdich down to Portnahaven), for so long one of the strongholds for corncrake on Islay, had just 4 calling males. 7 more were picked up around NW Islay, but I've not yet heard of any more from elsewhere around the island. Just 7 years ago we were over 100 calling males, so this is quite the decline.
So, for any visitors reading, here's a quick reminder of the website for reporting corncrake sightings (or hearings) to the birdy folk at RSPB. Every one counts these days!
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