Wednesday 22 June 2022

Wednesday 22nd June

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!

RSPB Corncrake Calling

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