Monday 15th May

A decent sunny and dry spring day today with a few folks out and about birding.

Martin Kaye sent in a summary of his day: Sedge Warbler in reed bed behind Kilchoman Manse and 25+ Choughs over the house. Male Hen Harrier and a White-tailed Eagle (2nd winter?) around Loch Gruinart and 9 Tufted Ducks on Ardnave Loch. From Ardnave Point, both Common and Arctic Terns on Eilean Beag plus a roost of 34 Redshank. Finally 3 Dunlin in summer plumage at Saligo Bay.

Ed Burrell sent in a note about Wood Pigeons - not a hugely exciting species, but we don't often get large numbers here so his count of 17 on The Oa is noteworthy and coincides with a note from Tom Garner who comments that he saw a "surprisingly large number" at Gruinart yesterday. and another note from Jim Dickson saying that there were 11 on Tiree this morning.

Tom also noted Cuckoos at Bunnahabhain  and Port Askaig and a Golden Eagle at Bholsa where there were two summer-plumaged Great Northern Divers.

James How had BOTD with a Little Egret at the Gruinart South hide and a Wood Sandpiper at the North hide - only about 30 records of the latter on Islay, most of them in May.