Friday 21st July

It's Friday, and the weekend starts with Mary-Ann reporting a RB merganser with 2 chicks at Cnoc Bay. 

It was Al Kitching's last day on the island and he managed two more harriers at Gruinart, bringing his weekly tally to six. Looking toward Kilchoman he had a golden eagle, but the Islay choughs eluded him again.

pic c/o Al Kitching

Whist Annie and I were painting the hide at Gruinart an adult WTE drifted overhead. Lauren had 2 different corncrakes north of Saligo, one calling and one seen. 

Rob and Anna emailed in their final update for the week too, driving round Loch Gorm they saw yet another corncrake close to the road, then heard a reeling gropper just before the Sanaig turn. A barn owl was seen as they headed toward Sanaigmore, plus a WTE. At Loch Gruinart, they watched 2 WTE sharing a fish, 120+ curlew and 6+ greenshank, plus a ringtail harrier getting its breakfast stolen by a buzzard on the Flats. 

I missed a late record from Margaret of 12 chough and a buzzard over the crag at Kilchoman on Thursday.  

That's all, thanks very much again to all the above, particularly Al and Rob for taking the time to pass on their sightings and saying such nice things about the blog. Cheerie!