Wednesday 22nd April

Mary Redman e mailed some sightings seen by herself and her Dad,  Donald...
"I saw my first tern of the year in the bay here yesterday, not sure of species but it was 'quite' big.

Also there is a flock of around 20 Whimbrel feeding near Claddach. 

The Starlings are very noisy just now- including a Corncrake impersonator! 

My Dad had a magpie on his roof on Kerrera yesterday! I hear there's been a few sightings I'm Argyll, but he did get a shock! 

Hope you're all well, the sunny weather continues!" 

Mandy has also set through some sightings as well....

"This morning, I heard a Cuckoo down beside the phone box at the end of Loch Gorm, my first for this year.

4 red polls just flew over whilst I'm sitting in the sun in my front garden, this afternoon. Green veined white just flew round the front garden.

The Starling has added to its repertoire again- this time an adult male human saying a 3 syllable phrase, couldn't work out what it said!!!!"

Peter sent more birds for the blog, just great!!!

• a single flock of 23 Eider near Bowmore on the fortnightly shopping visit
• a single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper on the shore near Bruichladdich

Lots of Willow warblers, Wheatears and Sand Martin about – plus Sandwich Terns offshore.

 

Monday 15th December

Another "hooley" tale tonight about birds in the wrong place... Yesterday, Mary had spotted 3 pairs of Eider ducks on Claddach Loch down at Portnahaven, normally they are on the sea at this time of year.. they all took off and were blown towards Portnahaven and Port Wemyss rather than the "short" flight down on to the sea. Another squally day with some dirty showers thrown in for good measure...

Sat 26th June

This is one of the Dunnock family present in Carl's garden down at Port Charlotte. Yesterday Carl had the seen the Great northern Diver again out in the bay at Port Charlotte. Today at the mouth of the burn at Uiskentuie he had 5 female Eider with their respective broods together. Over at Gartmain there were there were 7 Mute Swan present.

Yesterday, Margaret had been watching a young Chough emerging from the nest. It came came out, but a Jackdaw came along and gave a tug at one of the Chough's tail feathers and the youngster made a hasty return back inside!

Tonight as we came back home there was a Short eared Owl out on the wing down beside Loch Gorm.

On leaving us this morning, Charles from Derbyshire said that they had seen 9 different Hen Harriers whilst being here this week as well as several Otters. Needless to say he was well pleased as was the rest of his family too!!

Tues 15th May 07

Update from Jura , sightings this past week have included a Short Eared Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Song thrush in full song, single Magpie (rare bird over here!), Eider Ducks are building in numbers.

A Mute Swan was seen defending territory against Greylag Geese, Eider and Shelduck!

On the bird table, there now appears to be a dominant pair of Siskins. With more Swallows around, there were 7 pairs all trying to establish nests in a barn!

There was also a really close sighting of a Great Northern Diver, but needless to say no camera to hand! Stonechat and Wheatear were observed all around. L.G. & G.M.

A day spent out doing BTO survey work, either Ringed Plover Surveys or WeBS counts. The latter were completed over the Outer Loch Indaal in near perfect conditions given the very light winds and excellent visibility. Great Northern Divers are still hanging on, a few parties of Common Scoter were evident and small numbers of Guillemot were using the outer reaches but, strangely enough, no Razorbills were present on this occasion.

Many of the waders now appear to have passed through (unless they were part of the "first wave"). Remnant numbers of dunlin, Turnstone and Whimbrel apparent, but "Arctic" Ringed Plovers appeared to have left. However, from past experience, there's three weeks left for more to pour through! J.S.A.