Wed 14th July

An image sent through from George tonight, of House Sparrows on Red hot Pokers in his garden taken the other day. George said that unfortunately it was taken through the window, and possibly does not look as clear as it might have been, if the window had been open.

Today Bob Davison and his 2 friends had seen a couple of Swifts over the phone box at the head of Loch Gorm. They had also seen a single Swift yesterday at Bob's house up the back of Port Charlotte. While they were out today they had a 2 Dunlin and 12 Sanderling on Machir Bay. At Gruinart they had seen 30 Bar tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank and 2 Greenshank. On Loch Indaal, they counted 275 Dunlin while on the spit there were a another 2 Dunlin and 6 Turnstone.

Yesterday on Loch Indaal, Carl had counted 178 Bar tailed Godwit.

Tues 13th July

An image of a Meadow Pipit sent through by Carl last night. Yesterday, Carl had seen Little Tern on Loch Indaal, young Meadow Pipits at Blackrock. Round at Gartmain there were a few Redshank, the family of 3 Barnacle Geese and also Common Sandpiper. The Little Terns were seen feeding their young the other day by our visitors, who were well pleased with a sighting of a Golden Eagle while they were out and about.

Mon 12th July

An image of one the young Swallow broods newly fledged one day last week up in the shed. There are 3 nests up there this year, another nest above the fuse box in the garage, one in the dog's shed and another 4 nests up at Shepherd's cottage. On Saturday morning, I counted 24 Swallows perched on the telegraph wires, possibly all the first brood gathering up before heading off, as certainly there are not so many around today.

Sun 11th July

Yesterday evening, a couple of visiting birders from Hampshire had seen a Red Grouse along with 5 young when they were out checking what was present around Loch Gorm, that was before the rain came on! Yes, we already have had more rain so far this month than we had in total for May and June together. The sun is shining outside at present and it was nice this afternoon. Our visitors had also seen the Spotted Flycatcher here in the wood too.

George had 11 Arctic Terns down at Bruichladdich today including a few juvenile birds. He also noted that some of the adult birds were retuning with some sprats to feed the others. On the shoreline with Loch Indaal, George had 5 Ringed Plover and at 5am this morning there were 6 Oystercatcher calling away. Later on in his garden, he had a Whitethroat, a Greenfinch (the first for a long time) and a Redpoll. Last night George had heard a Whimbrel calling. Someone in Bruichladdich had been telling George of seeing a young Cuckoo out. Thankfully the Cuckoo has stopped calling here at home! George also had a dead jellyfish down on the beach.

Sat 10th July

A distant image taken this morning of a newly fledged young Kestrel, the first one out of the nest. With the rain on now, if it has any sense it will be back in to the nest again and shelter!

There are 3 siblings in all, 2 larger with the other being slightly smaller.

Fri 9th July

This is an image sent in by Dan Brown taken from the ferry last week as he came over for a few days. If you look above the top right Manx Shearwater you will see a Peregrine Falcon. It had several attempts attacking the Shearwaters, but with no luck! He also saw 2 Crossbills at Ardtalla and had a large flock of Redpolls in one of the fields there too. If you remember back to February, Dan sent in the image of the White tailed Sea Eagle taken on the flats at Gruinart.

One of our visitors had found a dead Puffin the other day down at the "singing sands" at Port Ellen.

James is on holiday down on The Scilly Isles and was on the phone tonight to say plenty of Bottle nosed Dolphins to be seen, and also live Puffins around too! On Monday he is hoping to be "snorkeling with seals", all going well. The weather is better down there by the sound of things!

We noticed several Arctic Terns along the shoreline of Loch Indaal between Bruichladdich and Gortan.

Thurs 8th July

Another image sent through from Carl, this time of a Ringed Plover. Yesterday Carl had adult Ringed Plover along with young on the foreshore in front of Bruichladdich Distillery. Also at Bruichladdich were 2 Eider and 4 ducklings as well as a Black Guillemot, and Common Sandpiper. Along at Gortan, there was another Common Sandpiper.

Today, we had a few Gannets over Loch Indaal, and on the shore at Port Charlotte, there was a single adult Ringed Plover along with its' 2 youngsters.