Friday 7th June

The sun has been shining bright all day although not possibly as warm as it has been with hardly a cloud in the sky, and by the look of things it's here for a few more days yet... George had seen 2 Moorhens on his pond, could they be a pair? Further out, George heard a distant Cuckoo calling, with some Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats "singing" away, closer at hand. Carl saw a Sandwich Tern on Loch Indaal off Port Charlotte. Here at home, thinking of the Cuckoo, yes, I have heard them quite often this year, but in the distance, and only the once down here in the wood, not that I would want them calling away early in the morning when I am still in my bed!!

Thursday 6th June

Another great day over here again.... Yesterday, Jeremy and Kim had 2 Whimbrel over at Loch Gruinart, James had a Yellowhammer and also a Golden Eagle over the reserve. Nick had carried out his second round of his tetrads yesterday as well. The tetrad immediately around here proved quite interesting, with the highlight being a total of 13 Chough counted, Corncrake heard in "Minister's field", 2 Twite present as were Linnets, Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting. The tetrad over beyond Coull, taking in Carn Mor and some of the coastline had a completely different set of birds, Herring Gull, Lesser BB Gull, Fulmars, Black Guillemots, Razorbills out on the sea, Gannets flying past, back on land, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Comic Tern and plenty of Lapwings. Nick's other square was North of Bunnahabhain, on land,  pr Whinchat, Whitethroat and Skylark while out on the Sound of Islay, Gannets, Shag, GND and Black Guillemot  were all seen. Thanks Nick. Yesterday Stafford had a Golden Eagle over behind Ballygrant. He also saw 2 Cuckoos pursuing each other and finally 2 Curlew. Here at home, the Redpolls and the Siskins are still present as were 2 Collared Doves today

Wednesday 5th June

After last night's shortage of birds, tonight there are a few more to report, so off we go...Yesterday, Carl spotted a tight raft of over 200 Common Scoter on Loch Indaal off Laggan Point. on his way home at Shorefield last night Carl had a full variety of birds singing, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush,  Blackbird, Wren, Linnets, Chaffinch & Meadow Pipits as well. Visiting birder who is over for a few days heard a couple of Corncrakes on the reserve at Gruinart, better still one crossed the road in front of hime, so he saw one too! Jeremy and Kim had seen Common Scoter down at Ellister and also a probable Velvet Scoter there too. David and Jane had a male Hen Harrier up towards Mulindry and also a pr of Linnets. All these sightings were from yesterday. Danny today saw his first Blue Tit on his visit, and also a Coal Tit down beside The Woolen Mill. Danny also had a male Hen Harrier round Loch Gorm over Leek, and also a distant Golden Eagle over towards Saligo. Danny and Dave are now up to 94 species this visit, can he spot another 6 to make a 100? James reckons that the cold weather which we have been having has possibly kept the Scoters here, like the same with some waders last month as well.

Tuesday 4th June

Another glorious day with the sun shining through all day,  as someone said earlier to me earlier on, that he would have to go home and look the "after sun cream" out, not that we are complaining at all. Mike's weather station recorded 19 degrees mid afternoon, I know it was warmer elsewhere over on the mainland.... Apart from Michal leaving for Iceland yesterday, today Bob and Martin headed out to the mainland and meet up with Dave on Wednesday and then down to Girvan to meet up with Crystal and they are all going over to Ailsa Craig to help Crystal carry out a Seabird survey, definitely need the after sun, and possibly stiff necks as well once the job is done.

Margaret had a Starling on the bird table today along with its fledged youngster, the first young Starling of the year here!

Monday 3rd June

Martin who  is over here on holiday this week, has given us some sightings that he has had in and around Carraig Fhada/ Kilnaughton Bay. 10 Razorbill, 5 Guillemot, 10 Eider, 10 Arctic Tern, 5 LBB Gull, 10 Siskin, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Rock Pipit, 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Heron, 3 RB Merganser and 5 Cormorant. Thanks Martin. George was saying that the Oystercatcher the nest on the shoreline had failed, but he has found one up towards his ponds with 3 eggs in it. Paul Graham had a Corncrake calling down the back of Bruichladdich and through the day, Skylarks singing away! James had an Osprey yesterday over Loch Gruinart, with 2 GND in summer plumage on the water itself. Today in front of the Visitor Centre at Gruinart, James had 2 Corncrake and along the woodland trail, he heard a Blackcap.  

Today Michal flew over to Iceland where he will be doing voluntary work for the next 3 months, living in a tent. Hope he knows about the big black mozzies  that are there! All the best to Michal.

Sunday 2nd June

Danny kindly gave me this image of a Spotted Flycatcher which he took earlier in the week. Martin was in touch to correct my statement from last night, it was Golden Plover not Dotterel that he had seen, sorry Martin! He also had 2 pr of Whinchat and about 10 Stonechats on his walk as well as a Common Sandpiper on Loch Uigeadail which is up in the hills above Ardbeg. Today, Danny had a Dipper on the River Sorn and another visiting birder saw Sanderling down on Machir Bay. Other visitors from Oxfordshire had seen a Golden Eagle down on the Oa , seen a ringtail Hen Harrier, a GND just off the Singing Sands all today and had heard a Corncrake calling up behind Machir Bay yesterday evening, so they are well pleased. This evening round at Ballinaby, there were several small family groups of Lapwings along with young, just hope they don't get predated on. 

Sunday 1st June

After the showers this morning it turned out to be a not bad day with the sun shining, not that warm though...

Martin had been out on the hills today down the bottom end (South) of Islay and thought he had a possible sighting of Dotterels, could they be nesting out there? Back on Thursday, Louise had an Osprey over Loch Gorm. Today James had a Whitethroat singing away in his garden at Mill cottage. 

The rainfall here for May tallied out at 4.25" which is wetter than last year but not far of a "normal May".....