Saturday 30th June

Earlier this week, Mary had carried out a count on Loch Gruinart, with her tallies as follows. 6 Heron, 130 Shelduck, 25 Mallard, 59 Eider, 231 Oystercatcher, 26 Ringed Plover, 1 Lapwing, 128 Curlew, 18 Rock Pipit, 21 Black headed Gull, 38 Herring Gull and a Greater black backed Gull.

Friday 29th June

Armin kindly sent this image of a male Hen Harrier, taken last week when we had blue skies, mind you the weather today has been a bit kinder!!! Still catching up with some sightings from when I was away, Carl had a Greenshank last Saturday down at Gortan, Mary had a family of Siskins on the bird feeders at Claddach down at Portnahaven last weekend. Bob & Lorna Young had a GND up at Sanaigmore, heard a Corncrake there too, as well as a Common Sandpiper were their highlights for last Saturday. On Sunday, up at Ardnave, their top birds were a White tailed Sea Eagle and later on a Shelduck with brood of ducklings. On Tuesday, down on the Oa, Michal saw a Short eared Owl.

Thursday 28th June

Some sightings from earlier this week... Peter had a Grasshopper Warbler calling down at Ellister the other night when he was out listening for Corncrakes. Michal on Monday had a juv Golden Eagle being mobbed by 5 Ravens just off Gruinart reserve. on Sunday, Adam "the vol" with RSPB at present had seen the Ring necked Duck up at Finlaggan as well as some Siskins there too. In Ballygrant wood, he had the Great spotted Woodpecker and a Treecreeper while on the Sorn, Adam saw the Dipper with young and also a Grey Wagtail. Karen from Portmahamock who is over for the week had a count of 45 Lapwing in one of the silage aftermaths at Rockside, and on Monday evening heard 2 Corncrakes over at Ballinaby, one at rockside and another down below the Coastguards cottages.

Thanks to James for doing the blog over the past few days while I have been away. 

Wednesday 27th June

We had a bird group meeting last night, so I have a round up of bird sightings from around the Island.
Around Bolsay, Bob has had a redpoll family and whinchat family, as well as at least 2 male hen harriers and 1 female. Adam who is volunteering at RSPB has seen 5 black tailed godwits outside the main hide at Gruinart, 2 short eared owls just outside Port Charlotte and a ring necked duck at Finlaggan. Pete has seen a tawny owl in Port Charlotte and Michal reported a female hen harrier, a short eared owl and a golden eagle at the Oa reserve. At work today I also received a report from Fiona that there were 57 beautiful black tailed godwits at Kilchoman, just to the north of the beach car park.

Tuesday 26th June

Not such a good day for birding, however last night was perfect for listening for corncrakes- with virtually no wind, the sounds of the night were clear. I could hear the seals moaning and the shellduck chuckling. Back to corncrakes, I heard 6 in the Gruinart area, with 2 water rails and 3 barn owls.
Yesterday a count of the Loch Gruinart Floods area revealed- 22 lapwing, 28 redshank, 78 mallard, 8 teal, 27 shoveller, 5 moorhens, 4 herons, 8 mute swans, 2 whoopers and today a male common scoter.

Monday 25th June

A cloudy, but good day with plenty of evening sun. I was out and about on the reserve at Loch Gruinart, where I saw a family of ravens with 3 young still begging for food from their parents. I also saw 3 siskins in different parts of the reserve. Siskin is not that common on the reserve - has there been an influx?
Bob and Martin had been out yesterday around Loch Indaal between Bowmore and Gartbeck. They had 18 shellduck, 26 greylags, 34 eiders with 18 ducklings, 50 oystercatchers, 16 ringed plovers, 45 lapwing, 6 dunlin, 35 curlew, 46 bar tailed godwit, 28 black headed gulls and a total of 88 arctic terns.

Sunday 24th June

A better day  with sunny spells. All the wet areas on the Island have been filled by the recent rain, making the young waders- redshank, snipe and lapwing easier to see, as they feed up. The warblers have become quieter, with the exception of sedge warblers still singing well especially at night.