Thursday 23rd May

If my memory serves me correctly, it was 2 years to the day when we had that big gale, net result was that a lot of the leaves on the trees were burnt off with the salt air. Today, a different story, yes windy but the leaves are hardly out yet! With the wind being up last night, it was not Corncrake counting weather, so just as well we did ours back on Tuesday! The Buff breasted Sandpiper is still present at Gruinart. I hear that yesterday off Lewis 1,125 Long tailed Skuas were counted in 2 hours on passage, the other day we well pleased with a count of 14 on Islay! Back on Tuesday, Carl had a GND off Port Charlotte, down at An Gleann towards Portnahaven, Carl saw 4 Whimbrel and 2 Woodpigeon. He had also heard the Corncrake calling at Bruichladdich. There was a report of a Corncrake seen down at Portnahaven with young. 

Wednesday 22nd May

Yesterday George had the Corncrake calling again down across the road from the oil depot at Bruichladdich, on the shore there was a Turnstone in summer plumage, Up on his ponds, George saw a Moorhen, heard a Sedge Warbler as well as some Whimbrel calling. He also had seen a pr of Greylag with young goslings. Last night we took the oppotunity to go out and listen for any calling Corncrakes as it was not too windy, a wise decision as the wind is stronger this evening. Here on our section, we had 9 in all, not bad really as it is early days... James today had seen a Buff breasted Sandpiper along the flats at Gruinart. Bob tonight also commented on noticing more Lapwing around at present. He was also saying that he was seeing more Whinchats compared to previous years.