Tuesday 21st May

Yesterday George heard a Corncrake calling close to the Oil depot down at Bruichladdich, but it sounded as if it was on the shore side of the road. He also heard a Cuckoo calling and up at his ponds he had seen some fresh Otter spraint. Today, down on the Oa, on the RSPB guided walk , visitors saw a Golden Eagle. This afternoon, a female Dotterel was seen on reserve at Fang Dhu and Dave had counted 14 Long tailed Skua together over the reserve, flying inland. Here at home, there were a few more Swallows around, possibly arriving in with the slightly warmer weather yesterday! Having said that, the Swallow nest at the back door has fallen down already, the mud could not be of the right kind. I remember a few years back and all the House Martin nests fell down, again possibly the wrong mud...

Saturday 11th May

Some sightings or rather callings through from earlier in the week from Martin and Bob. They had carried out a survey from the Woollen Mill along the River Sorn to almost its' mouth at Bridgend. Here goes, a great variety of birds too. 2 Heron, 1 Buzzard, 30 Black headed Gull, 22 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 6 Collared Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Robin, 6 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 12 Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 9 Willow Warbler, 16 Wren, 2 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Treecreeper, 11 Jackdaw, 4 Rook, 6 Starling, 14 Chaffinch, 2 Redpoll, 4 Goldfinch and 6 Siskin. Yesterday, Andrew and Jane had a quieter day, (weather had a lot to do with that...) but saw a male Hen Harrier up at Gearach and on Loch Indaal off Bruichladdich, 2 Little Terns were seen. Today they had 5 Arctic Terns off Bruichladdich with a Redpoll on the shore opposite An Taigh Osda. They had a close sighting of a Long tailed Skua flying up towards Gruinart and finally had 3 light phase Arctic Skua over Blackrock heading towards Gruinart as well as 4 Pale bellied Brents were flying over to the head of Loch Indaal, Bluehouses area.