Sunday 30 May 2010

Sun 30th May

Today over at Gruinart, James had seen 3 broods of Eider ducklings strung along behind their parents. He also had a Redpoll, and heard a Grasshopper Warbler.
Carl had gone down from Port Charlotte to Portnahaven via Kilchiaran and Cultoon rather than going by Ellister and following Loch Indaal. The Sand Martin colony at Kilchiaran is occupied again, but possibly not as many birds as in previous years, and also juvenile Wheatears were seen close by. At Cultoon itself was a Curlew with young. During a short 20 minute sea watch from Frenchman's Rocks, 1 Red throated Diver, Arctic Terns, Fulmars, Guillemots, Kittiwake, Shag, Rock Pipits, Oystercatcher, Greater black backed Gull, Common gull and also 72 Gannet were counted. On the small lochan just before Claddach was a Canada Goose and also 35 Greylag. Lapwing with chicks were seen at Portnahaven, with a Corncrake calling beside the former Coastguard tower. Cuckoos were heard at Kelsay and later on at Wester Ellister.
Back here at home today a Wren was singing away as loud as ever, not to be outdone by the Chiffchaff and the ever present Cuckoo. Coming back from Gruinart there were 2 different Cuckoo on the wing ahead of us at different points, and down at Rockside there were 21 Greylag. With the recent dry spell, the causeway leading to one of the small islands has reappeared on Loch Gorm along with some of the large stones/ boulders showing now too.

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