Thursday 18 May 2017

Thursday 18th May

Another day in, wonder if I will make the deadline of midnight, at present it is just by a few minutes, still the 18th... Yesterday morning, Lesley and myself gave Bob a hand to carry out the survey along the River Sorn. We were accompanied by visitors Paul and Sue Murfitt who are here for the week, Bob first met with them at the Birdfair. Our highlights were 3 Cuckoo, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Dipper, a Long tailed Tit, 4 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest and 2 Spotted Flycatcher. Today, Bob had been out with Paul and Sue. Over at the airport, they saw a couple of Curlew with 4 chicks and 8 Turnstone down on the shore. At Kildalton, 2 Greater spotted Woodpecker and 8 Spotted Flycatcher and a Bullfinch. Along at Claggain Bay, 2 GND were offshore and 2 Golden Eagles seen out over the hills. Finally, up behind Bridgend a distant White tailed Eagle was present. Today, the Rochdale birders had seen a juv. Golden Eagle over Octomore hill. They went up and walked in past Killinallan up to Gortantoid and back past the waterfalls and along the beach.. On their way to their starting point, they heard a Corncrake calling at Blackpark and along at Erasaid, a Blackcap was present. Birds seen on their walk were as follows, Mipit, Tree Pipit, Skylark, Robin, Twite, Barwit, Buzzard, Chough, Raven, Stonechat with young, Whinchat, Wheatear,  Whimbrel, Lapwing, Ringed Plover and 20 Golden Plover. Stephen and Mandy, other birders from the Birdfair, called in earlier on, so one thing led to another and when we went  out for some food we met in, by chance, with Paul and Sue, a really small world...Both couples had never visited Islay before, but both agreed that it will not be their only visit. Paul and Sue have seen 110 species so far... On our way home this  evening, we heard 2 different Corncrakes calling, one along at Rockside, the other down at the beach... Stephen and Mandy saw a pr of Bullfinches at Kildalton.

Job done with a minute to spare!!!

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