Sunday 17 April 2011

Sunday 17th April

A busy day again, James had led one of the walks today, going round Ardnave Point and then following the coast along to Sanaigmore, with over 50 folk on the walk. James had 4 Arctic Terns off Ardnave Point. This evening Margaret saw a Cuckoo on the overhead cables down at Foreland. Malcolm had 200 Pale bellied Brent Geese flying South down Loch Indaal, trust they have realised they should be heading North...

George had seen a Barn Owl in his shelter belt today, the first he reckons in over 25 years. He had 60 Barnies heading North mid afternoon. James reckons that most of the geese have gone, with only a few stragglers left. George had a flock of 700 Barnies at Sanaigmore on Thursday, he also saw 3 Stonechats. Today he heard a Whimbrel calling while earlier this week he saw an Oystercatcher sitting on eggs down on the shore. Down on the shore today he had a Mistle Thrush as well as a couple of Song Thrush.

Yesterday Bob had 2 Arctic Terns and 2 Common Sandpiper at Ardistillery. He had Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and Bullfinches in Bridgend Woods, with another Bullfinch down at Cairnsmore Wood at Port Ellen. Later on there was a large flock of Golden Plover in the fields up towards his house. The Iceland Gull was still present at Bunnahabhain, with a White tailed Sea Eagle over the Sound of Islay. Today, over at Gartbreck there were around 200 Eider Duck displaying, a Merlin was also seen there and a few Knot were present at Gartmain.

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