Wednesday 26th March

Another great day again, could it be a start to some better weather, fingers crossed... Down on Loch Gorm there were 60 Whoopers, sign of birds on the move! The Green winged Teal was seen again today at Gruinart. Yesterday, the Bolton birders were at Saligo, "enthused about the turbulent seas, crashing waves and plumes of spray". There, Gannets and Fulmars constantly passing by with Eiders riding the surf. Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers were piping on the shore. Skylarks were singing over the grassland, with at least 5 Wheatear were seen feeding and perching on the rocks. Also seen were 2 Mute and 3 Whoopers (1 with a red ring another with a yellow ring) were seen on the pools in the fields behind. A pr of Stonechats were seen along the roadside on a patch of brambles. Along at Ballinaby, a female Merlin flew across the road and zipped into some gorse bushes. Sanaigmore a Golden Eagle was seen tussling with 2 Ravens. Over the wet field there, 14 Lapwings were displaying. Offshore, there were 4 GND with 6 Tysties and a flotilla of Eiders. a single Linnet few overhead. The Lincs birders had a pr of Stonechats at Laphroaig, Kintra, a Peregrine was seen and also a Raven. Further along from Ardbeg looking for an Otter, no joy, but several Eider, 2 Cormorant and half a dozen Merganser. Yesterday John and Kenny had an equally good day, with a small flock of Redwing along at Rock Mountain. Earlier on they had seen a pr of Buzzards mating high up on the crag behind Kilchoman, shortly afterwards the female after a bit of preening, launched herself off the cliff face. Seconds later, one the Ravens started to zap the Buzzard, what a spectacle. The Raven no doubt trying to "defend" its' patch! In the Bridgend Woods, they had Wren, Heron, Siskin, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Treecreeper with a Dipper on the Sorn. Finally they had a Grrenfinch at Bruichladdich. Finally, last night coming home from Gruinart, we had a Barn Owl sitting on the fence post at the side of the road.