Tuesday 26th August

Mandy the long term vol at Gruinart saw a Minke Whale off Portnahaven on Sunday afternoon as well as some Manxies passing Frenchman's Rocks.This evening on my way the bird nerds I saw around 1,000 Greylags between Rockside and Sunderland Farms. At the actual meet, we saw an Osprey on the gravel spit on Loch Gruinart, a Sparrowhawk on the telegraph pole, 2 groups of Redshank, 18 and 7 in number, 2 Ringed Plover, a Wheatear, several Buzzards, 4 coming home at Sunderland alone, Curlews, Knot and Dunlin but not actually counted! There were Meadow Pipits, Rock Pipits and a few Skylarks seen as well. Another topic of conversation was the bird nerds proposed trip to Extramedura next April/ May, sounds like a great trip which will be led by Peter Roberts.