Today started with a young Common Toad under a broken plant pot, found while dismantling the tent. The journey south was uneventful (although unusually warm and sunny) except for a Swallow visiting one of two nests in the entrance to Inveruglas Visitor Centre.
Back home, 3 or 4 Swifts were screaming high over the glade.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A quieter day today with damp weather still dominating. An evening walk produced several bats, a distant Tawny Owl and a Common Toad crawling across the road.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Today was taken up with a trip to Iona. This involved driving to Oban, a ferry to Craignure, a bus to Fionnphort and a ferry over to Iona, then the same in reverse. The weather was disappointing with virtually constant, smirry rain. However natural connections were in fairly liberal supply. First bird of note was a Short eared Owl flying along Glen More beside the bus (and being mobbed by some crows). This, disappointingly, turned out to be the only raptor of the trip – a fact no doubt due to the cloud base being at ground level and visibility being so poor that Iona did not come into view until we were half-way across the sound.
Iona itself did not disappoint. First birds seen (apart from a Greater black backed Gull on the beach) were a pair of Ravens. Then, walking through the village, the first Corncrake of the day was heard calling loudly from a neglected meadow. This set the pattern for the day. Wherever fields (or even patches of fields) had been left to grow wild, Corncrakes were calling. Altogether 13 were located within half a mile of the village. Other highlights of the walk north from the village included a flock of 20 Twite, nesting House Sparrows, juvenile Wheatears and assorted finches (including Linnet). The walk south from the village was less productive but turned up Rabbit, more Corncrakes and juvenile Wheatears, more nesting House Sparrows and a family party of four Sedge Warblers.
All too soon it was time to head back to Oban. This had been my third visit to Iona. It is a place which seems to call you back, and I am already looking forward to my next visit.
Crossing over from Iona, the boat disturbed a feeding flock of some 40 or so Shags. Then a short wait at Fionnphort enabled four more Greater black backs, a couple of Rock Pipits and one or two Hooded Crows to be picked up. The journey back through Mull was again lost in low cloud with only a few Swallows, Grey Herons, Eider and three Rock Doves emerging from the gloom. The ferry journey was a little better with six Black Guillemots along the coast at Duart Castle, some unidentified seals on Lady’s Isle and five Gannets in mid channel.

Monday, July 21, 2008

One of the first birds of the day was a Raven flying (and croaking) high over the tent. Later, a short trip to Oban was notable only for flocks of marauding gulls robbing the tourists of their chip suppers. Back at Benderloch a juvenile Blackbird was perched on the roadside.
The afternoon was spent on a very long walk through the forest from Barcaldine on Loch Creran to Achnaba on Loch Etive. Best records were crippling views of first one then a second Pine Marten crossing the forestry tracks. Both were less than 50 metres ahead and the first individual stood up on its hind paws to get a better look at me.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

The local chickens ensured an early start to the day. Other birds joining the chorus included Great spotted Woodpecker, House Sparrow (carrying food), Pied Wagtail, Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Swallow, 20 Jackdaws and two Willow Warblers. Later, a trip to Ardmucknish beach produced a preening Red throated Diver, a Grey Heron and 20 Oystercatchers. An evening walk around Seabank woods produced little of note (except a Roe Deer from the car). However extending the walk as far as Eriska Bridge added three Buzzards, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 5 Siskins, 20 Swallowsand 3 juvenile Stonechats.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Spent much of today driving to Benderloch, Argyll with stops at Luss, Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Oban. Lots of people at Luss meant few birds apart from a pair of Mute Swans and 40 hungry Mallards. Crianlarich was much quieter and a Swallow there was putting the finishing touches to its nest at the "Rod and Reel". Along at Tyndrum, 2 Siskins, 2 Greenfinches and around 10 Chaffinches were vising the feeders at the "Real Food Cafe". The rest of the journey was uneventful except that at some point the Carrion Crows turned into Hoodies.

Sitting at the door of the tent in Benderloch with the hills of Ardgour and Glencoe in the distance was a delight. Birds around the fields in the foreground included 2 Collared Doves, 20 Hooded Crows, a Song Thrush and a Buzzard. Later, a short walk along the lanes to the noth west produced another Buzzard, calling Tawny Owl and Curlew, a curious Weasel (which was tempted out of cover by squeaking noises), around 10 Swallows, fruiting Raspberries and banks of flowering Honeysuckle.