Hi Peter,
sorry for the delay getting a short round up to you, been busy enough since I got back. A pretty miserable few days weather wise, constant strong wind and some heavy showers, but surprising fall on the second day produced my 2nd island cuckoo and a northern willow warbler. Not too sure about the redpolls, possibly Icelandic types, very buff and I think a bit too bright and large for meally, but sure they're all just redpoll's anyway! Just a summary of high counts,
Red throated diver, 1-2 most days of the west end.
Great Northern Diver, minimum 13 on 22 off west end towards horn head, similar numbers most days. 1 full summer in harbour 21st.
Cormorant, 2 west end lake, 23rd, several off west end.
Grey Heron, 1 west across the harbour on 23rd.
Mute Swan, pairs on each lake, one east end paired up with a canada goose!
Canada goose, one east lake each day
Brent goose, an adult west end 21 and 22.
Shelduck, female east beach each day.
Mallard, atleast 10 most days.
Tufted duck, 15 west end, 4 east end.
Eider, pair in the harbour most evenings and mornings.
Hooded Mergansers, pair till 23rd.
Buzzard, heard above west town on 23rd but not seen.
Peregrine, adult pair and 1st summer east end most days.
Merlin, female 22 west end.
Corncrake, 1 west lakes from 23rd, 7 west town, 3 east town, minimum count of singing birds, 2 more around Maheroarty on 25th.
Pheasant, 2 males, 1 in each town.
Ringed Plover, Atleast 8 pairs west end, several more along road to east end.
Golden plover, 3 around the lighthouse 22, 1 east end 23.
Lapwing, about 9 pairs from west town towards east end, a few more around west lakes.
Sanderling, 3 from the boat on 25.
Turnstone, small numbers scattered around the island.
Dunlin, small numbers, very few in the harbour.
Curlew, 1 in harbour from 22.
Whimbrel, 3 west end 24th.
Snipe, 3 drumming birds, several flushed most days.
Bonxie, 7 east end and 1 in harbour 24th, 2-3 west most days from east end.
Little tern, 2 west lake 23rd.
Common Tern, 3 from 24th.
Arctic tern, 1 on 24th,
Puffin, very few on cliffs, several large groups off the east end.
Black guillemot, a few pairs east end.
Collared dove, 1 east end 23rd.
Cuckoo, 1st summer male, West Town, 23rd, later on cliffs towards East Town.
Skylark, atleast 10 pairs on a walk around the west end, several more east end.
White wagtail, 2 on 22nd, 4 west harbour on 23rd.
Song thrush, a pair in west town joined by a 3rd from 23rd, 1 east end 22nd.
Sedge Warbler, 7 singing birds.
Chiffchaff, 4-5 most days from 22nd.
Willow warbler, 2-3 from 23rd, including a grey northern type East end.
Raven, 2 roaming birds.
House Sparrow, 1 male West town, trying to pair up with a dusky faced tree sparrow, possible hybrid but not seen well.
Tree sparrow, c. 20, several nests around west town.
Redpoll, 2 large buff and white birds, possibly Icelandic, bit too bright and large for meally?
Goldfinch, 1 West town on 23rd.
