13th June,2010.

A quite pleasant day with lots of sunshine but still cool at times in the fresh northerly.

Whilst this time of year is inevitably quiet a period at Gruinart produced a few duck, Moorhen with young, a couple of parties of presumably non-breeding Grey lag Geese, calling Corncrake and a fine male Hen Harrier out hunting. Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat were in song and a Cuckoo called for a short period.

Outer Loch Indaal was very quiet with a few Razorbiill and a single Great Northern Diver, possibly the last of the non-breeding lingerers. It's ever possible that odd birds remain throughout July and August, but I've never recorded them in the loch itself then. I suspect they don't return that far northwards, but remain at sea taking advantage of the ranging fish stocks. At present Common Gulls are quite numerous over inland pastures, in flight or "on foot", seeking out invertebrate prey. Over 150 adults gathered alongside Loch Indaal perhaps suggested they had had an unsuccessful breeding season. Over the last few days there has been an obvious arrival of "new" House Martins with a couple of people commenting on attempts to colonise their properties.