Corncrake.

A day of requests on a hot, sunny day turned out quite well. The guests for the day had an idea that they might like to see Corncrake so we decided to give it a bash. We started the day with an Otter, Golden Eagle and Adder were added soon after and the first of the requests was filled in when we got good views of a pair of Whinchat.

Mountain Hare was a bit more difficult as I got some fleeting glimpses of one a couple of times but nothing better than that. The Redshank and Lapwing were well photographed though.

We headed over to Iona to look for Corncrake in the foot high vegetation! You could hear them well enough but seeing one was going to be a challenge. The usual advice was given by passing tourists - 'you're wasting your time with them', 'I've been coming here for 15 years and never seen one yet' - all very encouraging eh? Just after the last comment was made I found this one lurking in the long grass!

We got views of that Corncrake as it preened itself and then it wandered off. Another two were picked up in really long vegetation but the best you could get was the vegetation moving as they ran around - funny to watch. I managed a couple of glimpses when but trying to give directions in the sea of yellow was not easy.

Another request for the day had been Raven - I was the last one to attempt photos and they decided to leave just as I pointed the camera.

A Hooded Crow kept me amused while the guests were looking at the Oystercatchers.

Corncrake.

A trip over to Iona with Doc to have a look for Corncrakes was quite productive. The day started off with rain but it was supposed to get clearer as the day went on. In cool and breezy conditions there was not a Corncrake to be heard! Things did improve but there were a few distractions along the way...Sedge Warbler ...

...Pied Wagtail...

...and some cracking views of Corncrake!

Other delights were some splendid Jackdaws...

...and plenty of tourist Corncrake - Song Thrush.

We spent a fair bit of time trying to track the Corncrake through the grass...

...watching them disappear into clumps of grass...

...and hiding in the brambles.

You could see them watching you...

...but they were showy too.

They may have stood in the open...

...but when they were face on they were surprisingly hard to pick up.

But how do you find the elusive Corncrake?

Just wait for them to start shouting!

A couple of Starling families were housed in the walls and not fussed by the passing humans.

A trip out to Staffa with Davy Kirkpatrick was well worth it. A couple of year ticks on the way there - Manx Shearwater and Purple Sandpiper plus a few Twite, Black Guillemot, Puffin...

...and a superb Great Skua.

Bad weather birder.

Another pleasant day up here with grey skies, wind and rain. A trip to Iona for Corncrake was on the cards but the weather wasn't the best. If you don't look you won't see - I'm up for that. Two Sandwich Tern were a year tick so that was a good start.

A Sedge Warbler singing in the rain was another year tick...

...and I saw a Corncrake in the first 10 minutes, another year tick. It wasn't a 'showing well' day for Corncrakes but I thought I should give it a shot. A Rook posed in the rain...

...a Peregrine flew over...

...I got very wet and managed to see three separate Corncrake and got three photos, none were any good! I did concentrate on looking at the birds rather taking photos though.

Good views of Gannet...

...Razorbill and Guillemot on the way back.

Not a bad effort on a poor day.

Different.

Friday I set off in the rain but the sun was shining as I picked up the guests for the day. It was a normal start to the day picking up the wading birds getting some stunning views of the Black-tailed Godwit...

...and Mountain Hare.

On our way to the next site we were stopped in our tracks by the appearance of an adult WT Eagle carrying the remains of a Mountain Hare!

A few Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Gannet and Rock Pipit restored the equilibrium.

The next big bird was of the metal variety as a Typhoon F15 Eagle flew past.

A male Hen Harrier showed well as we looked for, and found, Golden Eagle. A couple of Adders were quickly added to the list before we set off for closer views of the Goldies. Lunch was consumed before the Golden Eagles reappeared to show well.

We then turned the day on it's head as a decision was made to go for Corncrake in the afternoon. We checked a couple of locations which produced some calling birds and then picked a spot to try and see one of the elusive birds. A short wait produced the goods but it was tricky.

A bit of a break, supping tea and watching Gannets and a Great Skua, and then we headed back for more action. There were plenty of Goldfinch and Linnet flitting about providing some distraction.

We were on the verge of calling it a day when another Corncrake walked out of the Iris bed and then wandered back in again. It was good to get a view of the whole bird this time.

As we waited to board the ferry a Glaucous Gull was spotted on the beach so we let the ferry go. The Glaucous Gull played it's part well and paraded around in front of us.

A Jackdaw filled in the time waiting for the ferry to return...

...and the Gannets put on quite a show on the return trip.

It was a bit of a different day but well worth the effort!