Ardnamurchan Estate

30th April Overcast, rain later. Corncrake calling. Male adder on path to Gorten.

29th April Sunny. First cuckoo. Corncrake still calling, day and night.

28th April Sunny and bright. Corncrake calling outside garden 5.30 am.

27th April Misty and mild. 3 pairs goldfinches in garden.

26th April Bright clear day, sunny but breezy. Kestrel appeared to fly from within the castle to hunt by the gorse in the fields and later in the morning just outside the garden, above the shore. Redshank on shore? Pair of pied wagtails in garden. Wheatears now all about. 3 ravens playing in front of house.

24th and 25th April Gale force winds.

20th April Calm and cool, overcast with sunny spells. Wheaters, pied wagtails and meadow pipit gathering nest material in the garden. Great northern diver in the bay. Sparrowhawk in trees near house. Starlings from the steading making an appearance in the garden. .

18th April A mild calm morning. Wheaters gathering nest-material in front of the house, 3 swallows over bull’s field. Tawny owls calling near house 10pm.

17th April Barn owl near junction early morning. First bee and butterfly. Despite the squalls driving down the loch each day and gales raging at night, spring is here. As well as primroses a tiny violet was flowering in the woodland. Around old ruins the scent of young nettles.

Fat buds on the scrub oaks along the headland and catkins on the hazels.

14th April Early morning, geese passed over Ben Hiant heading to North-west. The weather cleared bright and windy On the hill golden plover and circling above a high crag a pair of golden eagles. Female was unkempt with a number of primaries missing. If they have bred they should be sitting on eggs, however as it was very warm in shelter any eggs should be safe for a short time.

1st May South-easterly gale.