Community Action Plan Survey

It's the last day for contributions to the confidential survey which will help to create an Action Plan for the future so the Development Company, Community Council and other local groups can attract new funding and plan developments which fit with the views and needs of residents and visitors to West Ardnamurchan. It can be completed online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WACDPsurvey.

Bird News

After his owl pictures yesterday, The Raptor is certainly earning his substantial salary as the Diary's chief avian correspondent with this photograph of a swallow. The Raptor writes, "I was just listening to the weather man telling me that it's going to get colder as the weekend approaches when I looked out of the window to see the first swallow of the season arriving."

Meanwhile, in Ormsaigbeg, where the swallows have yet to arrive, we're still seeing redpolls coming to the seed in the pheasant-proof cages on our front terrace. The male must be one of the most smartly feathered of birds, though....

....for sheer brilliance the male yellowhammer is difficult to beat. This one was in bright sunlight and the camera struggled to cope with his glowing colours.

The most recent returnees to the bird-feeding area are the linnets - this is a female. The male has the same sort of red patches on him as the redpoll but the female is much more low-key.

Meadow pipits are here in some numbers, moving around the croft fields along Ormsaigbeg in small, twittering flocks, while....

....the sand martins are making themselves at home in the quarry along the Sanna road and in the larger one at the roadside to the south of Loch Mudle.

A pair of shelduck used to nest regularly in Kilchoan Bay but we haven't seen them for some time. However, this one was flying over the bay the other day so, hopefully, they're back.

A pair of buzzards are very active along Ormsaigbeg, and drawing the unwelcome attention of the local crows, resulting in some interesting aerial confrontations. We couldn't work out whether this one was carrying a stick as a contribution towards nest building, or whether the object dangling from its talons was a snake or slow worm - presumably a gift to his mate.

Many thanks to The Raptor for his photograph.

Lost 'Phone

A mobile 'phone has been lost by a cyclist on the road somewhere between Acharacle and Kilchoan but most likely between Glenborrodale Castle and Kilchoan. It’s a small black Nokia 'phone in a black case. If anyone has found it, please contact Ardnamurchan Estate on 01972 510 208.

A Confused Tawny Owl

From The Raptor:

A report came to me from someone who said they had seen an owl sitting on an upstairs window ledge of an empty house not far outside Kilchoan. I obviously had to investigate after a second person came to me with the same story. So off I went in pursuit of this window owl.

On arrival at the property I approached slowly and immediately saw the window owl tucked up on an upstairs window ledge, head turned and watching my every step. The owl I noted as being a tawny owl, not a daytime flier unless disturbed. So, could this bird be breaking the tawny owl rule book or had it decided that this very open window ledge was its daytime roosting spot? This is very unusual as, being a predator, they are harried at every turn by the wee birds who would be in fear of loosing young or their own lives to a tawny owl.

Luckily I had permission to enter the building so I very quietly climbed the creaking stairs and peered into the bathroom in which the window was situated. The owl was unaware of me getting to within three feet of it on the other side of the glass, but my luck ran out in two ways. One, this double window was clean and clear on one side and all fogged up on the other. I wondered which window the owl was behind - yes, it was the fogged up window. Two, I snapped one picture, took another step and a floorboard gave the game away with a loud creeeeeeek. The owl was off in an instant, leaving the ledge empty apart from one feather stuck to the concrete.

On leaving the property I went around to the point below the window to see if there were any pellets lying around, but to my total surprise I found these, two broken white eggs. Had this (probably immature) female owl laid her eggs on a sloping concrete ledge without a nest? What a disaster for her. If anyone can confirm that tawny owls are known to lay their eggs on a window ledge please let us know.

Many thanks to The Raptor for pictures and story.

Camas nan Geall Insects

Walking the land around Camas nan Geall yesterday in warm sunshine, we met more insects that are out for the first time this year. This peacock had found a sunny slope which was out of the wind to work the lesser celandine flowers growing amongst the dead bracken stalks while....

.....a large dor beetle seemed to be intent on a a somewhat aimless walk across some sheep-cropped grass.

Back in Kilchoan, at least two white butterflies were exploring the hedgerows, while the heather in our front garden was a mass of insects.