Firstly, here are two late worthy reports from May. There was a Willow Tit in the Mill House area of Lamlash from 16^th to 18^th.  This is the first record since 14 May 2004.  Then, on 29 May, an Osprey flew over the Holy Isle harassed by what seemed to be the entire gull population of that island.

In comparison with May 2009 and with June 2008, June 2009 was drier and warmer.  The mean temperature was over three degrees higher than in May and there was the half the rain, most of it falling between the 16^th and 20^th. 

Raising young is the priority during the long daylight hours in June, and the settled spell in June seemed to have benefited the breeding birds.  There were many reports of fledged birds in gardens including a second brood of Starlings in Shannochie on 27^th and a second brood of Blue Tits in Brodick on 28^th.  In addition, there was a family of Redpolls at Corriecravie on 7^th, a nest with seven young Wood Warblers in Glen Rosa on 8^th, a pair of Shelduck with nine young at Pirnmill on 12^th and the Barn Owl box scheme organised by Rab Logan of the Forestry Commission had over two thirds of the boxes occupied.

Whinchats, whose decreasing numbers are a cause for concern nationally, seem to be thriving in some areas of Arran with up to eight pairs in Glen Sannox on 11^th, nine pairs on the Ross Road on 13^th and five pairs in Glen Rosa on 14^th.

Other reports included: four Swifts over Drumadoon on 5^th, a Barnacle Goose at Clauchlands on 7^th, six Crossbills in Lamlash on 7^th,  Woodcock roding in Catacol on 8^th, Spotted Flycatcher in Brodick Castle Gardens on 11^th, both Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver off Blackwaterfoot on 14^th, a male Common Scoter in Kilbrannon Sound on 23^rd and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the adventure playground in Brodick Country Park on 29^th.

In June there was the first report of one of Arran’s less common summer visitors, a Lesser Whitethroat.  A male was singing at Auchenhew Bay on 27^th.  The last report was in the summer of 2007 from the same area.  There have been no reports so far this year of Common Tern or Redstart.

My thanks to the people who responded to my request for information on House Martin and Swallow nests If you have House Martin or Swallow nests on your property and you have not been in touch, would you please take a moment to let me know how many occupied nests you had last year 2008 and how many you have this year 2009, and whether or not you feel these were established sooner or later than in 2008?

Now moving onto July.  July is the time when many birds having raised their young, go about the process of renewing their feathers by moulting them.  As birds are vulnerable when they are shedding flight feathers they literally make themselves scarce.  On any birding walk you may see fewer birds but they are still around.