March 2007

March 1
Golden Eagle: pair calling and performing undulating displaying and carrying sticks near Treshnish House
Skylark: heard singing in the morning
Meadow Pipit: few around Treshnish farm
March 2
White-tailed Eagle: 1 by Treshnish Point (SC)
March 3
Golden Eagle: pair at Haunn
Rook: 1 still with the Carrion Crows at Haunn
Skylark: 2 at Treshnish cottages
March 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 at Haunn (first of year)
Rook: 1 with the Carrion Crows at Haunn
Skylark: 3 at Haunn
March 7
Golden Eagle: 1 over Beinn Bhuidhe
Peacock butterfly: 1 at Glac Gugairidh (SC)

Overview 1-11 March
There were no flocks of Fieldfare or Redwing this winter, which were common at least in Spring 2006. No Golden Plover flocks were seen either, which were common around Haunn in spring 2006. Skylarks were heard singing each morning from at least 1st March. A pair of Golden Eagles were seen on most days around Treshnish farm and heard calling on two occasions. The Stonechats seen with caterpillars were at first presumed to be feeding young but after consideration it is more probable that they were both simply feeding themselves and that it was taking time to kill the caterpillars. They were both seen here on several subsequent days but were not seen here again when the weather turned for the worse about a week later. Meadow Pipits are regularly seen after an absence during the winter months. Goldfinch and Greenfinch are seen occasionally at the Treshnish House birdfeeders with the much more common Chaffinch. Song Thrush heard singing at dawn and dusk on most days. The Rook which has been present all winter is still at Haunn associating with the Hooded Crows

March 11
Chestnut moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
March 12
Woodcock: 1 in Treshnish wood
Curlew: 6 at Ensay
Lungwort: flowering in Treshnish wood (new to Treshnish list)
Lesser Celandine: flowering along track by Treshnish wood (new to Treshnish list)
Brittle Bladder Fern: Treshnish Wood
Golden-scaled Male Fern: Treshnish Wood
March 13
Mottled Grey moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 14
Gannet: 1 off Ensay Burn mouth
Pied Wagtail: 1 at Treshnish House
March 15
Golden Eagle: pair at Haunn
March 16
Curlew: 10 at Ensay
Meadow Pipit: a flock at Haunn
March 18
Golden Eagle: pair between Treshnish and Haunn cottages
Woodcock: 1 in Treshnish wood

Overview 12-18 March
Golden Eagles still seen in pairs. Skylark continue to sing in the mornings. The Stonechats have not been seen again near Treshnish Old School House. Pied Wagtail has returned and Woodcock are still present.

March 19
Greylag Goose: 2 at Treshnish lochan
Golden Eagle: 2 over Treshnish House
Curlew: 5 at Ensay
March 20
Great Northern Diver: 2 off Ensay Burn mouth
Eider: 1 male off Ensay Burn mouth
March 22
Kestrel: 1 at Treshnish House
Tawny Owl: 1 heard below Treshnish Old School House
Yellow Horned moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 3 at Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 23
Tawny Owl: 1 heard below Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Dotted Border moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Yellow Horned moth: 6 at Treshnish Old School House
Red Sword-grass moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
March Moth: at Treshnish Old School House
March 24
Tawny Owl: 1 heard below Treshnish Old School House
Meadow Pipit: many heard singing
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 25
Fulmar: 19 on water close off Treshnish Point
Great Northern Diver: 2 off Haunn, 1 off Crackaig
Golden Eagle: 1 at Cruachan Treshnish
Kestrel: 2 at Crackaig
Black Guillemot: 2 off Treshnish Point
Snipe: heard calling below Toechtamhor, 3 flushed around the farm
Stonechat: 1 male singing
Northern Wheatear: 2 males at Port Haunn (NM3347), 1 male & 1 female near Crackaig (NM3446) the first of the year for Treshnish
Otter: 1 female with 2 cubs at Crackaig seen fishing and then climbing up to their holt
Peacock butterfly: 1 at ‘Whisky Cave’
The Drinker moth caterpillar: 1 at Crackaig, 1 near pond above Treshnish lochan
Hebrew Character moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Chestnut moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Red Sword-grass moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Yellow Horned moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Common Scurvygrass: flowering
Sea Spleenwort: Cave north of ‘Whisky Cave’
Golden Saxifrage: flowering in cave north of ‘Whisky Cave’

Overview 19-25 March
Tawny Owl is heard very night in Treshnish wood, presumably last year it was overlooked by Prasad but it is now calling well before dark so it is hard to see how it was not heard last year in the breeding season. Carolyne and Somerset have heard it often from their house in previous years. No more mention of Tawny Owl will be made here unless the situation changes. The Fulmars are back and if the weather stays time may breed early. Last year they came to the cliffs on 14 March but did not stay long as the weather turned bad and they did not return to attempt breeding until 14th April. Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat are all singing and the Wheatears are beginning to arrive and are calling. Golden Eagles are not seen in pairs and are presumably sitting on eggs.

March 26
Razorbill: 4 close in at Ensay Burn mouth, 4 further out
Kittiwake: 1 off Ensay Burn mouth
Guillemot: 3 off Ensay Burn mouth
Redshank: 1 at Ensay Burn mouth
Snipe: calling between Treshnish and Haunn cottages
Twite: 1 by Treshnish cow-barn
Peacock butterfly: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Yellow Horned moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Mottled Grey moth: 5 at Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Twin-spotted Quaker moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 27
Wood Pigeon: 1 at Treshnish boathouse
Otter: 1 between Ensay Burn mouth and Treshnish boathouse
The Drinker moth caterpillar: 6 at Ensay Burn mouth
Early Grey moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Red Chestnut moth: 4 at Treshnish Old School House
Mottled Grey moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
March 28
Fulmar: 3 pairs sitting on ledges visible from main track at Haunn. There are probably more further around the Point
Kestrel: 1 above Treshnish Old School House
Golden Eagle: 1 over Beinn Bhuidhe, 1 later at Haunn
Early Grey moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Yellow Horned moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Common Quaker moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 29
Kestrel: 1 at Treshnish House
Yellow Horned moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Early Grey moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 30
Red-throated Diver: 1 off Ensay Burn mouth
Woodcock: 1 in Treshnish wood
Yellow Horned moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Twin-spotted Quaker moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Red Chestnut moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
March 31
Great Northern Diver: 3 off Ensay Burn mouth
Golden Eagle: 1 at Treshnish House
Red Chestnut moth: 9 at Treshnish Old School House
Twin-spotted Quaker moth: 2 at Treshnish Old School House
Pale Brindled Beauty moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Mottled Grey moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Hebrew Character moth: 3 at Treshnish Old School House
Common Quaker moth: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Micro-moth Depressaria sp. prob. daucella: 1 at Treshnish Old School House
Butterbur: flowering at Ensay Burn mouth