It’s been an incredibly busy week at the Mull of Galloway as the breeding season continues to get underway. Around the heather, the Meadow Pipits and Linnets have been busy collecting twigs and grass with which to line their nest. On Tuesday we noted a Meadow Pipit carrying food- a tell tale sign that they have some hungry mouths to feed! As reported in our last blog, our wonderful Stonechats also have chicks. The parents have been seen regularly throughout the week collecting caterpillars and worms for their growing brood.

Linnet collecting nesting material (photo Laura Shearer)

Male Stonechat carrying food back from Lagvag Point for a hungry brood (photo Laura Shearer)

The seabirds are slowly settling onto the cliffs as their nesting season gets underway. Our Shags have been on eggs for almost 2 weeks now with more eggs laid each day. Walking along the cliff tops, it’s easy to spot them carrying huge chunks of nesting material back to their grateful partner to work on creating their elaborate nests. Our Herring Gulls have been busy creating their nests too and we have spotted 2 birds already sitting on eggs. Again they can be spotted collecting nesting material high upon the clifftops.

Shag nesting in among the Guillemots at the Mull of Galloway (photo Laura Shearer) 

The big news of the week however comes from our gorgeous Auks as both Guillemots and Razorbills have laid their first eggs of the season just yesterday and today! A Guillemot egg was found predated on the path to Lagvag Point late yesterday afternoon. A survey this morning found several more birds sitting on eggs. Keen not to be left behind on the egg laying front- several Razorbills were also recorded brooding eggs. The seabird season is upon us!

Several Razorbills have eggs now at the Mull of Galloway (photo Laura Shearer)

Guillemot egg found predated (photo Laura Shearer)

The strong Southerly winds this week have brought us several migrant birds- mainly Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. We have had our first Sedge Warbler and Blackcap of the year too. The main delight however is the Swallows and House Martins- flying straight in off the sea and quickly settling down to hunt. Welcome back guys- how was your flight back from Africa?!