Corncrakes on Skye

27th April 2019

Corncrake time again! The unmistakable ‘Crex Crex’ call of a male corncrake has been heard on the island in the last couple of days indicating their successful return from migration. This also triggers the start of the annual summer survey. Their repetitive and persistent calling is the male looking for a mate.If you hear or see a corncrake please can you contact me or Skye Birds, with the date, time and location that you heard or saw it. All reports from Skye Birds are extremely helpful with the summer survey which we carry out across the corncrake’s Scottish range.They nest on agricultural land and you are most likely to find them on the in-bye of crofts. These birds are extremely rare and vulnerable and it is important that you don’t disturb or approach them. Best way is to keep out of the meadows and stay on the roads. Good luck!

If you would like to know more about the work RSPB is doing on Skye for corncrakes please get in touch.

Thanks and have a great summer!

Shelagh

RSPB Corncrake Project Officer, Isle of Skye

07771545409 or shelagh.parlane@rspb.org.uk

THE BOOK

"A glorious little gem"

AMAZON

"A book such as this has to look backwards and the author does so succinctly, looking at the work of several of the pioneering naturalists before picking out the publications of JA Harvie-Brown and the Rev. Hugh Macpherson. I know this book fills a real gap in the information available for the Isle of Skye and it will surely sell well at local bookshops."

Andrew Currie Miscellany West Highland Free Press

"A total of 238 species have been recorded, with 14 of those 'red listed' as of high conservation concern ... another innovation has been the inclusion of Gaelic names for some birds. While this is not uncommon in a few other books, the addition of some regional Gaelic names is very unusual and very welcome."

Ray Collier Country Diary 'Up in the Skye' The Guardian

"Illustrated with beautiful photographs of current birdlife on the island, the publication also features sketches by Jean Thomas of The Little Gallery, Portnalong, stimulating the reader's interest further and allowing them to identify species they encounter on Skye."

The Hebridean