Corncrakes on Gigha

Now as we all know, Gigha Halibut is a keen supporter of the Gigha Golf Course.  The golf course combines lovely views across to Kintyre and beyond with challenging par 3′s and 4′s – but enough of the plugging for one of Argyll’s best kept golfing secrets.  What a joy to be on the course on a fine brisk, nay chilly, May morning and to hear nothing but the sound of the wind, the distant chimes of the MV Loch Ranza waiting at the slip and the distinctive call of one of  the rarest of visitors to these, or any,  isles – the Corncrake.

The numbers of these birds in the UK has dwindled alarming low with modern day farming practices providing little for their natural habitat.  In fact the RSPB estimate the number of male Corncrakes down to around 1300. So what a joy to hear the distinctive “crek crek” of their call as the tricky tee shot on the fourth is being attempted. They are notoriously difficult to spot, so even though the bird sounded close enough to touch – there was no sight at all.  Gigha offers a haven for birds with natural rough cover, a good variety of food sources and few people to interfere with their well-being. The Gigha Golf Course is trying to improve this situation further with the adding of a wild flower meadow to the north of the course.  It is hoped that the added variety of seeds and cover will attract more wildlife and increase the biodiversity on the island as a whole.  This project is being undertaken by the Gigha Golf Course in conjunction with Keith Helm – local champion leek grower and wildlife enthusiast.

The course also offers many elevated holes and it is not infrequent  to see buzzards, geese and occasionally swans fly at your level or even below you when teeing off on the ninth. Careful with that tee shot mind you, anything to the right is pure misery …