Sunday 29th May

Margaret had her camera to hand yesterday when the Pheasant was out with her youngsters. I am not sure how many are left now as already there are only a few left out of the original 10, nature can be cruel sometimes. Mary had been over on Jura yesterday, only briefly, not competing in the annual race up The Paps! She saw an Otter on the road, and just after Craighouse she had a pair of Shelduck with ducklings. She also had a flock of 20 Dunlin along with 2 Ringed Plover there too. Later on down close to home in Portnahaven, over on MacKenzie Island there is a healthy and very vocal population of Arctic Terns. Today Mary had been at Bunnahabhain where she saw a Common Sandpiper and 2 Black Guillemots. At the other end of Islay, on the Oa she had a 2 Golden Eagles, Wheatears everywhere, a Whinchat too, 2 Ravens, a newly emerged Marsh Fritillary, a female Adder, and on her way back a female Hen Harrier.