Tuesday 8th May

Back on Sunday morning, I went out with Bob and carried out a count from Bowmore along to Gartbreck on the shoreline and out on Loch Indaal, but not on land. The tally was as follows, 10 Mallard, 1 Teal, 70 Eider, 8 Shelduck, 5 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 2 GND, 1 Black throated Diver, 18 Shag, 12 Greater Black backed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 22 Black headed Gulls, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 90 Oystercatcher, 90 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 200 Dunlin, 28 Bar tailed Godwits, 2 Turnstone, 65 Ringed Plover, 11 Arctic Tern. We also saw a Willow Warbler but that was on a whin bush onland! On my way down to meet up with Bob I had a Golden Eagle soaring over the hill behind Sunderland Farm. Yesterday on the Oa, Dave had 3 Whinchat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Hen Harrier and a Peregrine. Today, the weather has picked up again, temperature soaring into double figures, just!!! I have been busy visiting some of the Distilleries both here here on Islay and over on Jura sourcing some bottles for folk to have a taster at the forthcoming Scottish Birdfair, to be held on the 19th &20th of May at Hopetoun House which is close to Edinburgh. James will be attending along with Mary and Crystal, so if you are attending, come and meet up at the Islay stand and enter our free draw for a short break to see our geese in the Autumn.