Much of the day was cold, overcast, drizzling and misty - not what you want for a day close to midsummer, especially when I had a small group of birders to show around!
We did a drive up to Claggain Bay where 3-4 Red-throated Divers performed well offshore and a flock of 35 Red-breasted Mergansers flew by. We went out the the RSPB Oa car park intending to walk to the American Monument but we couldn't even see it in the fog and chilly breeze, so turned around towards Port Ellen. The High Road provided a couple of lovely male Hen Harriers that raised spirits and by late afternoon there was a glimmer of blue in the skies and a productive finale was a visit to the loch at Easter Ellister where the drake Velvet Scoter with its female Common Scoter companion put on a decent performance and a couple of nearby White-tailed Eagles perched up and gave good, long scope views, leaving the group with a better impression of Islay by the end of the day.
Jeff Duncan is visiting the island again and had seen a couple of Hen Harriers on the Rhinns and a Grasshopper Warbler at Port Charlotte. Steve & Lyn Rogers watched a White-tailed Eagle attacking a Mallard in Kilnaughton Bay, the Mallard totally submerging to try and escape the eagle's clutches, which apparently succeeded after five minutes of trying. Clive McK. was on the Big Strand and noted a flock of 36 Dunlin in breeding plumage at Knockangle Point.
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