Tuesday 30th September

Mostly dry until late afternoon when the rain started.

David D. reported that the Little Grebe was still on Loch Kinnabus. Non-ornithological sightings in the morning were from Dan Brown, coming over for another visit, of at least 4 Common Dolphins, including a calf, seen from the ferry close to the southern end of the Sound of Islay, and he also spotted a Bulrush Wainscot moth hitching a lift on the ship - a species only recorded here a handful of times, before seeing 6 Pinkfeet with Greylags on mudflats at the head of Loch Indaal plus 3 White-tailed Eagle (WTE) (usual pair plus a juvenile), and another WTE and a Golden Eagle close to Ballygant plus a juvenile Hen Harrier. The raptor theme continued in the afternoon with Mary R. seeing a WTE flying low over the auction mart at Bridgend, Clive McK. spotting a Golden Eagle hunting the west side of Loch Gruinart below Creag Mhor and Samantha reporting a male Hen Harrier at Torrabus.

Not content with seeing an unusual moth on the ferry, Dan B. found Canoe Shells (Scaphander lignarius) on the beach at Kilnaughton Bay, noting that they are related to sea slugs but shelled, while also seeing 2 Golden Eagles hunting over Imeraval (just east of Kilnaughton) in the evening. It's still to be confirmed, but this may be the first record of Canoe Shell for Islay.

The photographs today, both by Dan B., have to be of the shells and the moth. I hope you agree.