Saturday 6th September

Emily has returned to Islay after her holiday up in Iceland, a great time by all accounts... On her return on Sunday, she had a Tawny Owl at Moulin on the reserve at Gruinart, with another last night. On the walk down on the Oa on Tuesday, there was a flock of over 100 Twite on the "bird crop". Over on Jura on Wednesday, there was a RSPB led walk with 26 folk attending, birds seen include a Golden Eagle, many Buzzards, a fly past of a White tailed Sea Eagle and an Otter as well! On Thursday, on the reserve at Gruinart, both male and ringtail Hen Harrier spotted from the Visitor Centre, while on the guided actual walk, large flocks of Goldfinches and Twite were seen. Down on Loch Gruinart, a White Wagtail was seen along with large numbers of Dunlin and Sanderling there too. A visitor told Emily that she had seen the Little Egret out past Ardbeg on Wednesday, probably the same one that others had seen earlier on this week.