Thursday 25th June

No further sightings of either the Great White Egret or of the Bee eaters, but that's birdwatching for you, remember back a few years ago when we had a Frigatebird on Islay, another brief encounter... George E. Jackson sent some sightings from the start of the week. On Monday morning, round at Saligo Bay, 3 pairs of Common Sandpipers and also 2 pairs of Oystercatcher were alarm calling, no doubt with young around. They also saw 2 Peregrine in the distance. Returning past the cottage at the roadside beside the bay, there was a House Martin flying around with some Swallows. On the same patch on Tuesday am, they had the Common Sands and the Oystercatchers, there were also 3 pr of Rock Pipits, a Heron and a Mistle Thrush noted. On their way back along the road, a family of 5 Stonechats was seen. In the afternoon, a walk from Keills down to the Sound of Islay produced the usual birds including Whitethroat, Chiffchaff with a Redpoll singing. On the Sound itself, a Black Guillemot was present. Today, the Glasgow birders had a Snipe out on a post in front of the hide at Gruinart. They also saw a Sedge Warbler carrying food back to its' brood. The weather went downhill out here this afternoon, with the rain coming back again, as long as it stops sometime, can put the watering can back in to the shed for a few days!