Tuesday 25th August

Many thanks to James and Mary for writing the blog while I was "awol" down at the Birdfair in Rutland. The weather was a bit on the warm side with the temperature being 28 degrees and that was out of the marquee...I was staying with old friends from student days in Aberdeen. Each day, Paul came in to say that he had seen a Kingfisher down beside the stream. This morning, he had a Green Woodpecker on one of the ant hills and then a Red kite overhead... I also saw a dead mole on the road as I went to pick the others up from the hotel and then another 2 as we headed home yesterday. Back here on Islay, over close to Eskernish there was a dead albino Hedgehog on the side of the road. The Birdfair was busy as ever, one of the first folk I met was a contact from Oz who I met a few years back, other contacts from Tobago, Spain as well as tour companies from all over and their leaders, especially the ones who come to Islay, a great chance to meet up, but hard work all the same. Back to the Bird blog... Visiting birder, Paul from Kendal reported seeing a large movement of Swallows etc over the reeds down at the Coastguards the other day, he had Kittiwakes at Frenchman's rocks this morning and then spotted a Sparrowhawk up close to the old church here at Kilchoman. Alistair Hutchison had a Barn Owl on a fence post over at Avonvoggie. On the reserve at Gruinart, James had counted 60 Barwits, 2 Ruff as well as 568 Greylags!