It was “Nature Red In Tooth And Claw”
yesterday as David Protheroe watched a Sparrowhawk take down an Oystercatcher
on the 6th fairway at the Machrie, while Mary Redman had a couple of
Hen Harriers tussling with Hooded Crows at Currie Sands. She also noted a young
Cuckoo being fed by a Meadow Pipit at Claddach. Margaret Brooke had a ringtail
Hen Harrier hunting over the garden at Shepherd’s Cottage, Kilchoman yesterday
along with increased numbers of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds feeding on the
lawns after our first decent rain shower in many days.
Today, after a long spell of warm/hot dry weather we returned to cloudy and cool conditions with moderate ESE winds and a fair bit of rain throughout the day.
Today’s
contributions continue the raptor theme with Andrew Kelly seeing a female Hen Harrier
hunting and a Kestrel being mobbed by a pair of Arctic Terns all just south of
Rhuvaal Lighthouse. He also recorded Peregrine and 2 Common Buzzards on the Bunnahabhain
Road and a further ringtail Hen Harrier near Mulindry. Margaret Brooke
also saw a Kestrel mobbing and being mobbed by the Jackdaws on the church at
Kilchoman. Despite being one of the UK’s more widespread raptors, Kestrels are
one of the least abundant birds of prey on Islay.
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