Saturday 11th September

 A mostly bright, sunny, slightly breezy day. Jim Dickson sent in some last records before heading back to the mainland – many thanks Jim for all your observations and searching over the past two weeks – a shame you didn’t find anything too unusual, but some great birding nonetheless.

At Carnain on Loch Indaal Jim noted singles of Ruff and Brent Goose plus 55 Knot. A little later Gary doubled the Ruff tally in the same area.

On Loch Gruinart Jim had counted 35 White Wagtails, 70 Linnets, 33 Brent Geese, 60 House Martins, 12 Sand Martins, 37 Redshanks and possibly the same juv. Curlew Sandpiper that has been around for a good few days now. James How checked Loch Gruinart later and upped the Brent Goose count to 43 birds (same flock or different - who knows?) along with 2 Wheatears and a Peregrine. Not to be outdone, Clive McKay had an Osprey with fish in talons flying up towards Ardnave, plus a Merlin and a couple of Wood Pigeons.

Although not strictly Islay, Jim had just about the best bird of his fortnight here while sailing back to Kennacraig, with a sighting of a 1^st year Little Gull along with huge flocks (1000+) of Kittiwakes off Gigha.