Further lovely sunny days with above average temperatures and light winds.
On Wednesday Clive Mc. counted a total of 22 Choughs up at Kilnave in the morning along with 26 Black-tailed Godwits at Gruinart. Over on Jura, Louise Muir and a flock of 12 Long-tailed Tits and a Barn Owl in Sanaig woods. Gary T/ had his usual couple of White-tailed Eagles up towards Bridgend on Loch Indaal and a Golden Eagle over the slopes of Knockdon. Mary Redman had a further 2 White-tailed Eagles at Portnahaven.
Thursday produced a flock of c.100 Twite for David D. at Upper Killeyan with a hunting Merlin and many Skylarks on the move (Skylarks also noted as numerous down at Portnahaven). Up at Finlaggan Gary t. had 4 Crossbills in the plantation forestry. Ed Burrell saw "his" Moorhen on loch cornabus again and James How noted a Water Rail at Gruinart.
Today there were reports of large Greenland-type Wheatears from David D. at Upper Killeyan, Cornabus from Ed Burrell and Clive Mc. & Linden at Gruinart, where there were 6 Little Egrets, 123 Shoveler and 10 Pintail. Gary T. watching on Loch Indaal up at Bridgend, watched his 2 White-tailed Eagles annoying the Greylags along with 6 Barnacle Geese and 15 Brent Geese. On Gruinart Clive Mc. had 2 Canada Geese.
In the afternoon up towards the west side of Ardnave, Clive saw a flock of 13 Egrets flying north out over the small skerries offshore, which he is convinced and sure were Great Whites, though Jim Dickson points out that there have been up to 14 Little Egrets at Kennacraig recently along with good numbers elsewhere, while there have only ever been 2 Great Whites together seen in Scotland before. The debate may go on for a while as Great White Egrets are an Argyll rarity, but whatever transpires it is by far the largest number of egrets ever seen at one go on Islay and a remarkable and fascinating record.
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