Monday 16th June

Apart from a bit of drizzle first thing, it turned into a dry day, mild, with cloud to begin with but becoming brighter with light winds.

I was up at Loch Gruinart in the morning and pleased to find an immature (2Y) Little Gull at Craigens, Further up the loch on the east side was a flyover Great Skua and a flock of c.80 Bar-tailed Godwits. A Little Egret from the South Hide was seen by several birders along with the summering Whooper Swan. Up at Ardnave in the afternoon were Wheatear fledglings and 4 Greenshanks. James H. reported a Grey Plover in the area. 

Over on the other side of the island Steve & Lyn Rogers did their WeBS count at Loch an t Sailein finding, amongst other things, Red-breasted Merganser with 6 chicks and another Greenshank. Christine Menzies found a Common Sandpiper with chicks at Kilnaughton (photo below) and David D. had 3 Common Scoter offshore there. Jeff Duncan had two Islay firsts on his latest visit: a Magpie at Glenegedale and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying across the road between Ardbeg and Kildalton.