Thursday 25th July

Visiting birder Stephen from the Lothians sent some of his sighting through. Stephen has been staying down the Port Ellen end of Islay during his stay. Close to his cottage, he had seen a Barn Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler heard close to Cornabus, off Kintra 4 RTD were noted, at Cragabus and further on at Upper Killeyan fledged Stonehats were seen. Highlights from a 3 hour sea watch on the Oa included 590 Manx Shearwaters  flying South, 3 flying North, 376 Gannets  flying South, 44 North. On the water, 1 Puffin South and 2 North. Today George has seen 4 Moorhen chicks out and George reckons they are around 6 - 7 days old. The Arctic Terns on the shore have moved on but are still to be seen out over Loch Indaal. George also had seen 4 fledged Reed Buntings around his ponds