Islay - The Weekly PhotOa #10

Chuffed - the latest in chough news and shenanigans:

This week's news is that confusion reigns.  There is a widely accepted theory that monitoring a species leads to greater understanding and insight.  Unfortunately, our chough do not appear to have got this memo and each successive sighting only generates more head-scratching in our office.

So to recap on where we were at the end of last week:

All things being equal, we therefore expect to see groups of 5,3 or 4 chough or if any of the groups have joined up: 7,8,9 or 12 chough.

However:

• Monday - Ewan saw 6 chough - has Pair A actually lost a chick or did we miss it?  Later in the day I then saw 9, but is this the complete Pair A family plus Pair B or the reduced Pair A family plus Pair C?
• Tuesday - I saw a single chough and Dave saw 3 while we were in close proximity.  A juvenile from Pair C left alone while the parents and sibling feed elsewhere perhaps?
• Wednesday - I saw 3 chough - presumably Pair B and Donald saw 10 chough???
• Friday - volunteer Tom saw 2 chough....  Seriously, I give up!

It is an unfortunate reality though that mortality amongst young birds is high during the first few months after fledging.  Within a certain degree this is normal; chough are a long lived species and can be reproductively active for many years.  The challenge in turning around a declining population is that survival rates need to be higher and even then there is a lag between successful broods and potential changes in populations, as chough don't start breeding until their third year.

However, on a positive note, now is a great time to see chough at The Oa, and if you are lucky you will get time to watch the behaviour of these characterful birds and see the work we are carrying out to help ensure their survival.

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The PhotOa - pictures from The Oa reserve on Islay:

In looking after the farming operations, Donald and Ewan have to venture to parts of the reserve where visitors will rarely go.  The pictures this week, taken while they were gathering the sheep and lambs from the hills, showcase the reserve from their perspective.

View back to the American Monument - Photo courtesy of Donald

The cliffs and bays that the sheep graze, meaning someone has to go down there to find and herd them up - Photo courtesy of Ewan

Note the small figure on the top of the cliffs, coordinating and guiding those in the bay to any hiding sheep!
Photo courtesy of Donald

June in July.  Meet June, part of the 'Canine Division' on The Oa. Photo courtesy of Ewan

Ewan getting in an arty seascape shot.  Get back to work and stop dolphin watching!  Photo courtesy of Ewan

Sheep making their way over the moor back to the farm under Doogie's watchful eye.
Photo courtesy of Donald

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Moth Friday - roundup of the weekly catch:

Not a bumper catch this week, but good to get a few species making their first appearance here in 2017 (indicated with *).  The trap went out on the night of the 13/7 at Kinnabus:

• Middle-barred Minor: 2
• Garden Tiger: 6
• Flame Shoulder: 5
• Drinker: 1
• Beautiful Golden Y: 2
• True Lover's Knot: 12
• Dark Arches: 6
• Smoky Wainscot: 2 *
• Burnished Brass: 1 *
• Large Yellow Underwing: 1
• Angle Shades: 1 *

Smoky Wainscot (as I was informed, you need to check for a dark hind wing to separate this from the Common Wainscot) 13/7

The fantastic and ubiquitous Garden Tiger moth (the caterpillar is pretty special too) 13/7

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Events:

Family Fun Day at Loch Gruinart reserve takes place on Wednesday 26th July, come along and take part in games and challenges to collect the Islay Safari Trail Big 6!!

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If you have a picture or a sighting from The Oa that you would like to share, please get in contact.