More from some of the coast surveys we've been doing the last few days. I'd love to give you stunning pictures of all the incredible eagles, chough, harriers, peregrines and many others that make the Oa such a fantastic place to visit, but none of them would sit still as long as this shag. So it goes.
Ditto with the Calmac ferry on its way into Port Ellen. That's the Mull of Kintyre in the background.
The initial survey method was for a group of 8 staff and volunteers to divide the vertiginous coastline of the Oa into sections and walk it at the same time, recording chough, seabirds, raptors and whatever else is around and hoping to pin down some nest locations. Once the main areas of interest are identified, these can be monitored through the season by the reserve staff.