Wildscotphotos
Islay Hopping 03/04/2011
 
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A week spent in Islay. Islay is my favourite Hebridean Island and this the best time (late March/Early April) . The skies are full of Barnacle and White-fronted  geese (pic), certainly if you drive close. The Barnacles prefer the salt-marsh and the barer fields and the Whitefronts prefer the rushy marshy areas but they can be found together. The unique sound of the Chough is regular on the west side.
On this trip we also ventured into Jura. It was very windy but we still caught sight of two Hen Harriers that had eluded us on Islay this visit. 

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Islay does not have a great mammal list but there are plenty of  Seals, Red and Roe Deer and Brown Hares. The Hares wake up in late afternoon and become active throughout the night. This one washed his face as we watched from the car.