The shyest of shy birds - corncrakes - have arrived back on Islay! There are three males calling away among the nettles and iris at our Loch Gruinart reserve, with numbers expected to increase over the coming weeks.
It's nothing short of incredible that these plump little birds can make it all the way here from southern Africa, but somehow they do, and once they get here, they plunge into their mechanical, rasping call right from the word go.
Down on our reserve on the Oa, chough have been actively feeding on the grazed grassland and a male golden eagle has been getting serious hassle from the crows and ravens - but he's still looking glorious soaring around on the sunny days.
Get yourself over to this beautiful island and see some of the UK's rarest wildlife - in May and June there'll also be marsh fritillary butterflies to ogle at on the reserves.
We run entertaining guided walks every week at 10 am - on Tuesdays at the Oa and Thursdays at Loch Gruinart.
Come and discover Islay's wildside - there's shy birds and show-offs in equal measure...