The twelfth bait and monitoring check was completed this week. A monitoring check of most of the island was completed, with the remaining areas to be completed next week. No rat sign was detected.
Tracking pads were placed in areas of previous rat sign, including the waterfall at the end of the Nunnery, Tarbert barn, main implement shed, Canna House sheds, Changehouse sheds and RJ McLeod’s camp. No rat sign has been detected.
Winnie MacKinnon reported that her dog had been sniffing around and barking at the sheds near her house on Sanday. Traps and tracking pads were set up in both sheds. No rats have been trapped and no sign has been detected on the pads.
More details were received about the possible rat sighting at RJ McLeod’s camp site. The sighting was during the day and so it is possible that it was a bird seen. However, the traps will be maintained for the remainder of the project. No rats have been trapped. No rat sign has been recorded. No rat footprints have been seen in any of the mud traps or tracking pads.
Martin Carty continued with the sea eagle monitoring. He updates the project team with information on the birds, in particular the location of activity and behaviour of both pairs as well as other raptor species.
Most of the used bait at dump stations around the island has been brought back to the bait shed. All buckets of used bait have been stamped down to reduce the number of buckets to be sent off. The shed has been tidied and items no longer required stored on the mezzanine floor of the main implement shed. No days were lost to bad weather.
Mark Lambert (CSL), Tanya Daish (volunteer) and Judi Forsyth (volunteer) arrived on Tuesday 7th March. Bob Swann (NTS) and Hilary Wilkinson (volunteer) departed on Tuesday 7th March. Mark Lambert (CSL) and Toby Hogbin (WMIL) departed on Thursday 9th March. Martin Carty arrived on Saturday 11th March.
Biz Bell and Paul Garner-Richards - WMIL, Sunday 12th March 2006
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