Continued monitoring at the "summer reported rat sighting areas" has shown no rat sign or activity. An additional bait station line was established along the old stone wall near Canna House (and continues right around the woodland area). This was cut with machetes and strimmer. Forty-six bait and monitoring stations were set out and added to the grid map. No rat sign has been detected. Bait stations (with monitoring chocolate wax inside) were replaced in all the In-Bye and Tarbert Paddocks. These were removed at the end of the monitoring phase last winter to prevent damage by stock over summer.
Monitoring inside the bait stations was checked and extra monitoring outside bait stations has been placed out on the southern side of the island at all boat-access sites. No rat sign has been detected. The boat has been placed on a trailer which speeds up the launching process as the engine can remain onboard. It is securely stored in the shed on the pier. An additional bait station and monitoring line was added along Tarbert Road. This has added a further 28 stations to the grid. No rat sign has been detected.
The information board produced by the Royal Edinburgh Zoo on the Wood Mouse project was put up in the Waiting Room on the Pier. Weather has been variable, with two days lost to rain (but chocolate wax was made on these days).
Sea eagles (both adults and juveniles) have been seen during the week. Golden eagles have also been seen on several occasions.
Biz Bell, Dave Boyle and Paul Garner-Richards - WMIL, Sunday 8th October 2006
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