Jane Dawson

Jane Dawson, who founded the Islay Natural History Trust in 1984, in memory of her husband, Rod, died last night after a brief illness. Rod and Jane, who farmed in Lincolnshire, came to Islay in 1971 when Rod, a farmer and conservationist, purchased the Ellister Estate so that not only could they outwinter their cattle here but there was ample room for the growing captive wildfowl collection which they had established on their farm. Rod died six years later of a particularly aggressive form of cancer. He was just 34 years old. Jane stayed on at Easter Ellister and persuaded her trustees that the tenant farmers, crofters and householders could buy their properties on generous terms. She continued and developed the wildfowl collection and became a leading aviculturist, breeding such difficult species as King Eider and Long-tailed Duck. In recent years, she established a very well-regarded Highland Pony stud. We send our condolencies to her daughters, Heather and Lucy.
Malcolm

Basking Sharks off Ellister - Jane Dawson

Many thanks to Jane Dawson for these photos of Basking sharks taken in Loch Indaal back in the summer.  Jane said: "I counted 23 sharks from my office window on 26th August and more at Wester Ellister and Rhinns Point (along with a Minke); most of the photos were taken from the boat on 31st August when we estimated there were at least forty in Lochindaal.

"The one that came closest had a malformed dorsal fin and was not far off the same length as the boat which is more than 7 metres long."