Sunday 9 June

It was reported today that a man, walking along a road at Carinish, North Uist, had been knocked down by a car, and died later. He was Ivan Macdonald, an accomplished piper and crofter. I met Ivan in Lochmaddy in April, where he gave a creditable piping performance at Taigh Chearsabhaigh. His death caused profound shock in the small community that is Uist.

I spent the afternoon outside, watching the antics of blackbirds and starlings and their young. It was quite warm.