the oa rspb
Enjoy the best of Islay’s birding
What a history this area has. Thousands of people left the area for a better life in Canada, USA and Australia owing to the clearances in the 18th Century, then came the world wars – a monument built in 1920 commemorates the loss of two troop ships offshore in 1918. Off in the
distance is the impressive Dun Athad fort, which goes back thousands of years. There are sea cliffs on the reserve, but not all easily viewed. Herring Gulls and Fulmars are visible on nests, while Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills are just around the corner. You can see activity on the sea with loafing and feeding possible from April until July, with clear views down the steep slopes to Port nan Gallan. One of the highlights of our many visits with Nature Scotland are the resident pair of Golden Eagles often seen using the uplift of the cliffs to scan the area for food. Peregrines and Kestrels also use the cliffs and a resident pair of Chough often use the farm to feed around the fields. Winter sees Twite visiting – some of these have moved down here from North Uist and Sutherland, and around 250 is a normal figure, but also look out for Linnets, Snow Bunting and even Lapland Bunting in the flocks. These flocks attract raptors, and we have seen Merlin, Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk attacking the birds. Whitetailed Eagle is now using the Oa and there was a record of Gyr Falcon in 2010. Other good records from here include 14 Long-tailed Skuas in a May passage, Leach’s Petrel and Sooty Shearwater from the sea and Bee-eater, Wryneck and Golden Oriole over land. John Miles