The Birds of Islay and Jura Published February 2026

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Thursday 14th May

The cool northerly breeze continues along with predominantly dry sunny weather.

All the birding news today comes from Kath Butterworth who heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland near Cluanach along with a male Hen Harrier nearby. Later she heard Corn Crakes at Portnahaven and Port Mor near Port Charlotte and finished the day with a great sighting of 2 Long-tailed Skuas flying north up Loch Indaal off Port Mor. If only I'd been looking out of my window here at Bruichladdich at the time I might have them to my "garden list"!

1 comment:

Jonathan & Nicola said...

We had two LT skuas through RSPB Gruinart yesterday evening, which perhaps ties in with Kath's sighting. I picked them up high to the south, mobbing a Common buzzard. They eventually flew north, low over the marsh, the closest bird perhaps 30yds away. My partner's first encounter with the species!